Computer In The Garage.

[ZiggyMacD]

I'm finding that the most important tool in the Garage these days is my laptop. I'm constantly packing it back and forth from the house. I am thinking of installing a permanent machine out there on my network.
It's great for looking at manuals in pdf format, googling info, checking NAPA for parts or just hanging out on this site. What are you guys using for a computer in your shops?

 

[valentine]

I keep my old iPad in the garage. Doesn't take up any room at all and i can use it in the car, under the car, etc. It's quickly becoming on of my most used tools.

-Valentine

 

[LEVE]

I turned to my older Samsung Android 7" tablet. I hook it to external speakers and it's got everything I need. I can surf the net and reference the service manuals for all my equipment on it. I also use its camera on disassembly and reassembly of projects.

 

[iScream]

My garage isn't really setup for just hanging out. If I need to view a manual or search for something I usually just take the iPad out there. Or if I'm going to work on one of the growing number of things I can program from a PC I'll take a laptop out.

 

[iminocca]

I use a refurbished Lenovo I bought from Tiger Direct. Was about $115 delivered and I already had an extra monitor, the computer came with a keyboard and mouse. Wasn't too concerned about specs because I only use it for looking at manuals in pdf, googling for info, and perusing various forums such as this one. At work we buy all our computers and peripherals from Tiger Direct and I can't say enough good things about them. The only other thing I added was a cheap wifi card. Should have done this years sooner!

 

[Off-Street Parking]

I keep my old iPad in the garage. Doesn't take up any room at all and i can use it in the car, under the car, etc. It's quickly becoming on of my most used tools.

I'll second this.

 

[ambenz]

ASUS tablet and wireless access or bring out my Sony VIAO laptop...done both but usually when I hanging out there all day because we got a wrenching party going on.

 

[warweapon762]

Im with the tablet camp too. Im even looking into building a plug and play DRO for the mill and just placing the tablet on a stand mounted on the mill so I can see the read outs from the tablet.

 

[DanielC99]

When I built my 30 x 30 shop in the back yard I buried a 1/2 inch conduit just for running a cat 5 cable for internet connectivity. I have an old laptop there just for looking up whatever is needed for whatever I'm working on at the time. The shop is metal so wireless doesn't work very well unless the doors are open. Hence the wired cat 5.


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[txvwnut]

Wireless signal is sketchy is mine so I just revert to my iPhone when the interweb is needed.

 

[rt dak]

I bought a small tower desktop PC and made a cradle to hang it from the ceiling to keep it out of the way. It's connected to a 26" LCD TV for a monitor. Wireless mouse and keyboard and a good soundbar. I mainly use it to listen to my 300gb of music but it's nice if i'm wrenching and I can look something up without having to go into the house.

 

[Advan]

I love having a computer out in the garage! In fact, I'm typing on it right now. Its just a 10 year old Dell laptop running Linuxmint, on the house's wireless network. I use it for the forums, Rockauto, google, etc, and keep PDF copies of our vehicles FSM's on it. It also keep a big MP3 collection on there and have the audio wired into the garage stereo for when I get bored of the radio!

 

[winlinmac]

I'm fine taking a laptop into the garage time to time, especially if it has a rugged design; I'm sitting on the floor to do suspension work on the car, I use a small mini-table to place adjacent to my work-space for convenience

 

[Outlander]

My garage isn't really setup for just hanging out. If I need to view a manual or search for something I usually just take the iPad out there. Or if I'm going to work on one of the growing number of things I can program from a PC I'll take a laptop out.

Exactly this, although I have been known to take my laptop out there too

View media item 21481

 

[WBrowniv]

I wanted a computer in the garage (under house) but didn't want anything too big. I ended up getting an Acer Chromebox. About the size of a ROKU or Apple TV box. Boots in about 5 seconds. Have it strapped to the back of an old flat panel monitor with wireless keyboard/mouse combo.
I have a small bluetooth speaker paired with it so I can carry it around and put it down next to me wherever I happen to be. Works great.

Perfect for looking up stuff on the net. If I have to print anything I head to the old Dell in my workshop and use it.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

WI-fi signal is not the best, only work right by the front door, I usually just use my I phone if I need something quick, or go in the house if its something complicated. I'm going to eventually do something, maybe a hard line and install a PC in the office in the garage.

 

[Kellaway]

Old laptop FTW. To much oil floating around to keep clean!

 

[Robbie B]

The good thing is you can use a laptop and hook to the car for diagnostic capabilities. There is good software out there for reasonable prices.

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[TheOtherChris]

I welded up an articulating arm to hold the monitor and keyboard. Most of the time it is up against the wall next to the mill.

But it will pull out so I can see machine prints from either the mill or lathe.