Skibum1963

Can someone recommend a good laptop and operating system for both the AIM and MoTec software? I am a mac guy but donated my laptop to my college kid and not sure that is best platform anyway. If someone can chime in to recommend a setup, would appreciate it. If mac is the best, I am happy to go that route with boot camp or other windows OS.
Mark

ProCoach

I think Apple with Windows under Boot Camp is my favorite. I've used the last six releases of the MBA with the 512 SSD, just replaced with a MBP 13 Tb with a 1 TB drive. I run all MoTeC and AIM programs on my computer. I also carry a spare, in the form of a Microsoft Surface Book.

I don't like plastic computers or matte screens outside. Toughbook is a good one, too.

Matt Romanowski

I can't speak to the MoTeC side, but the actual data software doesn't require a lot of computer. It's normally t he video that takes the most CPU power and storage space. No need to break the bank on a laptop, but make sure to get plenty of storage onboard and have somewhere to offload the old videos for archival.

Since RS2/3 and i2 require Windows, I would go with a PC so you can run them direct and not need other software.

Do you have a brand of computer you like, get discounts, etc?

ProCoach

That's what's nice about Windows under Boot Camp on the superlative hardware that Apple makes. There is NO software or emulation required. It "out PC's" a PC!

Using the Boot Camp utility, a dedicated partition in NTFS on the SSD (hard drive) is formatted and Windows 10 (only flavor possible on the new Apple hardware) is installed, same as the PC.

On startup, you boot natively into Windows 10 and the system operates better, quicker and more reliably than any PC I have used.

Plus, if you have familiarity or need for Apple OS, just shut it down, hold the Option (Alt) key on startup and select either Apple OS or Windows 10.

There seem to be more and more folks running Apple computers and this is the BEST way to access both worlds, without compromise of any kind.

I'm at the track almost 200 days a year for the last seven years and my computers are mission critical to do my job, which is to interact with and use AiM and MoTeC programs most days I am there. Add to that the portability of these aluminum bodied works of art, plus the visibility of the screen outside and in the sun, and it's a no-brainer for me. YMMV.

Matt Romanowski

The travel and abuse people like you and I put on a computer is far worse than what most people subject a machine to in normal use. While we would only consider a metal chassis, durable, SSD machine, that is overkill for the average person going to the track. I have lots of customers who have purchased value priced open box / refurb machines from Best Buy, Dell, and others. While not for me, the Surface machines are well liked by many, including you and Roger.

And as always, price point plays a major role. It's hard to justify my $2,800 laptop to someone who is only using it 8x a year. I'm sure you see the same all the time as well.

ProCoach

This is what I recommend (and successfully used six of them in the last seven years): http://www.apple.com/shop/product/G0...-intel-core-i7

Less than half what yours and mine cost, strong, bright and light as a feather!

Skibum1963

That looks perfect. Then I can hand this down to the next kid in a couple of years!

Matt Romanowski

Nice piece of kit, but the 13" is a no go for me. If you don't mind the smaller real-estate, it would be great.

ProCoach

And that's the idea. These things are so mature that they're bulletproof and work really, really well.

ProCoach

What trailer doesn't have a monitor in it?

Matt Romanowski

Airplanes, airports, back of the van on the way to the track.....

ProCoach

Got it!

dizzy8085

Y'alls exchanges are always pretty funny^

I second the Macbook running bootcamp. I really like the macbook's and believe any extra cost is worth it for reliability. I know the battery will last a long time and I know it will work. Takes less than 15 seconds to restart in the alternative operating system.

I even run iracing on mine in bootcamp on a single screen.

ProCoach

We have fun! It's like racing keyboards!

Slakker

The ONLY reason to get a MacBook is if you are already an MacBook guy. A PC will run everything you need. I use a surface 2 pro, specifically for the size, and it works very well. My 13" MacBook Air stays in the garage as a dedicated Pandora player. This seems to be the best use I can find for it.