Can you do more with prom burning and tuning if you have a laptop you can hook up to your car?

 

Well, you have to get data somehow. You'll either need a scanner or laptop with data acquisition software (ex. Craig Moates'). Laptops are obviously a lot smaller but the critical component is a modem capable of communicating at higher speeds. If you get a cheap one somewhere, you don't necessarily need good batteries either. I use a $40 inverter that works just fine.

 

I think i laptop is a must. Like the other guy said. You need to be able to get data from your ecm while you are driving around. Not impossible to do with a PC if you have a very VERY long extension cord. Or you could mount a PC in your car using a power inverter. I have installed maybe 15 PCs in cars so far with no problems. This is the route I am partial taking. An LCD flat panel display is a must though.

But also as you get more into chip burning you can always make your chip burning mobile with a laptop and pocket programmer. Test and tuning at the track or on the road.

I like having a laptop when I am out working on my car cause I have a lot of reference data on my laptop like parts indexes and catalogs.

Long winded way of saying I couldnt live without one.