intel chromebook = cheap laptop for V2 app

redparchel · Post by **redparchel** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 8:17 pm

I found myself without a laptop to run the latest RaceCapturePro app (V2). I refuse to have a windows laptop JUST for this purpose and I wanted something cheap but still usable for other things. Enter the chromebook! I picked up a new Asus intel powered chromebook and with some finagling got the RaceCapturePro app working, updated and configured my RCP to v2!

as always YMMV but here's what I did.

1) get an intel based chromebook
NOTES: i say intel base because i didnt feel like fighting with ARM libraries and using an intel base chromebook RCP_app works without doing anything special. I bought the $249 Asus C300 http://amzn.com/B00KD5SEPK but even the $199 Acer CB3-111-C8UB http://goo.gl/dc1xB3 should work

2) install Crouton https://github.com/dnschneid/crouton
NOTES: I opted for installing ubuntu 12.04 but you may want to install a newer version (like trusty thal) also just my preference is to stick with the xfce linux window manager as the default unity manager may be a bit much (lots of tutorials on the net like this one http://www.howtogeek.com/162120/how-to- ... h-crouton/ )

3) follow a combination of these and autosportlabs tips for prepping a linux system to run the app. https://github.com/autosportlabs/RaceCapture_App

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get install python-software-properties # if running 12.04 to install tools for next command
sudo add-apt-repository ppa&#58;kivy-team/kivy    # adds the kivy repo
sudo apt-get update  # updates the sources to include software from the kivy repo
sudo apt-get install python-kivy  # installs kivy
sudo apt-get install python-serial python-requests  #installs some other python libraries globally  
sudo apt-get install git  #installs git so you can pull down the latest version of the RCP_app
git clone git&#58;//github.com/autosportlabs/RaceCapture_App.git  #pulls down said app
cd RaceCapture_App  #changes into the newly downloaded directory
sudo python ./racecapture.py  #runs the app - needs sudo to get easier access to serial port

NOTES: the linux flasher util works as well to update the RCP firmware to V2 if you haven't done that yet.

hopefully I didnt miss anything and you now have a cheap laptop you can take with you to the track to configure/analyze your RPC and still use to cruise the internet at home!

Post by **brentp** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 10:32 pm

This is great, thanks! Is this Chromebook touchscreen also? We're looking at the Lenovo Yoga as a good touchscreen laptop / tablet demo platform.

redparchel · Post by **redparchel** » Thu Nov 06, 2014 4:44 am

this one is not a touch screen although those can be had (cheapest one i saw was ~$300)