Need Windows computer suggestions

[wa5mkp]

I am a Mac user but had issues with trying to use Windows in Parallels so I am looking for a cheap but reliable Windows computer on which to run Sentinel for my new SDS200. Any suggestions on what to get and should I use OS 10 or 11?
Sam

 

[wtp]

try an out of box at best buy.
the wife and i got one and yes on the 11 thing.

 

[fxdscon]

I am a Mac user but had issues with trying to use Windows in Parallels so I am looking for a cheap but reliable Windows computer on which to run Sentinel for my new SDS200. Any suggestions on what to get and should I use OS 10 or 11?
Sam

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On going discussion about that at this link:

https://forums.radioreference.com/t...top-for-sds-200-sentinel.450116/#post-3757029

 

[SWS053]

I've been happily running Sentinel on this inexpensive Walmart laptop:
Gateway 14.1" Ultra Slim Notebook, FHD, Intel® Core™ i5-1135G7, Quad Core, Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Tuned by THX™, Fingerprint Scanner, 1MP Webcam, HDMI, Windows 10 Home, Black - Walmart.com

That's a fairly "muscular" Windows laptop for the money. I like it so much at that price, I bought three: one for my daily use, one for my wife's, and a third dedicated as our 24/7 Plex server.

 

[jaspence]

Asus has had an 11 inch and 14 inch on sale for as low as $106-125. I bought one just for fun and it is quite capable for the price. It has a 64 gig emmc drive but also a slot for a true SSD. Mine is set up to boot from the emmc and use the SSD for storage and programs. One of my clients wanted a new laptop for travel, and they were pleased with the one I bought and prepared for them. They are more than enough for programming and work well on youtube videos. Not enough memory for video/photo editing, and the memory is soldiered in. It comes with Windows 11 in S mode but is easily changed to the regular version of 11.

 

[Scan125]

I am a Mac user but had issues with trying to use Windows in Parallels so I am looking for a cheap but reliable Windows computer on which to run Sentinel for my new SDS200. Any suggestions on what to get and should I use OS 10 or 11?
Sam

Have you tried using Bootcamp?

As you have Windows then use Bootcamp to run it natively. I know that some of my Scan125 program users do this OK.

Problem with virtual machines (some) and emulators is that when it comes to high speed communications via USB to external hardware (scanner) then things are not as responsive or under direct Windows control. This can cause issues.

 

[N9JIG]

Does your Mac have an Intel chip or M1/M2 ("Apple Silicon")? If it has an Intel Chip you can run BootCamp which is a more direct way to run Windows on the hardware. This however means you need to restart to change from Windows to Mac. Apple Silicon does not work with BootCamp so Parallels is the way to go.

Most issues with radio programming on the Mac have to do with the USB cable being assigned to either the Windows installation or the Mac. The first time it is plugged in while Windows is running in Parallels it should ask which OS gets it. If not then go into the Parallels Menu Bar icon and select USB Devices and assign it to Windows. Most of the time if this is done properly it will show up in the Windows Device Manager and self-install the driver. If not then go into Device Manager and install the driver yourself like any other Windows device.

One other thing I have noticed is that using a card reader for the SD Card seems to work better than connecting the radio to the computer, it seems more reliable and a lot faster.

I have used Parallels with all of my recent Mac's, including my M1 MBP's, Mini and iMac as well as a dozen or so prior Intel Mac's. I currently run Windows 11 on both my Mi MBP and Intel MBP with Sentinel and other Windows programs and have had no real issues.

 

[ems55]

try an out of box at best buy.
the wife and i got one and yes on the 11 thing.

Yes, what WTP said. We did the same thing ! Saved a couple of hundred $$ on a new core i7 HP Windows 11 machine with a ssd !!!

 

[hvytrucker]

Too much thought is being put into choosing a computer to just run Sentinel or any other scanner programming software. Anything with an i5 processor & 4GB of ram will work fine since the software is not graphic intensive and will work on any computer. You can find a used desktop or laptop with those specs or higher for as little as $100 on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist and for a lot less at garage sales or ask your friends what they are getting rid of after Christmas...