vag-com??
#2
the general feeling is that the genuine "Ross-Tech Vag-Com" cable is the best, short of the factory computer thingy that only the dealers have. A lot of people make do with the knock off Vag-Com cable, available through e-bay and other places and use the Ross-Tech VCDS-Lite (scaled down version of VCDS that works with the official cable).
finally, some folks just use a more generic OBDII code reader. while they will work they aren't as versatile as the vag-com/vcds option.
if you need to do it on the cheap, the ebay cable and VCDS-Lite is the least expensive option but some people can't get their cheap cable to work properly with the software so buyer beware.
disclosure: i have the genuine cable and full version of VCDS that I bought second hand off an ad i found here
finally, some folks just use a more generic OBDII code reader. while they will work they aren't as versatile as the vag-com/vcds option.
if you need to do it on the cheap, the ebay cable and VCDS-Lite is the least expensive option but some people can't get their cheap cable to work properly with the software so buyer beware.
disclosure: i have the genuine cable and full version of VCDS that I bought second hand off an ad i found here
#6
The reason you see people using them only on laptops is because it's not very practical to lug the monster gaming rig tower down to the car and park it on the seat.