I don't have an EMS in my car yet. But I know you need a way of programming the ECU to adjust sensors and stuff with a laptop. Would a PDA be able to do the same job as a laptop? I don't really want to buy a laptop, but I'm going to be upgrading my cingular phone in a few months and was wondering if their PDA phones would be able to do what I'm wanting... if its possible.

 

I've thought about this very same question. I think it will rely on what engine management system you get and if they have software available for a PDA. But I'm sure it would be possible somehow.

 

It would be easier to just get a cheap old laptop.
With a PDA... the connections are different for each model (usually), would require a custom harness and software for each PDA. Where as a cheap old laptop can be made to run windows/linux easy and has the serial/usb connection and the software already done for you (usually is in windows).

 

Sorry to bump this.

What EMS's can run in Linux? You can put Linux on a pda and assuming you can meet the hardware/connection requirements it sounds like that would be the way to go.

 

MegaSquirt and VEMS both have software that will run under Linux. You could do builds pretty easily of the software for ARM or whatever style of chip your PDA is using.