The Monster Cable is a waste, but nice setup. I'll be hooking my laptop up soon for a totally different reason.
Cool, What do you plan to have installed on the laptop. I've got alot of stuff on it too. I can help you out with some software if you need anything.
I agree, at retail the Monster iCable is overpriced big time, but still not a waste because there is a very noticeable difference that you can really hear between using the Monster iCable compared to a generic cable like the one shown below...
BTW the Monster iCable is not $30, you can get them for under $12.
This is what software I have installed on the laptop...
* Vag-com
* Digi Moto
* Pcmscan
* Scan tools
* AutoData
* CarSoft
* VagDash
* ETKA6
This is what I can do with the software...
* Retreive and Clear trouble codes and turn off the MIL ("Check Engine" light)
* Analyse your Cars data in Real-Time
* Analyse your data using graphs and comparing multi real-time feeds
* Perform Fault Diagnostic tests
* Reset airbag light
* Display current sensor data, including:
* Engine RPM
* Calculated Load Value
* Coolant Temperature
* Fuel System Status
* Vehicle Speed
* Short Term Fuel Trim
* Long Term Fuel Trim
* Intake Manifold Pressure
* Timing Advance
* Intake Air Temperature
* Air Flow Rate
* Absolute Throttle Position
* Oxygen sensor voltages/associated short term fuel trims
* Fuel System status
* Fuel Pressure
* And alot more
I've also installed navigation on it by a USB DeLorme GPS LT-20 that uses Street Atlas USA 2007 software. This database and POI is huge and it's fast!
I got most of all the software for free and the ODB2 adapter cable was around $20 and the USB GPS adapter and navigation software was $80.