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1.
Recycle it
Cut down on electronic waste and make sure your old laptop doesn't end up in a landfill.
Do you like this result?
Pros: i would feel good about myself. Cons: My mom paid for it and might be annoyed that ... -
2.
Use it as media center computer
Connect your old laptop to your TV and watch internet videos or check your email on your big screen.
Do you like this result?
Pros: i tried this based on this hunch result, connecting my wife's old windows laptop to the ... Cons: substantial boot time. obnoxious fan noise over what you're watching. ... -
3.
Turn it into a wall mounted computer
Why settle for a digital picture frame when, in the same wall space, you could mount an entirely functional computer/slideshow player/TV tuner?
Do you like this result?
Pros: Decorative, good use of old hardware, very flexible solution. Cons: A bit useless if you already own a TV and ... -
4.
Keep it for light Internet use
Install a lightweight Linux distribution (such as Puppy Linux) and use it as a secondary computer when you need to browse the net, chat, edit something, or watch a movie.
Do you like this result?
Pros: Very lightweight Linux distribution, specially snappy in old hardware. Edit Microsoft documents (OpenOffice), browse the net ... Cons: No windows programs, no many games, limited linux distro. -
5.
Smash it up Office Space style!
Admit it, you've always wanted to anyway.
Do you like this result?
Pros: Sounds like fun. Cons: I won't go mental on the environs... -
6.
Donate it to the U.S. Armed Forces
A non-profit that is currently seeking laptops that are at least Pentium II. These computers will used by American troops in Iraq to communicate with their families.
Do you like this result?
Pros: help others Cons: can they find all my old stuff??? -
7.
Set up a firewall
Use your old laptop as a firewall, and check traffic logs etc on it.
Do you like this result?
Pros: A hardware firewall is a useful thing to have, but... Cons: ...you have to get a second ethernet port somehow (eg, ... -
8.
Use it to crunch for BOINC
BOINC is a non-commercial middleware system for volunteer and grid computing. While you're not using your computer, it can run small programs developed by scientists to search for cures ...
Do you like this result?
Pros: I would definitely feel useful by helping science this way... Cons: All the research programs aren't of the same quality. -
9.
Set up a proxy server
If you're having trouble with certain websites being blocked at work or school, you can setup your old laptop as a proxy server to bypass the filters and access ...
Do you like this result?
Pros: If you actually need a proxy server, this is a good use for an old computer. Cons: There are free proxies available. -
10.
Webapp Monster with gOS
Install gOS (or any lightweight Linux distribution) and use your old laptop to surf the web, check email or watch videos online.
Do you like this result?
Pros: Who doesn't sometimes have the desire to look up something on the internet while sitting on ... Cons: Installing linux on a laptop can sometimes be very complicated.
Displaying 1-10 of 13 results