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    Fun things to do with an old laptop?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by QueenOfSpades, Feb 3, 2011.

  1. QueenOfSpades

    QueenOfSpades Notebook Consultant

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    Hey guys -
    I recently acquired (and fixed) an old Toshiba Satellite. It's kind of a piece of crap (1.5 Ghz Celeron, 2GB RAM, 60GB HDD), so I figured I'd try and do something rad with it. Any ideas? It'll probably just be a pure internet machine, obviously, if I can't think of anything fun.
     
    QueenOfSpades, Feb 3, 2011
    #1
  2. dusto2k3

    dusto2k3 Notebook Enthusiast

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    add bluetooth to it, teather it and mount it in your trunk of your car and have a mobile internet station in your passenger seat
     
    dusto2k3, Feb 3, 2011
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  3. Peon

    Peon Notebook Virtuoso

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    Though I've since consolidated everything onto a single VM host in order to save floor space, I used to run things like file servers and Linux test systems on old hardware.
     
    Peon, Feb 3, 2011
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  4. hxkclan

    hxkclan Notebook Consultant

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    Run freeNAS on it or make it a download server.
     
    hxkclan, Feb 4, 2011
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  5. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    It would work well as a webserver - as long as you don't run a database on it.
    -> although even that would work well on a small database.

    You could possibly use it to consolidate storage - i.e. use it with external drives as a storage server, the issue here might be what to do if it fails though, i.e. the setup must be easy to migrate.

    But personally I'd favour the webserver.
     
    DetlevCM, Feb 4, 2011
    #5
  6. davepermen

    davepermen Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    this thing is better than most netbooks in performance => sell it to a netbook user :)
     
    davepermen, Feb 4, 2011
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  7. SHoTTa35

    SHoTTa35 Notebook Consultant

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    I had a bunch of old machines too laying around taking up space. My girlfriend got my "old" Sony VAIO laptop from maybe 5yrs ago and she's loving it. Much better than her huge 15" Dell she had even though it's not really any faster. So faster may no be needed so just give it away i guess :)
     
    SHoTTa35, Feb 4, 2011
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  8. QueenOfSpades

    QueenOfSpades Notebook Consultant

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    File server might be good! Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I installed a slimmed down version of Windows XP last night, and I'm surprised at how snappy it is. Project time.
     
    QueenOfSpades, Feb 4, 2011
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  9. pillowshot

    pillowshot Notebook Consultant

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    I've always thought it'd be awesome to take an old laptop and turn it into a DIY wooden PC case project.

    For example, design a nice box made of wood, rip the screen off, install the internals into the box, cut out port holes at the back and then you have yourself a super elegant looking computer. Obviously you can leave the screen, or maybe integrate it into the wooden case?

    Naturally you wouldn't have to use wood, I only suggest it as it's easier to work with than metal.
     
    pillowshot, Feb 4, 2011
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