Things to do with an old laptop

  • Thread starter Carl "Excel-Expert" Nixon
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Carl "Excel-Expert" Nixon

  • #1
    I have an old laptop gathering dust in the corner of the office (specs here) and I'm looking for some way of re purposing it. So I'm after some ideas. So far I have come up with;

    1. Convert it to a Chromebook and use it as it little more than word-processor
    2. Convert it to Linux to muck around with (I no nothing about Linux)
    3. Convert it to a games emulator and plug in to the TV (MAME, Snes, Megadrive etc)
    4. Turn it something educational for the grandson (Install kids programming languages, add an Arduino or Pi so it can control motors etc)

    Ideally I would like it to be something unusual and something the grandson could get involved with.

    Any ideas welcome
     
    AllUpHere

    AllUpHere

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  • #3
    You tech guys have real trouble thinking outside the box don't you. All the suggestions so far have involved using it as a laptop. Personally, I'd be using it as a massive coaster for my coffee mug, as a door stop, as a way to lift my monitor an inch or 2, or for target practice when my newer and more expensive tech pissed me off.
     
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    Alan

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  • #4
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  • #5
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    Carl "Excel-Expert" Nixon

  • #6
    Alan said:
    You could TRY and turn it into a Chromebook (using Neverware ) but that model isn't on the certified list https://docs.google.com/document/u/1/d/1oaFfS3QZia17FE8UBMEF4xNKhz6U2iAtbPmxZTethF0/pub so you might struggle.

    I would say that a Chromebook is much more that a Word Processor - much more.

    BUT given the spec I would go with Linux and more specifically Lubuntu which is far more suitable for lower spec machines http://lubuntu.net/
    Click to expand...
    I think which ever way I go (Chromebook or Linux) I will hit compatibility issues at some point, but nothing I shouldn't be able to workaround. Besides it will be used for nothing more than experimenting on so if I cant get the drivers for the sound to work, it is no big loss.

    Getting tempted to take it apart and re-assemble it in a picture type frame type box> I will then use it in the kitchen as a media station. I have a Plex server in the house serving all the TVs so this could extend it in to the kitchen.
     
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    Carl "Excel-Expert" Nixon

  • #7
    dave archer said:
    .
    Use it to talk to your plants .....receive their valued opinions on your day in the office...
    http://www.digitaltrends.com/home/microsoft-project-florence-lets-plants-talk/#:eultU5U4do-GlA

    Prince Charles thinks this is the way to go, the King of England's plans for the future of England may
    well be decided by the thoughts of his favourite Apple tree...

    http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/blogs/prince-charles-enjoys-talking-to-his-plants

    ...... And we worry about Brexit.
    Click to expand...
    It was experiments like that (maybe not that particular one) I was after for the grandson. Things like automated weather stations etc.

    We get a fair bit of wildlife in our back garden as we back on to a mountain, so I was also thinking of rigging up something to capture pictures of visiting hedgehogs, rabbits, foxes etc
     
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    Carl "Excel-Expert" Nixon

  • #10
    If it wasnt for the two grandsons keen to experiment with tech I probably would. It seems like an ideal opportunity to teach them about sensors, programming and even different operating systems (I'm keen for them to know that Windows is not the only OS).
     
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    JEREMY HAWKE

    JEREMY HAWKE

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  • #14
    Chuck it in the bin and take your gran children to the woods and build and shelter and have a fire because Im actully worried about a couple people I know that have become consumed by their lives in the virtual world and they do not even reconise the real world anymore
    One fool claims to be in love with a 20 year old woman in America that ignores him and he is leaving his girlfreind and am going to laugh my head off if it turns out to be 50 yo bloke
     
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    Carl "Excel-Expert" Nixon

  • #16
    JEREMY HAWKE said:
    Chuck it in the bin and take your gran children to the woods and build and shelter and have a fire because Im actully worried about a couple people I know that have become consumed by their lives in the virtual world and they do not even reconise the real world anymore
    Click to expand...

    That is kind of one of the aims behind what I'm doing. I'm looking for ideas along the lines of building a weather station, something that will track the stars, or take photos of the wildlife that passes through our garden (we back on to a mountain), compares different forms of renewable energy (if we rig up solar panels, wind turbines etc). The scope is endless so I was looking for something physical, outdoorish.
     
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    Carl "Excel-Expert" Nixon

  • #17
    My first experiment was to install Chrome OS on it, which worked remarkably well. It is now as fast as my desktop which just goes to prove how much bloat there is in a Windows operating system. I'm now tempted to replace Windows 10 with Chrome OS on an ASUS netbook I have - I only use that for surfing and word processing so it would be ideal.

    I will eventually put Linux on laptop and hook it up to some experiments for the grandkids to do over the summer holiday. Experiments we have lined up are connecting it to a telescope, connecting it to a couple of cameras in the back garden to monitor passing animals and maybe some robotic stuff.
     
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    R

    Root 66 Woodshop

  • #19
    Personally - I'd stick Kodi or SPMC on it and use it just to watch films (internet connection permitting! :D )

    download ares wizard on to it - watch a couple of how to - video's to create a build and have a play about with it - use it all the time to check for upgrades on builds, kodi/SPMC or whatever :D
     
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    Carl "Excel-Expert" Nixon

  • #20
    Alan said:
    Did you use the 'neverware' build or one from elsewhere.

    I built a Chrome OS on old laptop using 'neverware' for my dad, 87, it is such a relief to him not to have to worry about Windows software / upgrades.
    Click to expand...
    Yep, it worked a treat apart from being a bit fussy about the USB stick used. With my first USB stick I could boot from USB in to Chrome but not install it. I switched out the USB stick and it worked straight away.

    I now need to flash the BIOS in my netbook so it will boot from USB so I can install it on that as well. I just need to make sure I'm able to put Windows 10 back on it if things should go wrong.
     
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    Carl "Excel-Expert" Nixon

  • #21
    Haunted Worlds said:
    Personally - I'd stick Kodi or SPMC on it and use it just to watch films (internet connection permitting! :D )

    download ares wizard on to it - watch a couple of how to - video's to create a build and have a play about with it - use it all the time to check for upgrades on builds, kodi/SPMC or whatever :D
    Click to expand...
    I used KODI/XBMC on that laptop for about a year. It was an ideal way of getting music and video content to the bedroom. I now have a Plex server in the house which means it streams to anything (Xbox, Chromcast, Smart TV, Tablets, Computers etc). Once you get used to the differences between it and Kodi, it becomes a lot more powerful and easier to use.
     
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    S

    Stefler

  • #26
    AllUpHere said:
    You tech guys have real trouble thinking outside the box don't you. All the suggestions so far have involved using it as a laptop. Personally, I'd be using it as a massive coaster for my coffee mug, as a door stop, as a way to lift my monitor an inch or 2, or for target practice when my newer and more expensive tech pissed me off.
    Click to expand...

    I like the way you think.
     
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