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What to do with a spare computer

I have an obsolete IBM R50e laptop. I've been considering throwing it out lately. I can salvage the memory, DVD drive, CPU and more from it, but I wonder what alternative things I can do with it at home.

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@Arjan: I saw that question before asking mine, and there is a difference. That one is asking for PCs whereas I'm asking for laptop-related solutions. The answers should differ in this regard. For example, it is possible to convert an old laptop into a wall-mounted digital picture frame. – Mehper C. Palavuzlar Jan 31 '11 at 13:39
But you're not getting laptop specific answers — probably as the question does not at all limit to that? Even your own answer did not limit on specific laptop scenarios! On the other hand: What should I do with this old Toshiba Laptop? is closed as a duplicate of that very same question (but was not necessarily a good close of course). – Arjan Jan 31 '11 at 14:00
@Arjan: I would suggest unclosing What should I do with this old Toshiba Laptop? and (maybe) merging with mine, although I'm not sure if this is possible/applicable. – Mehper C. Palavuzlar Jan 31 '11 at 14:07
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closed as exact duplicate by Arjan, KronoS, studiohack♦, Troggy♦ Jan 31 '11 at 19:30

This question covers exactly the same ground as earlier questions on this topic; its answers may be merged with another identical question. See the FAQ for guidance on how to improve it.

4 Answers

up vote 4 down vote accepted

You could use it as an Internet Computer with Joliecloud.

http://www.jolicloud.com/download

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up vote 4 down vote

This article offers some interesting ways for alternative uses of an old notebook: 10 useful things to do with an old laptop.

  1. Show off your photos (Convert an old laptop into a professional, wall-mounted digital picture frame.)
  2. Donate old hardware
  3. Donate CPU cycles
  4. Create a recipe book
  5. Serve up files
  6. Make an alarm clock
  7. Explore home automation
  8. Build a media ripper
  9. Make a wireless bridge
  10. Explore Linux
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up vote 1 down vote

Use it to build a NAS, consider FreeNAS its has heaps of features other than just being a NAS.

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Before I got rid of my Honda Civic (absolute dog of a car, worst £1800 I've ever spent), I was converting an old laptop be become a carputer. I had a cable going from the laptop to the AUX port on the CD player head unit and I played music through it. I had intended to put the laptop under the passenger seat and wire the audio round the back of the head unit, and connect a touch screen to the laptop so I could control it like that. It would deffinately be a talking point when driving somewhere!

Also, a man called Jason Bradbury build a Head Up Display which displayed a information from a laptop while driving. Instructions on how he done it are on his website.

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