Uses for older laptop

[de8212]

I have an older Pentium 1.1GHz w/512MB RAM and 30GB hd. it's just sitting around and I want to do something with it. I know it runs XP pretty well.
First of all, any suggestions besides:

[*]Give it to me. Sorry not gonna do that.
[*]Donate it to (insert anythiing here). no, I'm not a greedy, mean person. I just want to do something with it.
[*]Use it as fileserver. Already got one.
[*]Sell it. Not selling it.


I'm leaning towards making a digital picture frame. While browsing around online I found a site that gives various links on how to turn a laptop into a digital picture frame.
Here's a link. Click here.
Here's even more links. Click here.

Anyone ever done this? Just looking for someone here who has some expertise in the matter. Any tips you want to share?




Open to other suggestions as well.

 

[dnuggett]

Is the battery any good? Does it have a DVD player?

 

[RossMAN]

I would sell it for around $250 - $300 on Craigslist.org

 

[de8212]

Dead battery, no DVD player. ALso forgot the mention that I am not selling it.

 

[MX2]

Digital picture frame

 

[de8212]

Originally posted by: MX2times
Digital picture frame

I am consider it. Just not sure if I definately want to. Have you done it or do you know alot about it?

 

[MX2]

Originally posted by: de8212

Originally posted by: MX2times
Digital picture frame

I am consider it. Just not sure if I definately want to. Have you done it or do you know alot about it?

No, I havent done it. I am looking for an older laptop to give it a try. I am just about whre you are. Considering it and researching the data

 

[de8212]

Originally posted by: MX2times
No, I havent done it. I am looking for an older laptop to give it a try. I am just about whre you are. Considering it and researching the data

Yep.

I have a spare wireless card I could put in it and Remote Desktop to it to add/remove pictures. I guess I could leave a USB port on it somewhere so I could hook a kb/mouse up to it if I ever needed it. Alot of those links talked about linux but I don't see the point it it really. This already has XP on it and runs fine.
I even thought about streaming movies on it but I probably would never watch anything on it. too small. PLus I'd have to install the speakers somewhere and get a remote of some sort.
Just can't decide.

 

[RossMAN]

Install Linux, Asterisk and turn it into a PBX?
http://nerdvittles.com/index.php?p=123

 

[dnuggett]

Originally posted by: de8212
Dead battery, no DVD player. ALso forgot the mention that I am not selling it.

Well there goes portable DVD player. How about getting a PC Tuner card and using it as a DVR?

 

[de8212]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Install Linux, Asterisk and turn it into a PBX?
http://nerdvittles.com/index.php?p=123

That's alotta reading. Can you tell me in one sentence or less what PBX is and what I can do with it?

 

[de8212]

Originally posted by: dnuggett

Originally posted by: de8212
Dead battery, no DVD player. ALso forgot the mention that I am not selling it.

Well there goes portable DVD player. How about getting a PC Tuner card and using it as a DVR?

Good ideas but I have a new laptop with a DVD player. And I also have a tivo.

Thanks though.

 

[Philippine Mango]

I'd just keep it, turning it into a digital picture frame is stupid for a fast laptop like that. It's 1GHz, why did you upgrade in the first place? Poor Build quality? For what a laptop is for, anything over a GHZ is a waste unless you're gaming or have a very specific application that requires lots of processing power on the go... What model/brand laptop is it?

You want a digital picture frame? get a Cheap $30/$50 laptop on ebay and use that, 1ghz laptop does NOT deserve to be treated like that...

 

[de8212]

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango
I'd just keep it, turning it into a digital picture frame is stupid for a fast laptop like that. It's 1GHz, why did you upgrade in the first place? Poor Build quality? For what a laptop is for, anything over a GHZ is a waste unless you're gaming or have a very specific application that requires lots of processing power on the go... What model/brand laptop is it?

You want a digital picture frame? get a Cheap $30/$50 laptop on ebay and use that, 1ghz laptop does NOT deserve to be treated like that...

Long story short, and I'll be nice, it's an old work laptop. Didn't cost me a dime. Been sitting here for over a year collecting dust. I have a new laptop for work because the old one was a bit dated. So I didn't just go out and buy one.
It's a gateway Solo 9550.

 

[dnuggett]

Originally posted by: de8212

Originally posted by: dnuggett

Originally posted by: de8212
Dead battery, no DVD player. ALso forgot the mention that I am not selling it.

Well there goes portable DVD player. How about getting a PC Tuner card and using it as a DVR?

Good ideas but I have a new laptop with a DVD player. And I also have a tivo.

Thanks though.

Right, but is that Tivo portable? Could you watch your shows anywhere with it?

 

[Philippine Mango]

Originally posted by: de8212

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango
I'd just keep it, turning it into a digital picture frame is stupid for a fast laptop like that. It's 1GHz, why did you upgrade in the first place? Poor Build quality? For what a laptop is for, anything over a GHZ is a waste unless you're gaming or have a very specific application that requires lots of processing power on the go... What model/brand laptop is it?

You want a digital picture frame? get a Cheap $30/$50 laptop on ebay and use that, 1ghz laptop does NOT deserve to be treated like that...

Long story short, and I'll be nice, it's an old work laptop. Didn't cost me a dime. Been sitting here for over a year collecting dust. I have a new laptop for work because the old one was a bit dated. So I didn't just go out and buy one.
It's a gateway Solo 9550.

So just use it as a regular laptop, get a new battery and upgrade the optical drive... It's not like you're ALWAYS at work.. Lets say you quit your job, do you get to keep your new work laptop or not? I'd just upgrade the old laptop you've got now and call it yours.

 

[de8212]

Originally posted by: dnuggett
Right, but is that Tivo portable? Could you watch your shows anywhere with it?

No but I do have Tivo2toGo on my other laptop and can transfer files. I get your point though.

I wish I could set it up to play tv and put it somewhere in the kitchen. Every once in a while that would come in handy. Even if I could do it I would have to run a coax through the attic and out the wall somewhere. Not really sure I want to do all that.

 

[de8212]

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango
So just use it as a regular laptop, get a new battery and upgrade the optical drive... It's not like you're ALWAYS at work.. Lets say you quit your job, do you get to keep your new work laptop or not? I'd just upgrade the old laptop you've got now and call it yours.

Nah, i might use the laptop at home once or twice ever other month. If I quit I wouldn't even want one. I have two desktops and my wife has a pc. No real need for a laptop.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Picture frame is a waste of 1.1ghz.

 

[hdeck]

store mp3s on it and use it as a compliment to your stereo system

 

[Cristatus]

Originally posted by: hdeck
store mp3s on it and use it as a compliment to your stereo system

Yea, why not use it as a juke box?

And those people sayin' it's a waste of GHZ: anything pretty much is, unless you're the gaming kind.

 

[de8212]

Originally posted by: logic1485

Originally posted by: hdeck
store mp3s on it and use it as a compliment to your stereo system

Yea, why not use it as a juke box?

And those people sayin' it's a waste of GHZ: anything pretty much is, unless you're the gaming kind.

i already have a linksys media center thingy that streams my mp3's wirelessly. It like a small boombox typer that is hooked up to a receiver/4 speakers in the garage.

 

[Philippine Mango]

Originally posted by: de8212

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango
So just use it as a regular laptop, get a new battery and upgrade the optical drive... It's not like you're ALWAYS at work.. Lets say you quit your job, do you get to keep your new work laptop or not? I'd just upgrade the old laptop you've got now and call it yours.

Nah, i might use the laptop at home once or twice ever other month. If I quit I wouldn't even want one. I have two desktops and my wife has a pc. No real need for a laptop.

Well nobody really *needs* a laptop but having one is nice, say you go on a trip.. Maybe you could get a stand and hook it into your car or something. Or have it in your car at all times in case you need to look up something while you're out. There are hundreds of uses for a laptop, it being old is even better because by the looks of things, it has no *real value* to you since you've mentioned a digital picture frame. Don't like the car idea, then keep it in the kitchen for web browsing. Just have it around incase you ever need it.

 

[Minjin]

I lend my PII 233mhz laptop (originally paid $2100 for it...) to a friend so she can access the internet. I'm sure you have a friend who could make actual use of it without destroying it.

Mark

 

[drinkmorejava]

depending on what the screen is, you could make a digital projector out of it.