Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

What To Do With Old Laptops?

Posted by kdawson on from the aside-from-warming-old-laps dept.

An anonymous reader writes "I've recently acquired a few old P2/P3 laptops. Most either work properly but are slow, or have various problems with power supplies and/or batteries. Attempting to sell them would probably earn less than the cost of shipping, so that's out of the question. I was hoping the Slashdot crowd could give me some ideas on what to do with these old computers. As somebody who already has ~10 computers lying around the house there is certainly no need for an additional computer to 'experiment' with, so I was hoping for some more creative suggestions."

31 of 620 comments (clear)

  1. Bonfire by wiredog · · Score: 4, Funny

    A gallon of gasoline and a match.

    --

    Best Slashdot Co
    1. Re:Bonfire by Davemania · · Score: 4, Funny

      Not with the current gas price

    2. Re:Bonfire by Smidge207 · · Score: 2, Funny
      Naw, you need Cat D6, 3rd gear forward, rabbit mode and lower the blade.... ^_^

      =Smidge=

      --
      Is it just my observation, or is eldavojohn an idiot?
    3. Re:Bonfire by getto+man+d · · Score: 5, Funny

      1.siphon 2.neighbors car 3.bonfire

    4. Re:Bonfire by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      I just misrepresent them on e-bay and pawn them off on some unsuspecting sucker :)

    5. Re:Bonfire by name*censored* · · Score: 4, Funny

      Hey! So you're the one who sold me that "brand new core 2 duo 3 gb ram 250gb hdd 15.4" acer"!

      Slashdot admins, I demand you ban this "Anonymous Coward" fellow's account. He's been nothing but trouble from day 1!

      --
      Commodore64_love: I don't comprehend people who're so frightened of death that they'll bankrupt themselves to stay alive
    6. Re:Bonfire by bennomatic · · Score: 4, Funny

      4. ???
      5. Profit!

      --
      The CB App. What's your 20?
    7. Re:Bonfire by 0100010001010011 · · Score: 2, Funny

      If you're going to go, go big. 797 all the way.

    8. Re:Bonfire by ozmanjusri · · Score: 5, Funny
      Fun for you and another guaranteed Slashdot mention!

      Even better, install Puppy Linux and a countdown screensaver, boot it up in an airport or other public place, then walk away.

      Not only will you get the laptop demolished for free, you might even make it to the real news!

      --
      "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
    9. Re:Bonfire by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      4. ??? == Marshmellow

    10. Re:Bonfire by evanbd · · Score: 4, Funny

      Just be glad it wasn't a bobcat.

  2. Virus Farm by Davemania · · Score: 5, Funny

    Create a virtual virus zoo.

    1. Re:Virus Farm by mbeware · · Score: 5, Funny

      Obligatory : http://xkcd.com/350/

  3. So I understand you correctly . . . . by UnknowingFool · · Score: 5, Funny

    the real question you're asking is Will it blend?

    --
    Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    1. Re:So I understand you correctly . . . . by rah1420 · · Score: 4, Funny

      I don't believe I'm losing mod points by answering this, but I only have a one word answer for you -

      Vita-Mixer.

      --
      Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens.
    2. Re:So I understand you correctly . . . . by geekoid · · Score: 4, Funny

      If I am going to spend 500 dollars on a blender, it had better blend iPods and glow sticks!

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  4. I dare you... by linuxpyro · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...To try to get Vista running on one of them.

    Then again setting yourself on fire would probably be a much more pleasant experience.

    --
    Saying "I'll probably get modded down for this" in a post is the best way to get it modded up.
    1. Re:I dare you... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Won't the two ideas end up in the same way?

    2. Re:I dare you... by boyko.at.netqos · · Score: 2, Funny

      ...To try to get Vista running on one of them.

      Then again setting yourself on fire would probably be a much more pleasant experience. Not with these gas prices.
      --
      I used to work for NetQoS. I no longer do, but want to keep the excellent karma attached to this account.
  5. Land Fill by bushboy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Dig a big hole in your yard, throw them in and cover it over again.

    It works for big business, so it should work for you too.

    --
    A slashdotting - you get the stick first and then the carrot !
  6. Skeet Shooting by hbean · · Score: 5, Funny

    PULL!

    --
    "Give someone a program, frustrate them for a day... Teach someone to program, frustrate them for a lifetime."
  7. coasters by easyEmu · · Score: 3, Funny

    Use them as coasters.

  8. Air Force by pvt_medic · · Score: 4, Funny

    I hear the air force is looking for some computers for a Bot Net

    --
    30% Troll, 50% Underrated, 10% Interesting
    Score:5, Troll
  9. what i would do by FudRucker · · Score: 5, Funny

    i would take old laptops, install Linux on it with a bittorrent client, load it with lots of mp3 & mpeg files that make the MPAA & RIAA really angry and find a good wifi hotspot and plug the AC adapter to a spare outlet and abandon it, (be sure to wipe any fingerprints off beforehand)...

    --
    Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
  10. Re:Take them outside for a change. by LighterShadeOfBlack · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'd treat them to a nice day at the rifle range. But laptops don't have fingers. I don't get it.
    --
    Spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and stupid comments are intentional.
  11. Obligatory Karma Loss by dreamchaser · · Score: 1, Funny

    Imagine a beowulf cluster of old laptops!

  12. Ultimate nerd relaxation by Oktober+Sunset · · Score: 5, Funny

    Bathtime surfing!!

    and when one goes splash, just get out another.

    --
    What if Tetris was invented by Nazis?
    1. Re:Ultimate nerd relaxation by creature124 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Unfortunately, he would only have chance to have one go splash, since after that he would probably come down with a bad case of dead.

  13. The Sears Catalog of the 21st Century by Deputy+Doodah · · Score: 2, Funny

    Sears doesn't send out those big thick catalogs any more, so children all over the country are hurting for booster seats during family get-togethers.
    An old laptop is thick enough to get them high enough to reach their plates.

  14. Re:Kids by Bazman · · Score: 2, Funny

    So your biggest expense on these was... Win2k!??

  15. Re:Mount it under the cabinet by Kamokazi · · Score: 3, Funny

    I now want an old laptop for my kitchen. Why the hell didn't I ever think of this?!?!

    --
    As our way of thanking you for your positive contributions to Slashdot, you are eligible to disable Slashdot 2.0.