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What To Do With Old Laptops?
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."
Seems fairly common, but should be easy enough.
Turn them into picture frames. http://repair4laptop.org/notebook_picture_frame.html
It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. --Albert Einstein
http://www.puppylinux.org/
Runs great on older systems. Just the thing to breathe new life into those old lappies.
____
~ |rip/\/\aster /\/\onkey
here, do this: http://www.computerswithcauses.org/
If not Dell, but they are a major manufacturer then try contacing them to see if they also recycle.
I know this is not a creative use, but whats the point of having old hardware lying around if it they have "various problems with power supplies and/or batteries"
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There are many folks that would really benefit from a computer with an productivity suite and Internet capabilities. Install linux and open office then give away on freecycle.org. Caveat that there is no support available.
http://www.freecycle.org/
It doesn't need to be "poor people" necessarily. Sanitising and http://www.freecycle.org/ are good starts. Granted, I presume the poster didn't get them from CL or FC...
I would check ebay prices (final selling prices, not mid-auction bids) because I'm surprised you don't think they'd be worth the price of shipping. My experience is that used working laptops have surprisingly high prices because many people know they just need something simple for doing schoolwork etc. I mean, look at this (then again maybe those guys are just crazy - $930!!??). Linux should run great on those laptops. P3's in particular really are not bad computers and might even have a DVD reader.
Just sell them on Ebay as spare parts. The buyer can cover your shipping costs, so that's a non-issue. Depending on the model, the LCD itself is probably worth at least $50 so you will probably get plenty of bids.
We have an excellent organization in the San Francisco Bay Area http://www.accrc.org/ run by a bunch of Linux geeks that takes anything you can plug in and finds the best use for it. I've always donated in person as I live just a few miles away, but their web site has info for out-of-state donations.
I eat only the real part of complex carbohydrates.
What about the 'trons?
Some of that older stuff draws a not-insignificant amount of current, no? Nice gadget, but if it adds $5/month to the electric bill to just turn it on and fuggedaboudit, that adds up.
Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
www.freecycle.org Give them to those that want. If you are feeling nice install a nice clean XP image (if they have a sticker for it) or install Ubuntu and tweak it to run well on old hardware for them.
Install Ubuntu, and install them around the house, you as picture frames, weather reporters, etc. Perhaps have one in the kitchen to view recipes online? Media centers?
There are a TON of things to do.
I setup an LTSP setup a year ago and it is brilliant. We got one powerful machine (quadcore CPU, 4 GB RAM, etc.) and plug all the old machines we can get into a gigabyte switch connected to this server. Just plug it in, make it boot from the network and you got another (fast) machine to work on. I used K12LTSP 5EL (based on CentOS 5) and it just works out of the box. http://k12ltsp.org/
these sell at $200 - $300 in my country. so yes, many charities and NGOs will be very happy to get them.
I was looking into this and it seemed that the two biggest costs were the lcd screen and the bulb. If your a hobbiest it might be something to consider doing with one of the lcd screens in the laptops. But your still left with the rest of them.
Not sure what else you could do with them. You could donate them to some local school and say have the kids fix them up to use as some kind of club. though the children probably have better computers already the little brats.
You could try taking all the LCD screens and making one big display, sounds like too much work though. Not alot you can do with some left over laptops. I know you said you didn't want to sell them but if you sell them on ebay for parts they can sometimes grab a couple hundred bucks after shipping.
Just sell them on eBay and have the buyer pay for S&H. S&H should be no more than $20, and with laptops that old, people don't expect the batteries to be too good. Hell, just sell them w/out the batteries and S&H will be even less.
For a while I was looking for 1Ghz T23's, just to have something to bring to class to take notes with. Prices for those hovered around $200+, I believe.
LPT ports too, which make them ideal platform for various vehicle (car, boat) computers and robotic platform controller hobby applications.
Another application I would use them for is making my own dial-in access/fax/print server, so that I can dial home from away using (new) laptop modem or even my smartphone GSM modem and access my home LAN, which would allow me to check mail, file server, LAN/broadband gateway and home automation host (which could be another old laptop). In fact, single old laptop could host a broadband modem (cable or ADSL), act as router, print server, dial-in, fax server, mail server and home automation host...
All of those applications doesn't require working internal battery at all. Bt if the battery is OK, if you like and know how to tinker with electronics, those computers could be turned into nice oscilloscopes, or logic analyzers, or any instruments for that matter (MIDI sequencer, synthesizer).
I actually envy this guy. One man's garbage is another man's treasure. Oh, well...
I do this a lot with family who can't or doesn't want to afford a game console. There are lots of amazing games that can run on a PII. I recently made a laptop 'game console' for my brother in law (who's 14), loaded with Windows 98 and 50 games (actually about 200 games, but only 50 have icons on the desktop so as to not overwhelm him). A PII will run most of the best Windows games out there (HL, HOMM, AOW, supposedly even Civ III), not to mention all of the awesome DOS games.
:-)
The only downside is that if he plugs it in to a network, it might not last very long, but there's always hotseat multiplayer
If you recycle it through Costco's web site, they'll sometimes give you cash for it. At the very least you can get rid of stuff for free, including monitors. You tell them what you have at the site and they send you a postage paid box.
I know you were trying to be funny, but it's quite sad that these things are taken for granted and put to waste. Please visit the following link for what I think to be the best use of your laptops: http://www.laptopgiving.org/en/index.php
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Don't forget charter schools, if they exist in your area. They're almost always underfunded. I taught 9-year-olds "KidBasic" using Win98 boxes, and they had a blast!
Cheap laptops are great to use as... cheap laptops!
I've got a few old Thinkpads (P2/P3 processors) ubuntu+firefox+wifi card and leave them sitting on the coffee table in my living room, the coffee table in my home theater room, the work bench in my garage, etc.
Watching TV and need to think of where else you know that actor? Hop online and check IMDB.
Playing a game and need a strategy guide for that boss you're having trouble with? Hop online and check gamefaqs.
Working on your car and need to look up a part number? Hop online and google it.
Cooking something and want to lookup a recipe? Hop online and google it.
They slide easily under a couch and a single power lead is easy enough to manage, not to mention you can quickly check email/banking or other online crap when you think of it instead of putting it off until you happen to be sitting back at your desk.
some of the old think pads also have IR ports and you can get software to make it into an Uber Remote for your home theater setup too.
If you're looking for something more creative then just another computer but less generic than a picture frame... P2s are powerful enough to run some older MAME games. Buy a cabinet template online, make a trip to home depot and build yourself a cocktail cabinet that plays all the old favorites from the 70s and 80s. You could probably get it done for less than $100 in materials.
Collector's Edition
My old laptop's LCD died. This was one of many parts that had died over the last year or two, including the HDD (twice), the motherboard, and the RAM. So I got a new Asus G1 lappy which continues to serve me well.
But what to do with the old lappy? Well, it still boots up and connects to an external display... Bingo, a web server! Generally, if you're running a personal server on your home connection, as long as you're not adversely affecting your ISP's network, they won't care (or know about it). If your battery still works (mine does not, alas), you've even got a built-in UPS!
It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
- E. Debs
As far as I know, OLPC doesn't take used laptops for their program. They only take monetary donations for new XO's. Have you found differing information?
No big deal on shipping - most ebay sellers will list that separately from the sales price.
If you don't want to futz with them (get them working again), then: (1) post on Craigs List under Free and "Porch Pickup" and do that or (2) post on ebay with all defects (needs battery, cracked case, powers up etc), the manufacturer/model number and what it has (10GB HDD, 128MB RAM, etc) with $1 starting price and $15 for shipping. I ship many repaired desktop towers for $20 that have full CD/HDD/metal cases - I suspect your laptops will ship in the (newer/larger) post office priority mail box for $12 with some padding.
If you have a P2/3-500Mhz or faster you can run Xubuntu Linux fine (I'm using one for work travel and presentations now with the latest 8.04 loaded - battery is bad but the rest is ok) And have used a P2-350Mhz with Xubuntu 6.06 since it has a good battery. I save any files on a USB flash drive anyway. Open Office productivity suite, Firefox browser, Thunderbird email, and Gimp are my main tools (you can try these out on Windows too).
I only hear about laptops and desktops "being too old/slow for anything by people living in Windows... 98SE worked ok for P2's, needed P3/P4's for XP, need multicore/big ram for Vista...
I just set up a Xubuntu 8.04 server with LTSP.org for the neighbors kids (to get them off Mom & Dad's pc). The server is P3-733Mhz, one client is P2-233Mhz - that only displays/keyboard/mouse activity for that user logged into the server while the other kid is local on the server. Also installed Dansguardian to protect the kids from the shadier side of the internet. Happy kids and Parents.
I have set up a small manufacturing company based on Linux and LTSP - from receptionist to shipping department for $50 in purchased equipment (the rest was considered "scrap - too old to use" by the those getting rid of it. Great for bootstrapping new businesses.
Keep in mind, the typical recycling center just shreds equipment (there are some impressive YouTube videos if you search). This takes a significant amount of energy and nasty chemicals to sort, remelt, and create new computer equipment from. This especially includes computer manufacturers taking returns (they want old units out of circulation so you buy new ones they make). Refurbishing/reusing allows people to avoid the expense and environmental issues of a few upgrade cycles.
For some more ideas see a project of mine (Green Land PC) I'm sure there is someone near your location (craig's list is the quickest way to locate) for local support. If you can cover shipping I can suggest alternatives or find homes for them.
And, laptops are low-profile. Shove them in a closet or under your desk. If they'll run too hot, spend $5 and get one of those cooling-pads with fans built in. remote control the laptop server whenever you need to. If you need console access-- it has a built-in keyboard, mouse and screen.
If you can fit 2 nics in them, they'll make excellent firewall appliances. Most laptops will come with a NIC built-in. Add a second PC-MCIA nic. If they're P2/P3, they might even have a modem built in. You can add fax-capabilities onto the server. Heck, if you're ambitious enough, set it up as a PBX. Have fun automatically routing telemarketers to an eternal on-hold "Chocolate Rain" message. Automatically reply to fax-spam with Hello.JPG.
If you are going to go the donation route, then look into making a portable lab for a school. Install wireless nics on each computer, and configure them to talk nicely to a wireless router. Then donate the whole shebang to a school. Schools need a computers for a lot of students, but not necessarily all at once. A lab of 10-20 computers that can be moved room-to-room is perfect for a lesson that needs computer access in a place other than a computer lab. (Taking it into a science lab so they can run spreadsheet calculations on experiment results, eg).
If it's a P3, it should be powerful enough to make a usable HTPC out of. Most P3 laptops I've seen have TV-Out built into them. Hook them up to a TV. Transfer media files to it as needed (I assume they have a 8-12GB HDD). Alternately, slap a large-capacity USB hard drive onto it and make it double as a fileserver.
Lots of uses.
UTF-8: There and Back Again
Another option is donating it to FREE GEEK, http://freegeek.org/, a 501(c)(3) not for profit community organization in Portland, OR.
They recycle used technology to provide computers, education, internet access and job skills training to those in need in exchange for community service.
Another option: I was able to donate an ancient, not-great-when-it-was-new lap-top to the local community center.
It was virtually useless to me, but they loved it. Some of the kids they work with are very techie-inclined, but their families can't afford even one computer. The center has computers that they can use, but of course they can't let the kids do anything that might mess them up. So an anchient, free, laptop was just the thing. First the some of the kids had fun figuring out how to work the Linux. And then since it was so old, they could let the kids who loved to tinker with things go to town on it, without worrying that they might break it. Great fun was had by all.
Tiger Direct offers and excellent alternative. The company offers fixed amount gift certifies for used equipment. The best part? They will provide you a prepaid shipping label -- even for heave desktop systems.
While recycling your electronics probably will not make you rich, the recovered cash and closet space makes it worth it. You also get the bonus of knowing that your used tech will staying out of the landfill.
Good luck on the $100 bit. I'd say you will pay that for the joysticks and buttons alone. The material will probalby run you another $100 after you add up the lumber, screws, glue, molding, bits, etc. Probably ~$25 for the plexi and around $50 for the usb style keyboard hack. If you're lucky you might get it done for $500. Not to say it wouldn't be worth it, I just don't want you to be misled.
If you have tried to siphon gas from an American car in the past 30 years, you'd know that there are baffles in the fill pipe and tank that make inserting a siphon hose next to impossible. You need to either get access to the fuel tank by removing the in tank fuel pump (not too hard on many cars) or you need to disconnect a fuel line and probably activate the in tank fuel pump.
You can't see ANYTHING from a car, You've got to get out of the goddamned contraption and walk...Edward Abbey
My bad. I googled it and clicked the wrong link. I can't find the exact site, but techsoup has a list of people to donate it to: http://www.techsoup.org/resources/index.cfm?action=resource.view_summary&resourcelist_id=144&style=recycle&set=products
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Guess what - a computer that old that doesn't run commonly used software (in others, MS Office, and an up to date web browser) is of no more interest to most non-profit groups that it is to you. They can buy a new system for $500 and likely have no interest in whatever ancient laptops are cluttering up you garage.
If you can't think of a use for it, and you can't think of anyone in your immediate circle that would want it, then it's better to pass it on to whatever group in your town can at least take a stab at recycling it.
Three Squirrels
Sorry to go so far OT, but the parent poster is wildly misleading about the process of removing the fuel pump. "...removing the in tank fuel pump (not too hard on many cars)..."
The in-tank fuel pump is attached to a "manhole" opening on the top of the tank. Since the tank is mounted under the car this means removal requires first removing the gas tank, a nontrivial task. In the US market, the overwhelming majority require removal of the tank in order to service the in-tank fuel pump.
The only exceptions I know of were 2 European manufacturers' products, all from the early 80's through early 90's. There may be others, but I do not have 1st hand knowledge of them.
Hey, if I'm gonna take off on a tangent, I'm gonna take it well past the limits of sanity.