Last time, I challenged everyone to shout out with new ideas for those old TiVo boxes. The response was fantastic. I’m not feeling too exotic tonight, so I’ll make it easy: The laptop. Years ago I found an article on using old laptop screens to make an electronically dimmed window. At tie time, LCD panels were $1000 items. Today, screens and old laptops can be picked up for a song.
Since ‘Hackit’ is a new idea, I’m still working out just how I’m going to handle it. Each week I’m going to bring up some hardware. You guys get to pick your brains and suggest new, interesting projects. Every so often, I’ll tally up some of the best ideas and put up a bounty for pulling one of them off. Maybe it’ll be cash, maybe some spiffy hardware – I’ll let you know when we get to it.
So, got a better idea? Let’s hear it.
I have an old Hitachi 8mm vhs camcorder still in good working order. Since I recently purchased a new DV camcorder, I’d like to find/get some ideas on how to convert/hack the Hitachi for other uses, perhaps even the possibility of converting it to a digital camcorder.
Thanks.
how about a car alarm ran from and secured from old laptops …with gps . cameras for all situtations …now with the wireless anywhere anytime tech …it would be an ideal test for the durability of hardware
I’ve found that a touch screen computer (Fujitsu LT-500 500MHz) and a gps with DeLorme maps makes a great Mobile GPS and mp3 player for my car. With Foxit PDF reader and two gigs of PDF’s it becomes an ebook reader. And I have Artrage for making sketches. Cheapest and most useful thing thing I ever bought.
Man, I wish I was remotely technical so I could think of something new. I have old laptops strewn around the house!
Another idea that I didn’t see (I could have missed it) is a simple throw away/disposable laptop. There are always those people that cross you and deserve to be punished. Do your deeds, such as creating an ad on Craigslist for some free item and put in all your enemies information, do this at a public hot spot so nothing traces back to you, and if need be destroy the laptop.
@Jeremy V – Video cards are usually dead or alive, they rarely transcend that gap. Your LCD is most likely dieing. The best way to determine this would be hooking it up to an external monitor. If the display looks fine after a couple restarts, then it’s your LCD, if it’s still messed up it’s most likely your video card. You should also check the connection of your video cable, make sure it’s seated properly.
@thewiz453 – How do you expect to power such a creation? Cars sometimes sit idle for 12hrs+ at a time. The car battery would most likely drain if not started after 8 hours or so.
@Madis – Disconnect the laptop from every power source(Battery + AC Adapter), then disconnect the BIOS battery for a couple seconds, poof no BIOS password. If that doesn’t work you will need to find the jumper(s) associated with the BIOS and pull those.
@Dan – I love that idea, maybe even incorporate a wireless mouse and keyboard that can be stashed out of the way until they are needed.
Hello from Germany! May i quote a post a translated part of your blog with a link to you? I’ve tried to contact you for the topic HackIt: New life for old laptops? – Hack a Day, but i got no answer, please reply when you have a moment, thanks, Spruch
All these are great suggestions, but here is mine.
I have an old laptop with heating issues and no screen. I would love the ability to make it a wireless controller for my desktop PC, which happens to be hooked to my TV for media playback.
Anyone know where i can find such a program?
What I want is make an old laptop into a reader, but a huge one ofcourse. Like a tablet PC really, but not touchscreen. The idea is basically to have the screen in portrait mode, and below it the touchpad and buttons. Can be used to read books. and do other touchpad (no keyboard) tasks. It would be cool. But how to.
This charger is cheaper ($ wise) comes with a car charger
and Adapter. Works as good as the Nikon charger. I depend on
this for a living! Don’t hesitate!