Comments on: What to do with an old laptop? http://hackaday.com/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/ Fresh hacks every day Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:15:33 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Joe Bucci http://hackaday.com/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/comment-page-2/#comment-106401 Joe Bucci Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:32:02 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/#comment-106401 I've got a couple of old laptops setup as C64 machines. My old ACER 1.6 ghz 1ith 2GB RAM and 35GB Hard drive makes an EXCELLENT Commodore 64 (With the help of a few C64 emulators for XP). I've got the GB64 collection, the GEOS Collection, and an "expanded" Apps collection, ALL on the ACER. I also have an old Compaq 1247 with GREAT sound. So that's my portable MP3 Player! JB I’ve got a couple of old laptops setup as C64 machines. My old ACER 1.6 ghz 1ith 2GB RAM and 35GB Hard drive makes an EXCELLENT Commodore 64 (With the help of a few C64 emulators for XP).

I’ve got the GB64 collection, the GEOS Collection, and an “expanded” Apps collection, ALL on the ACER.

I also have an old Compaq 1247 with GREAT sound. So that’s my portable MP3 Player!

JB

]]> By: anova http://hackaday.com/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/comment-page-2/#comment-70708 anova Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:08:51 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/#comment-70708 If you have more than one, You could turn them into a more powerful cluster / beowulf like system. If you have more than one, You could turn them into a more powerful cluster / beowulf like system.

]]> By: NOMADZX4 http://hackaday.com/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/comment-page-2/#comment-52021 NOMADZX4 Sat, 22 Nov 2008 23:48:11 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/#comment-52021 what about using the screen in a snazzy slide out dual monitor setup on another older laptop...slidy..slidy!? what about using the screen in a snazzy slide out dual monitor setup on another older laptop…slidy..slidy!?

]]> By: AryuLimitless http://hackaday.com/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/comment-page-2/#comment-48978 AryuLimitless Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:42:39 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/#comment-48978 If I could find the right adapters and LCD display converters, I'd hack me a Commodore 64 DTV into my old Toshiba Satellite laptop. I can't get parts inexpensively for it, and Toshiba is so asinine in their customer service department. And, sending it in for repairs nullifies my modding!... If anyone has suggestions on hacking the display to show the DTV stuff, contact me via e-mail. Thanks. Aryu Limitless aryu.limitless@yahoo.com If I could find the right adapters and LCD display converters, I’d hack me a Commodore 64 DTV into my old Toshiba Satellite laptop. I can’t get parts inexpensively for it, and Toshiba is so asinine in their customer service department. And, sending it in for repairs nullifies my modding!…

If anyone has suggestions on hacking the display to show the DTV stuff, contact me via e-mail.

Thanks.
Aryu Limitless
aryu.limitless@yahoo.com

]]> By: Satman http://hackaday.com/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/comment-page-2/#comment-43114 Satman Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:50:24 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/#comment-43114 Ive used an old IBM laptop to make a digital picture frame too - video slide show http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/satmanuk/Movies will do some sort of blog description of the hows/how much soon Ive used an old IBM laptop to make a digital picture frame too – video slide show http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/satmanuk/Movies will do some sort of blog description of the hows/how much soon

]]> By: Sammy http://hackaday.com/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/comment-page-2/#comment-41951 Sammy Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:18:42 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/#comment-41951 Im turning my old Toshiba into a tablet PC, yes it's stupid, yes it's dumb, but at least I have something to do with it now. Getting the Earth's sorted out is extremely hard ! Im turning my old Toshiba into a tablet PC, yes it’s stupid,
yes it’s dumb, but at least I have something to do with it
now. Getting the Earth’s sorted out is extremely hard !

]]> By: Bob http://hackaday.com/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/comment-page-2/#comment-41770 Bob Sat, 13 Sep 2008 19:56:16 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/#comment-41770 HI , does anybody know how to by-pass the battery on a compaq 1200 laptop so I can run it on ac only ? Aslo anybody have any simple projects that I can do with old computors ? THANKS I,m a 65 years old retire handcap with time on my hand . please ideas to my E-Mail bobbiebayr@aol.com HI
, does anybody know how to by-pass the battery on a compaq 1200 laptop so I can run it on ac only ? Aslo anybody have any simple projects that I can do with old computors ? THANKS I,m a 65 years old retire handcap with time on my hand . please ideas to my E-Mail bobbiebayr@aol.com

]]> By: vibsden http://hackaday.com/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/comment-page-2/#comment-35582 vibsden Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:21:58 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/#comment-35582 I had a old Toshiba 486 Laptop now getting stuck in this post I am tyrying to convert it into a CD/DVD Player as Scren is fine and other things are fine too just I need is a CD/DVD Rom Drive and then remove it's O/S and load DOS and there is a unique application that can play any media CD's in MS DOS. Hope it will work out.<br>Vibsden<br> I had a old Toshiba 486 Laptop now getting stuck in this post I am tyrying to convert it into a CD/DVD Player as Scren is fine and other things are fine too just I need is a CD/DVD Rom Drive and then remove it’s O/S and load DOS and there is a unique application that can play any media CD’s in MS DOS. Hope it will work out.
Vibsden

]]> By: steve http://hackaday.com/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/comment-page-2/#comment-35581 steve Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:37:25 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/#comment-35581 Boy, I've done a lot with them:<br><br>1.) Created an autosampler for a spectrophotometer by cobbing the computer to free CNC G-Code interpreter (TurboCNC) running in dos to drive steppers. The stepper driver ran off the parallel port and a was a kit from HobbyCNC for a foam RC airplane wing cutter. This whole thing ran without even an HD - it was floppy based. It all fit way under 1 meg. G-code is great for control in non-cnc applications. It's stable and widely understood and documented. A lot better than single mfr. proprietary control languages in many ways.<br><br>2.) Simply upgraded the proc and memory way beyond the original specs on a 1998 Thinkpad 600e with a few solder hacks (see Wim's Bios site for details) and ran Ubuntu for perfectly usable performance other than gaming. Even plays DVD's cleanly.<br><br>3.) Converted into a router with floppy based Coyote Linux.<br><br>If you can hack dos and QBasic apps you can do tons of stuff with old laptops in control applications -- they have plenty of IO capability and enough computing power to handle all kinds of things -- certainly steppers. The need for modern power came mainly from GUI requirements, but are largely uneeded in control applications. Just about any computer can drive a motor or read a port. Floppies are more reliable than old hard drives, and usually all you need to doall kinds of work. A lot harder to replace a failed HD Platter than a floppy disk. Usually you can fit both a language, an app, AND data on a floppy if you just get archaic in your thinking.<br> Boy, I’ve done a lot with them:

1.) Created an autosampler for a spectrophotometer by cobbing the computer to free CNC G-Code interpreter (TurboCNC) running in dos to drive steppers. The stepper driver ran off the parallel port and a was a kit from HobbyCNC for a foam RC airplane wing cutter. This whole thing ran without even an HD – it was floppy based. It all fit way under 1 meg. G-code is great for control in non-cnc applications. It’s stable and widely understood and documented. A lot better than single mfr. proprietary control languages in many ways.

2.) Simply upgraded the proc and memory way beyond the original specs on a 1998 Thinkpad 600e with a few solder hacks (see Wim’s Bios site for details) and ran Ubuntu for perfectly usable performance other than gaming. Even plays DVD’s cleanly.

3.) Converted into a router with floppy based Coyote Linux.

If you can hack dos and QBasic apps you can do tons of stuff with old laptops in control applications — they have plenty of IO capability and enough computing power to handle all kinds of things — certainly steppers. The need for modern power came mainly from GUI requirements, but are largely uneeded in control applications. Just about any computer can drive a motor or read a port. Floppies are more reliable than old hard drives, and usually all you need to doall kinds of work. A lot harder to replace a failed HD Platter than a floppy disk. Usually you can fit both a language, an app, AND data on a floppy if you just get archaic in your thinking.

]]> By: Fernando http://hackaday.com/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/comment-page-2/#comment-35580 Fernando Sat, 19 Jul 2008 23:30:23 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/#comment-35580 Great article....but some great things were skipped. I am embarrassed to say how man laptops I have, everything from the very old to the very new. But I have only ever bought one new laptop. The rest are salvaged or built from parts.<br><br>On old laptops you can often upgrade the processor and RAM, sometimes even the graphics, to beyond what the OEM speced for it. Sometimes it takes some custom BIOS editing, but often it's a "drop in". <br><br>What do I do with old laptops? I use them! I am typing this on one that came from somebody's garbage a few days ago. It had Best Buy and Circuit City service department stickers on it....obviously they couldn't fix it. I did....and loaded Ubuntu on it (it had a tired XP installation on it).<br><br>People are paying good money for things like EEE PCs and Mac Air UMPC's....just to do simple internet and documents! Let me tell you, such tiny laptops are floating around, often for free....because people don't know what to do with them.<br><br>USE THEM!<br><br>I have at least one laptop in every room of a fairly large house....and in both my cars....and a handheld PC on my motorcycle. Most of them were free or dirt cheap....like five bucks.<br><br> Great article….but some great things were skipped. I am embarrassed to say how man laptops I have, everything from the very old to the very new. But I have only ever bought one new laptop. The rest are salvaged or built from parts.

On old laptops you can often upgrade the processor and RAM, sometimes even the graphics, to beyond what the OEM speced for it. Sometimes it takes some custom BIOS editing, but often it’s a “drop in”.

What do I do with old laptops? I use them! I am typing this on one that came from somebody’s garbage a few days ago. It had Best Buy and Circuit City service department stickers on it….obviously they couldn’t fix it. I did….and loaded Ubuntu on it (it had a tired XP installation on it).

People are paying good money for things like EEE PCs and Mac Air UMPC’s….just to do simple internet and documents! Let me tell you, such tiny laptops are floating around, often for free….because people don’t know what to do with them.

USE THEM!

I have at least one laptop in every room of a fairly large house….and in both my cars….and a handheld PC on my motorcycle. Most of them were free or dirt cheap….like five bucks.

]]> By: marvin http://hackaday.com/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/comment-page-2/#comment-35579 marvin Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:49:04 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/#comment-35579 what about turning the screen into a cheap flatscreen moniter for pc/tv? what about turning the screen into a cheap flatscreen moniter for pc/tv?

]]> By: Alek http://hackaday.com/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/comment-page-2/#comment-35578 Alek Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:52:02 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/#comment-35578 i have an old compaq armada 3500. any suggestions of which version of linux would be best to use on it? i'm hoping to use it for file storage and internet access and who knows what else. i want something close to a unix system too. y'know for oldschool-type hacking cause i'm curious =-P. and what do i need to do to install it? i'm currently running windows NT; can i leave it on there or would it be best to do away with it? i have an old compaq armada 3500. any suggestions of which version of linux would be best to use on it? i’m hoping to use it for file storage and internet access and who knows what else. i want something close to a unix system too. y’know for oldschool-type hacking cause i’m curious =-P. and what do i need to do to install it? i’m currently running windows NT; can i leave it on there or would it be best to do away with it?

]]> By: Lester http://hackaday.com/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/comment-page-2/#comment-35577 Lester Wed, 11 Jun 2008 22:11:11 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/#comment-35577 I went the digital picture frame route. Unfortunately I've collected 6 laptops to eventually do the same for, but now retail frames have gotten so cheap it's almost not worth the effort. Still a fun hack though.<br><br><a href="http://www.lestersworld.com/naq_digpictureframe.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.lestersworld.com/naq_digpictureframe.html</a><br> I went the digital picture frame route. Unfortunately I’ve collected 6 laptops to eventually do the same for, but now retail frames have gotten so cheap it’s almost not worth the effort. Still a fun hack though.

http://www.lestersworld.com/naq_digpictureframe.html

]]> By: Silentheero http://hackaday.com/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/comment-page-2/#comment-35576 Silentheero Tue, 27 May 2008 17:15:19 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/#comment-35576 I have an old Toshiba Libretto 50ct. Tiny. I would like to work on it but cannot figure out how to interface with it. No Floppy, CD, USB. It has a PCMCIA slot that I could use with a network card but the drivers for the card are on floppy. It is running 95 right now but I want to put a slim version of Ubuntu on it, add memory, and replace the hd with Compact flash cards. I have an old Toshiba Libretto 50ct. Tiny. I would like to work on it but cannot figure out how to interface with it. No Floppy, CD, USB. It has a PCMCIA slot that I could use with a network card but the drivers for the card are on floppy. It is running 95 right now but I want to put a slim version of Ubuntu on it, add memory, and replace the hd with Compact flash cards.

]]> By: ANSIL http://hackaday.com/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/comment-page-2/#comment-35575 ANSIL Mon, 26 May 2008 11:20:21 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/22/what-to-do-with-an-old-laptop/#comment-35575 Hmm i was thinking of redoing my laptop rig. last laptop had issues with life but would boot up fine. using the guitar port. and a copy of russian xp and guitar rig was able to make a simple guitar rig. sounds suprisingly good once the presets were tweaked out. lot better than th line six software that came with it. computer is a dell 1.6 gig 512 ram. all onboard video and sound. i removed the wifi system so it never tried to get online.<br><br>retrofitted into a old Sunn Head the hardest thing to work out (never got it 100% bug free) was the popup screen. there was a guy online who showed how to convert a usb joystick into a pedalboard for the line six stuff. interesting work.<br><br> Hmm i was thinking of redoing my laptop rig. last laptop had issues with life but would boot up fine. using the guitar port. and a copy of russian xp and guitar rig was able to make a simple guitar rig. sounds suprisingly good once the presets were tweaked out. lot better than th line six software that came with it. computer is a dell 1.6 gig 512 ram. all onboard video and sound. i removed the wifi system so it never tried to get online.

retrofitted into a old Sunn Head the hardest thing to work out (never got it 100% bug free) was the popup screen. there was a guy online who showed how to convert a usb joystick into a pedalboard for the line six stuff. interesting work.

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