I have a tendency to switch my laptops each three to 5 years, however more often than not the outdated machine continues to be completely usable. Which suggests I’ve have to determine what to do with it or threat finally drowning beneath a pile of transportable computer systems.

The excellent news is that there is virtually all the time one thing helpful you are able to do with an outdated laptop computer that does not contain contributing to a landfill someplace, and I’ve ten ideas for you locked and loaded.

10

Streaming Server

In the event you’ve ever thought of working a Plex, Jellyfin, or Emby server otherwise you’re presently working it on the identical laptop you utilize for different issues, then a spare outdated laptop computer will be the proper resolution for a devoted server.

For fairly a very long time, I used an M1 MacBook Professional with a damaged contact bar as my Plex server, till I converted to a devoted mini-PC for that function.

Laptops are an incredible resolution since you get a display screen, keyboard and mouse multi functional system. You may set it up proper subsequent to your router for a direct Ethernet connection and the absolute best efficiency, or cover it someplace in a closet the place you’ll be able to nonetheless simply entry it for upkeep. A USB 3 hub and some exterior exhausting drives can have you sorted for media storage, and if it is even mildly fashionable the laptop computer ought to deal with transcoding with out breaking a sweat.

9

Headless Laptop computer Pc

One of the fragile components of a laptop computer is the display screen. The hinge is a standard level of failure, and there are many delicate cables and different elements that may result in display screen failure, with restore prices that do not make it price your whereas. Nonetheless, you continue to have a superbly practical laptop, simply lacking a working display screen.

So you’ll be able to merely dock the laptop computer and use it as a desktop laptop with a separate set of peripherals, or you’ll be able to go all the way in which and switch it right into a “slabtop” the place you take away the display screen and maintain utilizing the remainder of the pc linked to an exterior monitor.

Whereas this appears way more common with Macs, there is no motive you’ll be able to’t carry out the identical operation on a non-Mac laptop computer.

8

House Safety

Most dwelling safety techniques now use IP cameras and different network-connected gadgets. Many of those techniques additionally depend on cloud storage and even cost a subscription price for the privilege.

In case you have a devoted laptop to run your cameras and different safety gadgets with applicable desktop software program, you may save your self some cash in the long term, keep away from privateness points from sending your knowledge over the online, and be immune to each energy and web outages compromising your house safety.

7

Make It a NAS

Talking of cloud storage, I am already as much as 4TB of the stuff and it isn’t low cost! Lots of tech lovers, not less than in my circle, are beginning to put collectively their very own NAS (Community-Hooked up Storage) options, however you’ll be able to DIY it with out spending a whole bunch of {dollars} on purpose-built NAS techniques.

As an alternative, you’ll be able to simply take that outdated laptop computer, hook it as much as a bunch of exhausting drives, and set up the software program you’ll want to flip it right into a NAS. You may even have some drives already mendacity round that you should utilize, so for all you now you now have all of the components you’ll want to construct a NAS, and you’ll improve it over time.

6

Construct a Retro Gaming Setup

Retro gaming is all the trend, as properly it needs to be. In any case, virtually the entire finest video games ever made are up to now, not the current!

In case you have an outdated laptop computer you do not want any extra, you will have nearly limitless choices to show it into some kind of kick-ass retro gaming system. Nearly any laptop computer has sufficient efficiency to play retro video games, and that features 3D video games from the yr 2000 or earlier, and possibly video games from the Xbox 360 period, if it has respectable built-in graphics.

You may construct a house arcade cupboard across the machine, or hook it as much as a CRT monitor and cargo it with a retro-friendly working sytstem to play some traditional PC video games. The world is your retro oyster.

5

Use It for House Automation

Lots of dwelling automation options are cloud dependent and all you’ve got actually completed is pay for the {hardware} in your house, whereas the actual “smarts” reside elsewhere. Effectively, for those who use dwelling automation options like Home Assistant or openHAB (to call however two) you’ll be able to have the brains in your dwelling automation in your house the place it belongs.

These packages are usualy lighweight sufficient to run on one thing like a Raspberry Pi, so your outdated laptop computer might be highly effective sufficient to deal with your house automation wants and one thing else, like being a Plex server or a NAS.

4

Make a Seedbox

Loads of folks use BitTorrent know-how, regardless of peer-to-peer software program getting a nasty rap due to its affiliation with piracy. The actual fact is that torrenting is completely authorized, and it is usually one of the best ways to distribute recordsdata. Particularly on the subject of open-source software program, or public initiatives just like the Internet Archive.

If you wish to contribute to those initiatives, or if you wish to make recordsdata obtainable by means of BitTorrent, a seedbox is your finest guess. You may lease one on-line for a number of {dollars} a month, however in case you have a spare laptop, you’ll be able to set it up as a devoted seedbox, which is not any more durable than making a torrent and internet hosting the file in your laptop, whereas hopefully another folks can even begin internet hosting it to take the pressure off your bandwidth.

3

Make an HTPC Out of It

Sure, all of us have sensible TVs and streaming bins now, however there’s nonetheless a number of good causes to have an HTPC, together with the power to retailer and play really high-quality media which might be exhausting to stream even over your native community from one thing like a Plex server.

In case you have a laptop computer that may run comfortably with the lid closed, then it could slide neatly into your TV stand when you use a wi-fi keyboard and mouse to regulate it. Then you can begin exploring the world of HTPC software program, and all of the superb issues you are able to do with it when you’re free from the walled gardens that premade bins and sensible TVs characterize.

2

Do DIY Initiatives

I’ve already talked about a number of issues on this listing that rely as “DIY” initiatives, like turning your laptop computer into an arcade, however mixed with enjoyable toys like an Arduino, you’ll be able to have enjoyable constructing, coding, or making different devices that may use a pc at their core to work.

You may construct a climate station, use it to be taught coding, check out new working techniques, arrange dwelling recording for a podcast, or simply about any passion or venture that would use a reasonably highly effective laptop. It is also a possibility to take the laptop computer itself aside and use the elements for different DIY initiatives, equivalent to rebuilding it right into a 3D-printed case.

1

Dedicate It as a 3D Printing PC

I’ve two 3D printers now, so technically I suppose i’ve a small print farm at dwelling. I primarily use my MacBook to run the slicers and retailer the recordsdata for these gadgets, but when I ever have a spare outdated laptop coming my means, I believe I would wish to dedicate it to the 3D printing machines, in order that I can maintain all of the recordsdata, software program, and different digital requirements in a single place.

In the event you’re a maker of some type (laser slicing, Cricut, 3D printer, and so on.) then I believe it could be actually handy to have one laptop that handles all that work. Particularly if a number of folks find yourself utilizing these machines. At any time when somebody wants one thing printed in my home, it has to undergo my private Mac, and that will get outdated quick.

---

I’ve all the time been of the thoughts that you simply actually cannot have too many computer systems, and that there is a job for each considered one of them of you now the place to look. A working laptop computer is a present, even it it isn’t the most recent, quickest factor round. Even when you do not have a use for it, there’s an excellent likelihood another person will, and if it actually is barely good as junk, then junk it responsibly.