For years, I’ve had a shelf stuffed with outdated laptops. I developed a sentimental attachment to every of them and could not muster the nerve to get rid of them. Though they nonetheless work, these outdated laptops now not meet my present wants.
After a lot consideration, I stumbled upon an article that showed how a colleague repurposed old Androids, and it gave me the intense thought of repurposing my outdated laptops. It took loads of analysis and considering, however I used to be stunned by how helpful a few of them have turn out to be once more. I am solely questioning why it took so lengthy.
Flip your outdated laptop computer right into a devoted distraction-free writing machine
Strip away the noise and make deep work unavoidable
I am a author, and in additional than you may anticipate, there’s loads of multitasking and plenty of processes that go into writing a characteristic piece. I’ve to spend hours researching, testing software program, and experimenting. All this occurs earlier than really placing pen to paper. So naturally, my major laptop computer has gathered much more software program and instruments than I envisioned.
This left the pc nice for nearly all the pieces, however too distracting after I simply want to put in writing. So, one of many first issues I did was repurpose certainly one of my outdated laptops into a tool that merely refuses to multitask.
This laptop computer was once gradual, however I figured that if I installed a lightweight operating system and stripped it of all apps other than my core writing software program, it would not be as gradual. Now, I’ve a few of my most targeted and productive writing periods utilizing my outdated laptop.
Convert it right into a low-power private server you absolutely management
Self-host your recordsdata, backups, and instruments with out renting the cloud
For some time, I’ve been quietly experimenting with open-source software. However the true power of open supply is self-hosting your favourite instruments. I can use my major laptop computer as a server, but it surely would not be splendid. The continual energy drain would imply my major gadget is continually charging. It makes the gadget much less cell, and internet hosting companies within the background would compete with energetic each day duties for storage and reminiscence.
So, one other laptop computer ended up below my desk. Although the lid is closed, it actively does the work that I as soon as outsourced to cloud companies.
The objective of repurposing this laptop computer wasn’t merely to economize, however to retain management of the place my information lived and who had entry to it.
Construct a non-public VPN and network-wide advert blocker
Infrastructure you solely recognize as soon as it’s in place
If privateness and safety matter as a lot to you, having a devoted laptop that doubles as a VPN and network-wide advert blocker makes all of the distinction. This may be among the finest methods to get probably the most out of a low-spec or outdated laptop.
I had postpone this undertaking for too lengthy as a result of I all the time assumed it was too complicated. In the end, it turned out to be much less technical than I anticipated. Utilizing instruments like Umbrel or CasaOS, the setup turns into just like an App Retailer in your residence server. I exploit PiVPN (for the VPN) and Pi-hole (for the advert blocker), and although these two had been constructed for the Raspberry Pi, they run flawlessly on outdated computer systems.
With this setup, even after I journey or connect with new Wi-Fi, I really feel secure as a result of my visitors routes again residence routinely by means of my devoted VPN and advert blocker.
Flip an outdated laptop right into a everlasting sensible residence command middle
One display screen that replaces a dozen tiny selections on daily basis
Have you ever ever thought of a laptop computer that stays within the kitchen? Effectively, this could possibly be your outdated laptop transformed into an IoT server. It sits there and reveals you simply what you might want to see, reside on one display screen. It offers you management over lights, sensors, schedules, and alerts.
This is among the finest methods to reuse an outdated laptop computer since you aren’t tempted to browse the net or tinker with it. This laptop is a fixture, identical to your thermostat or wall clock.
When all the pieces’s advantageous, you don’t take into consideration the pc as a result of it serves no different function. However when one thing’s off, you discover it immediately.
Create an ambient info show
A display screen that informs with out demanding your consideration
I spend a bit of my time checking notifications simply to reassure myself that I am not lacking something necessary. Nevertheless it’s even worse: checking a easy calendar occasion on a telephone can spiral right into a rabbit gap. In seconds, you are going by means of unread emails and social media alerts.
Repurposing an outdated laptop computer to seize notifications fixes this drawback. You’ll be able to configure it to show solely slow-changing info, equivalent to upcoming deadlines, timers, and climate. Ideally, you need to mount the pc strategically the place you all the time have entry to the display screen, or simply preserve it within the nook of your desk.
This manner, it is not actively notifying or distracting you, however simply by elevating your gaze, you see this display screen within the background, appearing like screens used to, earlier than they turned interruptive.
Don’t Throw Away Your Old Smart TV: 8 Ways You Can Reuse It
Your sensible TV could also be outdated, but it surely nonetheless has loads of life left in it.
Deliver outdated laptops again to life
You needn’t hit each merchandise on this checklist, however the objective is to point out that an outdated laptop has makes use of past sitting on a shelf gathering mud.
They turn out to be potent instruments you should use so as to add some consolation, ease, or additional productiveness to your each day routines. It is time to deliver the outdated computer systems again to life.
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