It's nonsense to throw it away. There are various uses.
When you buy a new computer, it comes to mind. It's lighter, thinner, and faster than before, just shiny. I don't need old notebooks anymore, please wait a moment. Old notebooks can be used in the same way as old notebooks. Now, let me introduce you.
If you connect it to your home network and add some software, it will be a good home server. It's a great place to back up your files, store your photos and music, and stream your media.
·Things necessaryLaptop, FreeNAS software (free), home network
About an hour
·manner1) Download FreeNAS ISO Image. Burn to CD.
2) Put the CD burned in 1 on the laptop and restart. Boot your computer from the CD.
3) Install FreeNAS.
4) After installing FreeNAS, don't forget to make a note of the displayed IP address!
5) Go to the main terminal that uses the same network, and from there type the IP address in your browser.
6) Enter your user name and admin password to log in.
7) Set the information required for sharing. It's done!
Commercially available digital frames don't have Wi-Fi, the screen is small, and the ones I like are too expensive ... You can make the best digital frame by using an old laptop. Furthermore, because it is a digital frame of a former laptop computer, it has higher performance than commercially available ones. Bring your photos from Flickr and easily update your photos as you like.
This time, I recommend the software called Slickr. Slickr is software that displays the photos on Flickr as a screen saver. You will need a little hack to your computer. However, you will have a wonderful digital photo frame that is worth the effort.
·Things necessaryLaptop, Slickr, Flickr accounts
・ Time required for setupAlmost a full day
·manner1) To make a photo frame, first create or purchase your favorite frame.
2) Download Slickr and link it to your Flickr account.
3) Remove the LCD screen from your laptop. Be careful, be careful! At that time, also disconnect the ribbon cable that connects the laptop to the screen.
4) Place the removed item in the frame.
5) After that, if you connect to Wi-Fi, you will have a digital photo frame where you can enjoy Flickr photos!
Recommended for those who have a little unstable Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is hard to reach in areas surrounded by bricks, concrete, bookshelves, DVD shelves, etc. Use your old laptop as a relay point for your home network for a comfortable Wi-Fi life.
·Things necessaryLaptop, Ethernet cable, Connectify (for Win 7 users)
・ Time required for setupAbout 5 minutes
1) Connect the Ethernet cable from the router to your laptop.
2) Download Connectify.
3) Find and open Connectfy from your system.
4) Give the access point a name and set a password.
5) Turn on the hotspot and you're done!
・ How to do (Win Vista user)1) Connect the Ethernet cable from the router to your laptop.
2) Click Network and Sharing Center from Control Panel.
3) Create a new ad hoc wireless network from Create a new connection.
4) Set a name and password for the network.
5) Turn on internet connection sharing and you're done!
・ How to do (Mac OS X users)1) Connect the Ethernet cable from the router to your laptop.
2) Click Share in the Internet & Wireless section of System Preferences.
3) Check the Internet sharing check box and select Ethernet from the connection paths to be shared.
4) Check AirPort on the port used by the other computer below it, set the network and password, and you're done!
If your old laptop hard drive isn't dead, you can do this too. If you take out the hard drive and refill it in a more compact box, it will be easier to use. You can also get a hard drive box for around 1,000 yen.
·Things necessaryBox for laptops, drivers, hard drives
・ Time required for setupAbout an hour
·manner1) Initialize the hard drive.
2) Open your laptop and remove the hard drive.
3) Check if the hard drive you took out is IDE or SATA. (Please refer to this figure!)
4) After checking, purchase a box for your hard drive (USB connectable).
5) Connect the hard drive connector to the box port.
6) When you connect it to the main terminal as an external device, it's done! (It may be necessary to set)
I yearn for it! Because it's honestly cool! The screen of the laptop is still small, so when I use it at home, I also use an old laptop and use two monitors! With software called MaxVista, you don't even have to connect the two with a cable. You can easily get one step closer to your dream! (Unfortunately, this is an introduction only to Win users.)
·Things necessaryLaptop, MaxVista, home network
・ Time required for setupAbout 5 minutes
·manner1) Download Max Vista.
2) Make sure that both computers are on the same network.
3) Install MaxiVista on both. Yes, that's it. It's done!
I see. It's a way to get old ones to do their best even after purchasing a new laptop! How nice! If you have any other recommended uses, please let me know!
Soko (Casey Chan US version)