WHAT TO DO WITH AN OLD COMPUTER

1
WHAT TO DO WITH AN OLD COMPUTER

• Got a boat?

2
FREE UP NEW COMPUTER

• Use your old computer to run mundane tasks that
  would slow down your new computer
• Bit torrent, P2P file downloads
• Retrieve and store podcasts
• Record radio streams
• Home automation / security

3
HARDWARE FIREWALL

• Nothing works like a good hardware firewall
• Simple setup
• Need extra NIC
• Ethernet cable to connect one NIC to cable/DSL
  modem and ethernet cable to connect other NIC to
  router/second computer

4

• Several free software programs to turn your
  computer into a firewall
• One of the best is Smoothwall. This is a
  Linux-based firewall, but no knowledge of Linux
  is required.

5
HOME THEATER

• Use it as a multimedia player to stream
  audio/video/picture content to your TV
• Add a wireless keyboard / mouse and surf from
  your couch
• Add wifi to network with your main PC and stream
  internet audio/video to TV
• May need to add video out card
• Can also use an old XBox

6
PRINTER / FILE / WEB SERVER

• Connect your old computer to your home network
  (wired or wireless)
• Consolidate all your
• - Printers in one location
• - All your shared files in one location
• - Set up your own web server for file sharing
  or homepage

7
PVR (TIVO)

• Make your own PVR with more features that TIVO,
  able to record HD broadcasts
• Pause and rewind live TV
• Watch one show while you are recording one or two
  other shows simultaneously
• Best of all NO monthly fees!
• Versions available for Win and Linux (Win version
  requires HDCP for HD)

8
LEARNING STATION

• Install Linux on it and learn Linux
• Learn networking basics
• Good platform to experiment with as you are not
  putting your good computer at risk

9
IF ALL ELSE FAILS

• Cannibalize it for spare parts
• - HD can be used with new computer as backup or
  extra capacity either internal or external
  (USB/Firewall box)
• - NIC, modem, video card, floppy drive and CD
  drive can be used as spare or added to new
  computer

10
GIVE IT AWAY

• Family, friends or charitable groups
• Make sure that you completely wipe your HD of all
  information (many free apps on web)
• Make sure that you include all manuals,
  installation CDs, etc

11
DONT THROW IT AWAY

• If nobody wants it, dont just throw it in the
  garbage
• Heavy metals and other materials are dangerous
  pollutants
• HP has free disposal program through Office Depot
• Many county waste disposal sites will accept
  computers