What do you do with your old computers?

[zmjjmz]

I'm sure a lot of the people on this forum have gone through more than one computer in their lifetime.
Now, I've been wondering what people do when they buy a new computer. Do they throw away the old one? Keep it and still use it as a server or something?
Vote in teh poll.

EDIT: I'm actually not old enough to of "owned" multiple computers, but I would probably choose option #1.

[gletob]

server

[init1]

I've got an old laptop that I use for DOS games

[gn2]

Sell them on ebay.

[urukrama]

I now only use old computers. I've bought one computer (a laptop) in my life, about 7 years ago, which I still use. The case is badly damaged, but the inner parts still function fine.

Another computer I use regularly I received from a friend, the computer in my office is one I saved from the rubbish heap when a company nearby got rid of their 'old' computers.

I do not see the point of bying a new computer when the ones I own still work. They may be slow compared to recent models, but my philosophy is that if it was good enough for me 5 years ago, it is still good enough for me today.

When they break, I do not plan to buy a new one. Many of my friends and family get rid of their old computers that still run fine for my use.

I've also rescued other old computers that I gave away to friends, charity or neighbours

If you use a light window manager like Openbox or Awesome, and light applications (particularly command-line applications), these machines can still be pretty fast.

[flyingsliverfin]

i usually take the computer apart and rescue all the usable parts like RAM and hard drives ect. If its a laptop then I just take out the RAM. If I can I keep the computer, then I usually install a version of linux and give it to friends or just keep it. Linux is a lot faster than windows, so it makes sense.

[zmjjmz]

I'm glad to see nobody's voted to throw them away yet. I think it's a terrible waste of computing resources, and I'm very sentimental about complex objects like that.
I could never bear to throw away a computer.

[OutOfReach]

I am planning on using my old Compaq Presario (1998 or so) as a file server, maybe even an audio/media server (with MPD) if I can update the RAM a bit.

[lukjad]

I use one as a monitor stand, another as a PC. I haven't decided what to do with my oldest PC. Either scavenger the good parts and recycle it or donate it to some organization, not that anyone would want it.

[paul101]

i scub the windows partition and put xubuntu on to it



you'd be surprized how many people think that the system is uber quick upon loading xubuntu

[Old_Grey_Wolf]

I donate them to my wife's family and friends after wiping the drive and reinstalling the OS. I have never had one that someone didn't what. However, before throwing one away, I would put it on the curb in a public place for someone to 'salvage'. That is what will probably happen to an old PPC Mac G4 I have. That is only because a Flash player for the old PPC MAC doesn't work very well.

If someone put a small sign in the window of their car stating "used computer wanted, call ###-###-####" I would contact them, and give them a computer if I had one to get rid of.

I could have voted for another option because I use some of the newer ones as servers, etc.

[t0p]

I throw 'em away... cos by the time I've finished with 'em, that's all they're good for! ;)

Seriously though, the only time a computer leaves my hands is when it's being junked. I buy used machines and run them into the ground.

[urukrama]

By the way, K.Mandla has some excellent post on his blog that are somewhat relevant to this thread:

* Things to do with an old computer (http://kmandla.wordpress.com/2007/09/14/things-to-do-with-an-old-computer/)
* Ten things you can do keep an old computer useful (http://kmandla.wordpress.com/2007/03/16/ten-things-you-can-do-keep-an-old-computer-useful/)

[FuturePilot]

If it has decent hardware specs I would still use it as a 2nd/3rd/4th computer. But if it is really old I would turn it into a server.

[SunnyRabbiera]

Install linux on them and give them new life :D

[EnGorDiaz]

im trying to use my old computer as a ipcop box im not going to use my new one with the dual screen

[cmay]

i rescue old compuers and use them. the oldest one i had to trash recently was a 100 hz with no ps2 mouseinput and 869 mb harddisk and the system found 16 mb ram. i had minix in that one. i have also one with freedos . i think about learning how to use the computers as enviromental freindly as possible so it makes me very happy to see others do the same as me.
thanks.

[kk0sse54]

Of course I use them :) Rescue it with a light OS and WM and it works perfectly fine for my needs

[Frak]

I purposely buy old computers.

1 G3 - All stock
4 G4's - 2 with new processors (Sonnet 1GHz 256MB L2 3MB L3 and a NewerTech Dual-2GHz which is now faster than my Mac Pro)
1 of the upgrades has a new SCSI controller in it's 64-bit PCI slot
The other one is a stock cube
2 G5's - both upgraded liquid cooling systems provided by Apple
Performa - Processor upgrade to 1GHz

I like to collect PPC machines.

[Corfy]

I don't know if "donate" is the right word, but I usually give them to someone (a friend or family member) who has an older computer than what I am getting rid of.

[OrangeCrate]

When I can get them for free, or even a few bucks, I clean them up, install Ubuntu or Xubuntu, depending upon the machine, and donate them to the local high school. I've done this a dozen times, or so, and they've always been appreciative. The instructor is an experienced Linux guy, so he handles the tech needs with the kids.

[kevin11951]

i put "donate", but i really just give it to my younger siblings.

[I-75]

I'm sure a lot of the people on this forum have gone through more than one computer in their lifetime.
Now, I've been wondering what people do when they buy a new computer. Do they throw away the old one? Keep it and still use it as a server or something?
Vote in teh poll.

EDIT: I'm actually not old enough to of "owned" multiple computers, but I would probably choose option #1.

I use them until they no longer run, then use the parts for another computer.

[Canis familiaris]

I have only one old computer, but it no longer works (totally out of order that is) and replacing parts is not an option since older spare parts are costly.

[kellemes]

I'm glad to see nobody's voted to throw them away yet. I think it's a terrible waste of computing resources, and I'm very sentimental about complex objects like that.
I could never bear to throw away a computer.

Had to throw away my Apple IIe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_IIe) some years ago.
It took a long time before I could say goodbye. :(

[lukjad]

One thing I am planning to do is try to install Arch on my old PC and hand it down to my Mother.

[Paqman]

Desktops can be broken up into components and sold. Bizarrely, you'll get a lot more on eBay for the components than you will for a complete system. I guess it's because many components (optical drives, cases, power supplies) don't suffer from obsolescence nearly as quickly as whole systems do.

I probably do this because I don't buy whole desktop computers. I just have one that I continually upgrade. Only the case is left from it's original incarnation. So I don't really have "old computers", just a cupboard full of bits.

Laptops are a different story, but luckily tend to hold onto their resale value as complete systems. If I had one to flog today i'd probably set it up dual-boot XP and an OEM install of Ubuntu.

[K.Mandla]

There are no old computers! Woohoo!

:|

Oops, sorry. I got a little excited there. I apologize profusely. :oops:

[AndyCooll]

I voted that I donate.

Over the years I've actually do one of two things. In the past I've re-used some of my computers as servers, or as a second computer in the house. And indeed the first few laptops I used were re-used ones that I was given.

Recently I've bought a couple of new laptops and given my old stuff away on Freecycle.

:cool:

[chucky chuckaluck]

i'm new to the old computer business. my old desktop is completely dead and it's somewhere in our bonus room. my monitor is blocking a storage space door that won't latch, so our cats won't get in there.

[Bungo Pony]

I try recycling as much of the computer as I can.

For newer ones (Pentium IIIs and higher) I'll throw together a complete system and sell it for around $50 to those who can't afford a new one for $300+

Older computers will usually have the cards & RAM pulled out for storage. I will sometimes try to use the cases for something (shelves maybe) and if not, they go to the scrapyard for recycling. The Motherboards, depending on the components / connectors get thrown into a box full of circuit boards, where I'll scavenge for components when I need one. I recently pulled a capacitor off an old motherboard to replace one that was ripped off a newer motherboard.

I also use the components for other projects. I built a car charger for my MP3 player using a USB port off an old motherboard. Oh yeah, and the jumpers blocks on old motherboards always come in useful for when I lose one.

In some cases, I'll try to make use out of those old computers. My garage Jukebox is one example. I recently found an old IBM desktop in the trash, and I'm currently building a new version of my garage jukebox. I'll be putting details up on my blog when it's done (hint: it'll be done when 8G USB Flash Drives hit $10.00 a piece.)

[Ms_Angel_D]

2 years ago my hubby and I made a decision, every other tax return one of us gets a new rig. Well the first year we decided to get him one first, and I used the older one, last year we got me a new rig, and gave my son the oldest one. so this year coming up he'll get a new rig, well give his to my son and I'll take the one my son has now put a Ubuntu install on it and probably just use it for storage and media.

So chances are what will happen is we'll end up with a lot of storage space, though I may give one to my folks as their computer is ancient.

[Old_Grey_Wolf]

Today, I donated an HP, single core 2GHz, 512MB RAM, 160GB HDD, computer to my son. The HDD on his old Dell Laptop appears to be dying. He can't afford to buy a replacement HDD in hopes that it will fix the laptop, nor can he wait for it to arrive in the mail. He is interviewing for a job at a Hospital after completing Nursing School, and plans to buy a new laptop after he gets a job. I will probably take his old laptop, buy a $60 replacement HDD, and try to get it working. If I do, I will donate it to someone.

[Tamlynmac]

I pull the old parts and when I have enough I build a machine, then give it to one of our neighbor kids. Needless to say I have a waiting list and recently seem to have trouble acquiring older machines (that still have functioning parts). Don't build anything smaller than a P2 and even our local dump (used to be a good source of computer parts) is drying up.

I live in a lower middle class neighborhood and many of the kids don't have access to a computer except at school or the library. Of course all the systems I build have Ubuntu as the OS and have found that most kids love it. Many of them convince their parents to get a cable connection and I always give the best to the handicap kids.

I can tell you that there is no feeling greater than watching a child's eyes light up when they realize I've put a system together for them. Our small lawn stays mowed and we never need to ask for help around the house.

Unfortunately, I'm limited by time, effort and a source for parts. Just not as young as I used to be...:lolflag:

[krissybee14]

pass it down to my relatives...

[wolfen69]

how come there wasn't an option in the poll for "sell them"?