If you’re upgrading to a newer, faster laptop with more storage, have you thought about what you’ll do with your old laptop? There are plenty of reasons to not throw it away. Globally, we generate about 50 million tons of e-waste every year, so it’s important to consider alternative options for your old laptop. Here are some creative ideas for reusing it:
1. Convert It Into a Network Attached Storage System: Turn your old laptop into a NAS system to store and share data across your network. FreeNAS is a popular program for this purpose and requires at least 8GB RAM and a 64-bit chip to run properly.
2. Use It as a Digital Photo Frame: Disassemble your old laptop and turn it into a digital photo frame to display a slideshow of your favorite photos using software like Windows DVD Maker or Photo Story 3.
3. Convert It Into a Gaming Server: If your old laptop is still running, you can repurpose it into a gaming server for playing multiplayer games with your friends.
4. Use It as an External Monitor: Utilize your old laptop as an external monitor for your newer laptop or desktop using virtual network computing solutions like Remote Management, ShareMouse, or Air Display.
5. Use the Parts: If none of the above options are feasible, you can gut the laptop for parts and save the hard drive to turn into an external storage drive.
Never throw your old laptop in the trash, as e-waste is an environmental hazard. Instead, consider recycling or hazardous waste disposal. Reusing your old laptop is not only environmentally friendly, but it also gives new life to something that still has value.
