I have an old Sony Vaio laptop. P4 2.6GHz 512MB, 40GB. What should I do with it? Right now I use it as a home server with a base install of Ubuntu server 8.04, Apache and Subversion for a repository for my Windows Visual Studio development. I am sure I could be doing more with it. Any suggestions? I have thought about using it to automate some builds but haven't gone down that road yet.
+5
A:
You could also use it as a media centre. Many laptops have s-video out, and work pretty well when hooked up to the TV. If you want PVR functionality, there's USB based capture cards, as well as Expresscard based options. You could also hook up a much bigger hard disk via USB if you wanted to store a lot of data for a media centre. Alernatively, you could use network storage if you didn't want too much extra stuff hanging around your tv.
Kibbee
2008-08-31 01:44:43
+1
A:
I read somewhere that laptops make great servers for low-demand applications (such as a router or webserver). Since they are a low power system and have many networking options. This works well if the laptop screen is busted.
Daemin
2008-08-31 02:05:02
+1
A:
@Daemin
I read somewhere that laptops make great servers for low-demand applications (such as a router or webserver). Since they are a low power system and have many networking options. This works well if the laptop screen is busted.
In the latest Stackoverflow podcast (ep. 19) Joel mentioned that Joel on Software was originally hosted on an old Thinkpad with a broken screen.
Chris Upchurch
2008-08-31 02:08:16
+2
A:
Yep, low-power server is the way to go... especially if you've got a SqueezeBox. The only issue would be the laptop hard drives, but - as a previous poster mentioned - an external drive (USB / Firewire... think Drobo!) would be the answer there.
moobaa
2008-08-31 03:01:51
+2
A:
how about a computer for the kids? Easy to attach the comfy and they don't have to be sequestered off in a different room.
Nathan Fellman
2008-08-31 03:36:36