With the significant drop in the prices of computers, it is increasingly common to hear reports of people who retires a good computer. They purchase new machines only to join the new version of Windows or to upgrade a little hardware configurations.
Other users have computers because they had simply touching a machine very outdated and needed to replace it with a PC to get a little better using the latest software. In this category we find users who have kept the old Pentium III, AMD Duron, and even the famous Pentium 100.
Maybe you're one of those users who also keeps their old PC in the basement and do not know what to do with it. About a year ago, we posted an article giving some tips to dust the computer and use it for something useful. Now we bring you eight new uses for it was not satisfied with the suggestions of the preceding article.
Test a new operating system
As you might imagine, we in the Tecmundo, we are addicted to computers. Thus, we must encourage the search for new horizons. If you're stuck in Windows since 1995, perhaps using the old PC to see a Linux distribution is an excellent idea.
The smartest suggestion is that you opt for some versions of Ubuntu, that because this is the system with better support and more updated. However, if your old PC does not meet the minimum requirements, maybe a test with another distribution is interesting. Check out now what it takes to run Ubuntu 4.11:
1 GHz or higher (Pentium 4, AMD Athlon or AMD Duron);
512 MB of RAM;
5 GB of disk space;
Video card and monitor capable of operating with a resolution of 800 x 600 pixels;
CD / DVD or USB port (to install the system);
Internet access to take advantage of software and updates.
Control your entire home
The first tip is pretty easy to do, but if you seek challenges and really make the most of your PC, our second suggestion is much more daring. Ever wondered control the lights, TV, security cameras and air conditioning system of your home through the computer?
With LinuxMCE is possible and it is not that hard. Despite not having a translation into Portuguese, this system is easy to use and install. The difficulties are in the same time to make the installation of devices to be controlled.
However, if you have some knowledge of English and patience to use the Google translator to help, you can get to automate your entire home. The coolest thing is that LinuxMCE has even some compatibility with smartphones, which can make it much easier to control everything hour in the distance.
Use as a file server
You already have a hub or a router on your home? If the answer is yes, then you will have little trouble creating a file server. Of course, when it comes to server, you do not mean to draw a professional server. The ideal is not wasting much time and find a use for the PC.
So the tip here is to install a basic operating system (either Windows XP or Ubuntu with minimal features turned on), configure the network on that computer and adjust the other PCs on the network to access shared folders on the old machine.
Windows is very easy to create new shares, so if you want to back up important things, but do not want to resort to DVDs, this tip can be very profitable. Details: If you are using Ubuntu for file server, you must install and configure Samba.
Help in a noble cause
You do not need a file server? So maybe you can lend the processing power from your PC to good causes. You can provide the resources of your computer to help in the fight against cancer (IBM research project that is part of World Community Grid), the advancement of nanotechnology (Spinhenge @ home) and even the search for extraterrestrials (SETI project @ home).
Okay, that last question may not be as noble as well, but who really are curious about the possibility of the existence of UFOs, can join this cause. Whatever your choice, you will spend much energy and is a bit of Internet bandwidth. To help in these projects, just use a supported operating system (depending on the project) and install the software you want.
Now you have a digital photo frame
If you retired your notebook, but it's still in perfect working order, maybe you can put it in some corner of the house to display family pictures. The cool thing about using a notebook for this task is that you have a huge range of features.
Unlike a digital picture frame, a notebook can display your pictures, videos, audio recordings and many other memories of his family. Another advantage is that it is possible to make the notebook work with photos from the web. Thus, you do not need to store photo album on your PC, you can enjoy your photos from Picasa or Flickr.
Your old game console
Playing the games of the Playstation 3 is pretty cool, but sometimes an innate yearning for the Atari titles. Transforming your old PC into a gaming platform, you can enjoy one joystick that is not compatible with USB ports and still have fun without spending the life of the new computer.
This tip is the most easy to do, so you only need a basic operating system, an emulator and ROMs. You can check out some emulators in Baixaki, click here and choose your favorite.
Create your online radio
For the amateur DJs and music lovers, nothing better than using the old PC as an online radio station. Although it may seem difficult, this task does not require much effort. Simply use the Winamp plugin Oddcast and Icecast application.
Configuring the Oddcast plugin in Winamp
Install all three programs, set up the Oddcast (within Winamp) to work with Icecast, Icecast server start and then play your music. So your friends can hear your radio simply provide your IP address and port that is configured for transmission.
Detail: a radio at home can not be heard by many users, since the upload rate is limited and therefore restricted his listeners.
Record and watch TV channels from a distance
Our last tip is restricted to users who have an old computer and a capture card retired. If you do not have a TV card, you can purchase one at very low prices on sites like eBay. This tip is very interesting, especially because you can only use the PC as a transmitter of content.
To perform this trick you will need the following programs: Skype and Real VNC. The first step is to configure Skype to use your capture card as a standard webcam. Then you need to create a Skype account so you can stream content to your private account.
Finally, install and configure the Real VNC. With this program you can control your computer remotely. Thus, it is possible to connect the application of the capture card (for the channels), log in to Skype and even record what you want.
You have suggestions?
Our tips end up here, but you can also contribute to other users to make best use of computers that are gathering dust. We know that our explanations are brief, however, are enough to give you an idea of how to proceed. If you have more suggestions, please use the comments field to express themselves. Until the next one!
Other users have computers because they had simply touching a machine very outdated and needed to replace it with a PC to get a little better using the latest software. In this category we find users who have kept the old Pentium III, AMD Duron, and even the famous Pentium 100.
Maybe you're one of those users who also keeps their old PC in the basement and do not know what to do with it. About a year ago, we posted an article giving some tips to dust the computer and use it for something useful. Now we bring you eight new uses for it was not satisfied with the suggestions of the preceding article.
Test a new operating system
As you might imagine, we in the Tecmundo, we are addicted to computers. Thus, we must encourage the search for new horizons. If you're stuck in Windows since 1995, perhaps using the old PC to see a Linux distribution is an excellent idea.
The smartest suggestion is that you opt for some versions of Ubuntu, that because this is the system with better support and more updated. However, if your old PC does not meet the minimum requirements, maybe a test with another distribution is interesting. Check out now what it takes to run Ubuntu 4.11:
1 GHz or higher (Pentium 4, AMD Athlon or AMD Duron);
512 MB of RAM;
5 GB of disk space;
Video card and monitor capable of operating with a resolution of 800 x 600 pixels;
CD / DVD or USB port (to install the system);
Internet access to take advantage of software and updates.
Control your entire home
The first tip is pretty easy to do, but if you seek challenges and really make the most of your PC, our second suggestion is much more daring. Ever wondered control the lights, TV, security cameras and air conditioning system of your home through the computer?
With LinuxMCE is possible and it is not that hard. Despite not having a translation into Portuguese, this system is easy to use and install. The difficulties are in the same time to make the installation of devices to be controlled.
However, if you have some knowledge of English and patience to use the Google translator to help, you can get to automate your entire home. The coolest thing is that LinuxMCE has even some compatibility with smartphones, which can make it much easier to control everything hour in the distance.
Use as a file server
You already have a hub or a router on your home? If the answer is yes, then you will have little trouble creating a file server. Of course, when it comes to server, you do not mean to draw a professional server. The ideal is not wasting much time and find a use for the PC.
So the tip here is to install a basic operating system (either Windows XP or Ubuntu with minimal features turned on), configure the network on that computer and adjust the other PCs on the network to access shared folders on the old machine.
Windows is very easy to create new shares, so if you want to back up important things, but do not want to resort to DVDs, this tip can be very profitable. Details: If you are using Ubuntu for file server, you must install and configure Samba.
Help in a noble cause
You do not need a file server? So maybe you can lend the processing power from your PC to good causes. You can provide the resources of your computer to help in the fight against cancer (IBM research project that is part of World Community Grid), the advancement of nanotechnology (Spinhenge @ home) and even the search for extraterrestrials (SETI project @ home).
Okay, that last question may not be as noble as well, but who really are curious about the possibility of the existence of UFOs, can join this cause. Whatever your choice, you will spend much energy and is a bit of Internet bandwidth. To help in these projects, just use a supported operating system (depending on the project) and install the software you want.
Now you have a digital photo frame
If you retired your notebook, but it's still in perfect working order, maybe you can put it in some corner of the house to display family pictures. The cool thing about using a notebook for this task is that you have a huge range of features.
Unlike a digital picture frame, a notebook can display your pictures, videos, audio recordings and many other memories of his family. Another advantage is that it is possible to make the notebook work with photos from the web. Thus, you do not need to store photo album on your PC, you can enjoy your photos from Picasa or Flickr.
Your old game console
Playing the games of the Playstation 3 is pretty cool, but sometimes an innate yearning for the Atari titles. Transforming your old PC into a gaming platform, you can enjoy one joystick that is not compatible with USB ports and still have fun without spending the life of the new computer.
This tip is the most easy to do, so you only need a basic operating system, an emulator and ROMs. You can check out some emulators in Baixaki, click here and choose your favorite.
Create your online radio
For the amateur DJs and music lovers, nothing better than using the old PC as an online radio station. Although it may seem difficult, this task does not require much effort. Simply use the Winamp plugin Oddcast and Icecast application.
Configuring the Oddcast plugin in Winamp
Install all three programs, set up the Oddcast (within Winamp) to work with Icecast, Icecast server start and then play your music. So your friends can hear your radio simply provide your IP address and port that is configured for transmission.
Detail: a radio at home can not be heard by many users, since the upload rate is limited and therefore restricted his listeners.
Record and watch TV channels from a distance
Our last tip is restricted to users who have an old computer and a capture card retired. If you do not have a TV card, you can purchase one at very low prices on sites like eBay. This tip is very interesting, especially because you can only use the PC as a transmitter of content.
To perform this trick you will need the following programs: Skype and Real VNC. The first step is to configure Skype to use your capture card as a standard webcam. Then you need to create a Skype account so you can stream content to your private account.
Finally, install and configure the Real VNC. With this program you can control your computer remotely. Thus, it is possible to connect the application of the capture card (for the channels), log in to Skype and even record what you want.
You have suggestions?
Our tips end up here, but you can also contribute to other users to make best use of computers that are gathering dust. We know that our explanations are brief, however, are enough to give you an idea of how to proceed. If you have more suggestions, please use the comments field to express themselves. Until the next one!
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