What do you do with your old PCs?

[zridling]

Bob Sutor posted several links on installing Linux on your old PCs. In the past, I've cleaned mine up and donated them to various family members who are computer-stupid (the old, infirmed, and my deranged uncle). But now I'm thinking that having an old computer doing background tasks (whether on Linux or Windows) is a good idea. For example, I could use it for serial DVD burning, listening to a ballgame, torrent work, uploading my daily database files. Of course, you could always convert it to an information furnace:

[attach oldpc01.jpg]

[masu]

sell it by ebay 

[Lashiec]

I don't really know. My current computer is nearly retirement, as my new dual core will take his position after the exams (I'll need some quiet days to assemble and configure it), but I'm still wondering about his future. I'm selling the memory to a friend who really needs it but for the rest of the computer either I donate it to some organization or I give it to someone who could need it.

My mother had another option, that is taking the computer to our house in the country... I can't see the use in this

[mwb1100]

my deranged uncle

"Sexy monkey" Zaine has a deranged Uncle?  I can't figure out if I should be scared or in awe!?!?

[cthorpe]

I have a motley assortment of old PCs that are running with parts canibalized from other machines that family members have given me when they upgrade to faster machines.  Oddly enough, I am by far the biggest tech-geek in the family, and I have the slowest and oldest computers.  Just the other day, my printserver died on me after a particularly nasty lightening strike that I can only guess was very close.  I was able to get it back up and running in about thirty minutes with pieces from my garage.

Carl

[cranioscopical]

I was able to get it back up and running in about thirty minutes with pieces from my garage.

Shame about the car, though.

[cthorpe]

Car?  Is that what you are supposed to put in a garage?

[zridling]

As far as computers go, though, I still won't be satisfied until we call all spend 24 hours a day in a Holodeck. I swear, once I go in, I ain't never coming out.

[Laughing Man]

Usually I keep my computers so long that they're no longer worth selling (part wise usually too). So I usually donate them to my other family members. Or I find some other use for it (thank god for Linux ^_^).

[nite_monkey]

I keep the same computer for years, (I don't currently have my own car, or a job) but then when I finally do get a new computer I give the old one to my brother, and then he takes it apart, and uses the parts on what ever he decides to use them on.

[lanux128]

i too give away my old PCs but i normally install Linux.. recently i installed Vector Linux on a P2 with 64MB RAM & 80MB hard-drive..

[gjehle]

i either stack them or install linux
either way they stay
much to the liking of the rest of the family
:D:D:D

[Edvard]

i either stack them or install linux

Dude, do both...

Beowulf.org is a collection of resources for the expanding universe of users and designers of Beowulf class cluster computers. These enterprise systems are built on commodity hardware deploying Linux OS and open source software.

http://www.beowulf.org/

That's what I would do with the 5+ PII's stacked up in my workshop if I had enough parts to go 'round...

[JeffK]

I was able to get it back up and running in about thirty minutes with pieces from my garage.

Shame about the car, though.

Funniest thing I heard all day.