Author Topic: what can i do with my old computer? (Read 3813 times)

ZacAttack · « **on:** February 16, 2009, 12:13:40 PM »

A while ago i bought a new computer, and my old desktop is just sitting there, i was wondering if anyone had any ideas for a use for it

Razor Concepts · « **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2009, 12:16:05 PM »

Sell it to fund your robots

ZacAttack · « **Reply #2 on:** February 16, 2009, 12:17:03 PM »

ha, no i was thinking of useing it as a BIG boost to my Basic stamp 2, but have no clue how to do that

SmAsH · « **Reply #3 on:** February 16, 2009, 02:43:29 PM »

boost? as in parts or what? please explain?

cosminprund · « **Reply #4 on:** February 16, 2009, 02:55:48 PM »

Boost in weight, for sure

pomprocker · « **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2009, 03:26:35 PM »

I have a few old laptops, One contained Windows 98 and I loaded WinXP on it using nLite. Otherwise you can just use them as infrastructure servers on your home network. like web, email, home automation, etc

http://www.nliteos.com/

ZacAttack · « **Reply #6 on:** February 16, 2009, 03:39:52 PM »

by "boost" i ment try and see if i coudl use the ram for my b asicstamp 2, but i think the home automation sounds good, i was already going to make an alarm system for the fence and second garage, but what else would i be able to make "automated"

householdutensils · « **Reply #7 on:** February 16, 2009, 04:10:02 PM »

For one, you could use something like LinuxMCE to control all the media in your house.

http://linuxmce.com/

MaltiK · « **Reply #8 on:** February 16, 2009, 04:23:18 PM »

You could use the motherboard as an MCU for your next robot. It could run Roborealm, and you use the USB ports and connect them to actuators.

cooldog · « **Reply #9 on:** February 16, 2009, 05:54:49 PM »

that could work

Quote from: MaltiK on February 16, 2009, 04:23:18 PM

you use the USB ports and connect them to actuators.

http://www.phidgets.com/products.php?category=6&product_id=1000

householdutensils · « **Reply #10 on:** February 16, 2009, 06:18:55 PM »

You'll need alot of torque if you wanna lug round a PSU and inverter. Otherwise you're gunna have to shell out for a DC-DC ATX PSU, which aren't cheap, and extremely hard to DIY.

Or you could have it tethered I suppose.

Webbot · « **Reply #11 on:** February 16, 2009, 06:40:11 PM »

Quote from: ZacAttack on February 16, 2009, 12:13:40 PM

A while ago i bought a new computer, and my old desktop is just sitting there, i was wondering if anyone had any ideas for a use for it

You could always:
Remove the inside, fit a UV lamp, and use it as a cabinet to create PCBs!!!
Use the CD/floppy motors as mini-stepper motors
Interface the hard drive to your micro-processor
Turn the supply into a battery charger
Modify the VDU into a dedicated monitor for your 8 bit home computer/games console
Adapt the CD drive unit into a pop-out coffee mug holder
Adapt the keyboard into a wifi robot control keyboard or synthesizer keyboard
Use the mouse as a motion detector on the base of your robot
Can you link that graphics card to receive wifi images from your robot camera

Of course the answers to each of the above may be 'no'. In which case just say 'thanks' and like everyone else just use it as bookshelf !!

Sorry - but its late!

ZacAttack · « **Reply #12 on:** February 17, 2009, 06:15:29 AM »

haha, and what do you mean by Interface the hard drive to your micro-processor could i hook it to the Basic Stamp 2?

? i love that microcontroler

MaltiK · « **Reply #13 on:** February 17, 2009, 02:05:36 PM »

When will u need to use the non volatile hard drive space of 60+ GB for a MCU?

householdutensils · « **Reply #14 on:** February 17, 2009, 02:19:49 PM »

Quote from: MaltiK on February 17, 2009, 02:05:36 PM

When will u need to use the non volatile hard drive space of 60+ GB for a MCU?

Long term data logging

?

Wizzard · « **Reply #15 on:** February 17, 2009, 02:30:19 PM »

Oh I hate to say this and will probably get flamed but here you go. Try using it for dedicated X10 home automation control system.

ZacAttack · « **Reply #16 on:** February 17, 2009, 05:54:19 PM »

ok i dont know if i could do this, but woudl it be possible to set it up as a kindof server and make me and my friends an online chat using it to keep all the data?

MaltiK · « **Reply #17 on:** February 17, 2009, 06:31:58 PM »

Yes you can use an old computer as a server, and do what you said, but you will need some knowledge of C#, and .NET

householdutensils · « **Reply #18 on:** February 17, 2009, 07:06:25 PM »

Alternatively, could install Ubuntu , open a terminal and go:

sudo apt-get install apache2 php5 libapache2-mod-php5 mysql-server

then restart your computer and the first part is done (Well there are some configurations to do for the sql server, but that's easy, and unless you work through the console, you'll need to alter the permissions of your /etc/www folder so that your non-root user can edit them).

After that just find a nice php/sql based chat app and BAM it's on.

madchimp · « **Reply #19 on:** February 17, 2009, 07:28:34 PM »

As far as setting it up as a server for just chat you can install pretty much any linux distro, Ubuntu is really easy and stable. Then you can install jabber http://www.jabber.org or even an irc server package.they are both probably available with apt-get command but I'm not at home and don't have time to check the web right now. With a linux server the posibilities are pretty unlimited. As you learn more you can easily add functionality like web, file or even print server just to name a few. Without any programming knowledge or costly MS crap ware. Sure you could probably pirate some of the MS stuff but I don't like that route and why when there's a free alternative that is better.

householdutensils · « **Reply #20 on:** February 17, 2009, 09:04:40 PM »

Quote from: madchimp on February 17, 2009, 07:28:34 PM

Without any programming knowledge or costly MS crap ware.

That's not really fair considering alot of the MS Stuff is geared towards businesses. Stuff like CRM, SharePoint, and Navision are solutions for which there is no stable and easy to integrate Open Source Linux alternative, and what alternatives there are, are not nearly as feature full and easy to use.

I'm all for Linux based server-side technologies. I only recently shut down my home server (my partner made me clean up the lounge

), that was running a LAMP setup with my own php/sql CMS, my IRC Trivia bot, and my prototype Perl based MUD engine. However, MS Stuff has it's advantages.

Plus, you can use SAPI!! (Which is useful if your going the home automation route).

cosminprund · « **Reply #21 on:** February 18, 2009, 01:16:48 AM »

Quote from: ZacAttack on February 17, 2009, 05:54:19 PM

ok i dont know if i could do this, but woudl it be possible to set it up as a kindof server and make me and my friends an online chat using it to keep all the data?

Yes you can but why bother. Can you make a better chat program compared to yahoo messenger/msn/whatever you're using today? Unless you can make it better (and you can't because you only have one server) then don't bother, chat with your friends using the existing applications.

As for keeping all the data: that's a nice idea, you can use it as a "backup" server, if it till has good HDD's. But only for you, not your friends (unless you want to pay Internet connection bills for your firends, or have your friends use up all your bandwidth).

SmAsH · « **Reply #22 on:** February 18, 2009, 01:59:33 AM »

by 'keep all the data' do you mean log the convo?
if so, i think there is a setting on msn that allows you to do that.

ZacAttack · « **Reply #23 on:** February 18, 2009, 04:04:19 PM »

ok, all this woudl be great, but im only really good with programming for the basic stamp, not too much else other than basic html :/ so could someone tell me exactly how to make a simple one? like how to set it up and stuff? id really apreciate it

Razor Concepts · « **Reply #24 on:** February 18, 2009, 04:12:16 PM »

We can't tell you exactly how to do something, you'll have to figure out stuff on your own

link

Webbot · « **Reply #25 on:** February 18, 2009, 04:22:13 PM »

Quote from: ZacAttack on February 18, 2009, 04:04:19 PM

ok, all this woudl be great, but im only really good with programming for the basic stamp, not too much else other than basic html :/ so could someone tell me exactly how to make a simple one? like how to set it up and stuff? id really apreciate it

Although I sympathize with your intent - I'm not convinced that 'Society of Robots' is the best place to research creating a chat server. I'm sure there are other resources out there. If you get something going - then send us a link. Good luck...

ZacAttack · « **Reply #26 on:** February 18, 2009, 05:59:24 PM »

thanks :/

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Author Topic: what can i do with my old computer? (Read 3813 times)

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