Suggestions..What can I use this old laptop for? Win XP working fine

Aubrey_Thicket

Hi all

Just for fun this...

I have a few old laptops (various ones that we've grown out of etc). One of the best of the old laptops is a pretty decent Machine. It's running XP and is working well. I also have another Lappy running xp that is running well too. Neither of them are as fast as my main laptop which is only a few months old. It's a shame to let these once trusty laptops gather dust. Therefore, in the interests of fun can anyone suggest what I could use these old laptops for? I'm ok with tech so would be ok with most tasks.
Any ideas / suggestions?
What are your old Laptops doing now?

One word/one sentence suggestions are fine.

Thanks all.

PS... I have a raspberry pi doing nowt too!

abibee

Probably most people will suggest Linux, so I shall do so too! A version like LXLE works well for old computers.

http://lxle.net/

Owain_Moneysaver

For the laptops, Linux Mint MATE version
https://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=205

This will give internet browsing, LibreOffice word processing and presentations, etc. You might find they become faster than your new laptop :-)

For the Raspi, NOOBS
https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/noobs/

or if you want to use it as a box behind your TV for watching internet content, OpenElec
http://openelec.tv/get-openelec

NiftyDigits

"Ok with tech" but you fail to mention the spec or even brand and model numbers?

esuhl

If you want to learn how GNU/Linux work, I'd suggest having a look at Arch Linux. It's incredibly fast, and you can install whatever desktop environment you like (or none at all). It's really flexible and easy-to-use, yet it allows you to set everything up and customise it as you see fit.

https://www.archlinux.org/

Alternatively, you could use the laptop as a print server (if you have a non-networked printer). I set up an old headless XP machine to do this, so I can print from any computer in the house.

Or maybe set up a VPN server so, when using public wifi you can connect securely to avoid eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks.

Or an FTP server or web server to access your files remotely...

Or turn it into a retro games machine with some old console emulators and games (e.g. Sega MegaDrive, Nintendo Entertainment System, old arcade games like PacMan, 1943, Space Invaders, etc.)

grumpycrab

Just to be different, Windows 7.

Aubrey_Thicket

Cheers guys.

Will prob go down Linux route.

Thanks all.

henm2

The following Linux distros will do fine on an old machine

Linux Mint 17.3 xfce 32 bit, LXLE 14.04.4 32 bit, Zorin OS 9 lite 32 bit, Xubuntu 16.04 32 bit, MX 15_386. Lubuntu 16.04 32 bit.

Andy_L

Paperweight

Media-hub for tv

bengalknights

You could use them as plex servers

cinderfella

Why not dual boot XP with the Remix OS which is a new Android flavour.
Gives you access to the Playstore & an OS with which you can browse the web :j