What can I use an old laptop for?

[RCBH928]

So we retired one of our family's laptop. We bought it 3+ years ago and it was pretty much minimum spec for its time.

Before we through it away as the speakers are not working(needs earplugs) and battery is dead needs constant charging , can you tell me what I can do with this thing?

here are the specs:

Windows 7 home premium
2GB RAM
Pentium(R) Dual-Core CPU T4400 @ 2.2GHZ
Service Pack 1

I do not know if it has a graphics card but I opened Device Manager and under Display adapters it said:
mobile Intel(r) 4 series express chipset family

Which I am not really sure what it is.

You think it can be good for some of the 2004(and earlier) games on GOG? I rather use this than rebooting in Win7 on my macbook each time i want to play.

[Valkyrie-Favor]

I have a slightly more powerful laptop, and it can run games from ~2001 and earlier due to its integrated graphics chip. Some more modern games, like the Ys Oath and Origin, work great while older ones like Beyond Good and Evil chug horribly.

My advice - if you're not using it for regular PC functions, just keep it hooked up to your TV via the VGA/DVI/HDMI port and your headphone jack. It'll make a fantastic pre-PS2 emulation box, especially if you buy a wireless controller.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Got a VGA port?

Hook it up to a big TV, get a few USB controllers... Emulation and DOSBox machine!

[RCBH928]

it does have a VGA output , but the headphone jack has been destroyed I can only use the speakers on the laptop itself, unless exchanging the headphone jack is possible/ easy processes.

[JoeAwesome]

it does have a VGA output , but the headphone jack has been destroyed I can only use the speakers on the laptop itself, unless exchanging the headphone jack is possible/ easy processes.

I had a laptop which had its speakers blown out (trying to record a guitar input). My friend gave me a USB sound card that came with his headphones so I could still get audio through a line out. I think it's known as a USB sound card..

My suggestion: video out to steam sports on a tv.

[Duane Dibbley]

it does have a VGA output , but the headphone jack has been destroyed I can only use the speakers on the laptop itself, unless exchanging the headphone jack is possible/ easy processes.

I had a laptop which had its speakers blown out (trying to record a guitar input). My friend gave me a USB sound card that came with his headphones so I could still get audio through a line out. I think it's known as a USB sound card..

I'm not sure if they still make them, but Griffin Technology used to make a USB device called the iMic that gave you audio in and out. I have one of the original ones.

There are plenty of things to do with an old, functioning computer. I have old Macs I'm using as a DVR, a kitchen jukebox, a video baby monitor, and soon, a playroom computer for my son.

[Nyukki]

Don't mean to hijack another man's thread, but I'm in a similar situation. About to embark on building a MAME cab, my workplace said there might be some old Pentium 4's I can grab in September, but failing that I have an old laptop kicking about.

At some point the laptop wouldn't run without being plugged into mains all the time, now it won't start up at all. Is this likely a battery/PSU problem? Fixable? (Expensive?)

Cheers

[BoneSnapDeez]

it does have a VGA output , but the headphone jack has been destroyed I can only use the speakers on the laptop itself, unless exchanging the headphone jack is possible/ easy processes.

How about USB speakers?

[jinx]

[fastbilly1]

Don't mean to hijack another man's thread, but I'm in a similar situation. About to embark on building a MAME cab, my workplace said there might be some old Pentium 4's I can grab in September, but failing that I have an old laptop kicking about.

At some point the laptop wouldn't run without being plugged into mains all the time, now it won't start up at all. Is this likely a battery/PSU problem? Fixable? (Expensive?)

Cheers

the PSU port probably popped offed. You are gonna have to open it up and solder it back on.