PC & MAC
This past year, our laptops have been busier than ever. Even if you’ve upgraded to a new device in the past few months, you probably still have an older model lying around. We at iFixandRepair believe in finding innovative ways to repair our old technology, and since Earth Day is just around the corner, what better time to start thinking about ways to reduce our carbon footprint? Don’t let your device collect dust. Check out these tips on repurposing an old laptop!
4 Ways to Repurpose an Old Computer
Old laptops can be useful and fun when they’re not sitting in the back of your junk drawer or worse yet, discarded at a landfill. Nearly 29,000 pounds of e-waste were generated in North America alone in 2019, with only 9.4% being recycled. Human health is adversely affected by both the environment surrounding us and the e-waste that we generate.
Here are a few easy and free ways you can help the environment and reuse household devices.
Create a Digital Photo Frame
If you need another project to keep you busy, try this one. COVID-19 has made some of us serious DIY-ers. You will need to strip down your gadget to separate the screen from the “garbage” of the device, as this Instructable explains. It will be necessary to create a frame with the laptop’s LCD on the front and its hard drive on the back.
Turn Old PC into Mobile Hotspotwoman connecting old laptop to phone
You always seem to have trouble connecting to Wi-Fi in one room of your home? You can share your Internet connection from places that are better connected by turning your old computer into a wireless hotspot. You won’t feel stuck in one spot if you work or study from home. Open your device’s settings, select Network and Internet, then click on Mobile Hotspot. Then you will be prompted to “Share your Internet connection.”
Retrofit to a Chromebook
Almost all of our day-to-day tasks require a fully-functional laptop, but what if someone at home only needs a lightweight computer? A child who needs a device to perform productivity tasks, watch videos, or play games? Although Chromebooks are a great alternative to laptops, they are still out of reach for many families. Instead of buying a new computer, you can quickly convert your old PC into a makeshift Chromebook with the same functionality as the real device. This tutorial will show you how to install a Linux-Chromium hybrid, which is the operating system of Chromebooks.
Set Up a Home Media Center
Put two devices to work with this option! You can stream Netflix, Hulu, and all your other paid subscription services through a TV hooked up to your computer with an HDMI cable. A digital HDMI adapter might be required if you have an older Apple device that has no HDMI port. In terms of device age, older devices may run slower. To speed up streaming, uninstall unused software and startup programs or upgrade your hard drive to an SSD.
Are there any old or unused Macs or Windows PCs lying around? You can also use your computer as a webcam, remote control, or wireless network. Donate your old laptop to your local iFixandRepair Northbridge Walmart and we will recycle it! We may even be able to sell your old laptop! Contact the repair technicians in your area today.