Best Use for Old Computers \ stacker news ~bitcoin

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499 sats \ 24 comments \ @Undisciplined 3 Nov 2023 bitcoin

We have a few old laptops that aren't really useful for their old purposes, but I wanted to solicit suggestions from SN about what the best use is for old computers.

Is it worth joining a mining pool? Which one?

We just crossed into winter, so the heat generated is not a problem.

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221 sats \ 3 replies \ @derekross 3 Nov 2023

You can turn them into a Bitcoin node, a Nostr relay, or use them for a wide variety of self hosted services.

I do this. My Bitcoin node is a 4 year old laptop. My home server which runs nearly two dozen local services is a second 4 year old laptop.

1 sat \ 2 replies \ @Undisciplined OP 3 Nov 2023

Any specific suggestions on those first two?

224 sats \ 1 reply \ @derekross 3 Nov 2023

For my Bitcoin node, I don't use any pre-packed node software. I built my own. I have used Umbrel and Start9. I would recommend both. Umbrel is more user friendly. Start9 is more robust, but less user friendly. If you want to learn about Linux and build your own node you can follow this guide. https://v2.minibolt.info/ I ran Umbrel for nearly 3 years, StartOS for a week, and then built my own because I'm a power user and wanted to do more.

For a Nostr relay, I've been using the Nostream relay since last December. It's easy to run, if you're familiar with Linux and docker. Here's an older guide, it's for a paid relay, but you can just not turn on that option. https://andreneves.xyz/p/how-to-setup-a-paid-nostr-relay

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined OP 3 Nov 2023

Thanks

203 sats \ 0 replies \ @NoStranger 3 Nov 2023

If you can connect them to a TV, you can install a media center like Kodi or a game emulator like RetroArch and have a smart TV or retro games console.

192 sats \ 1 reply \ @quark 3 Nov 2023

oh those were the good times, mining with the laptops CPUs :D You could open them and remove the wifi card if possible, then install Linux and some wallet like Sparrow and use them as a cold hardware wallet device.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined OP 3 Nov 2023

I'll consider that. Thanks

203 sats \ 5 replies \ @JesseJames 3 Nov 2023

Depends on your level of tech expertise and desire to "tinker" with stuff. I have converted a whole bunch of them into Kubernetes nodes (running Ubuntu22.04 server and microk8s). You can use as docker servers, setup your own nextcloud instance, proxmox cluster, tons of options, etc...

10 sats \ 2 replies \ @Undisciplined OP 3 Nov 2023

To a first approximation, I don't know how to do anything. If it's sufficiently worthwhile I'll take the time to figure it out, but I'm mostly looking for low-hanging fruit here.

182 sats \ 1 reply \ @JesseJames 3 Nov 2023

Use it as a learning platform then, you have the hardware already, and you have done half of the work :-) Stuff like Kubernetes and containers, in general, is well worth learning, you can land a job if you are persistent and like it. I would encourage it. Find out what you want to learn: app development, infrastructure management, etc., and do a deep dive...

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined OP 3 Nov 2023

you can land a job if you are persistent and like it

I'm sure you're right, but I'll probably stick with being a professional economist.

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @raymond50romero 3 Nov 2023

Do you happen to have a guide on how to do this? I would love to find out more on how to do this with my old laptops

182 sats \ 0 replies \ @JesseJames 3 Nov 2023

Not really a guide but for starters you should check whether your hardware will actually run the new OS or not. I suggest start with ISO image burned to USB drive and boot your laptop from there, it will ask for options so pick live iso, this way it will not touch your HD unless you tell it to install full version. You basically run full OS from USB to test so it will not be fast. You can get light Ubuntu Budgie desktop to test - https://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-budgie/releases/23.10.1/release/ubuntu-budgie-23.10.1-desktop-amd64.iso It gives you kinda macos feel without apple crap...lol Then read/learn about it, learn some more (actually really read the docs, they pretty decent) and see if that's something you like...