It’s far too often that old computers and laptops end up sitting around and collecting dust after the acquisition of a newer machine. Maybe, you aren’t sure what to do with your old laptop after you’ve just purchased an upgrade. Or, it could be that a recent cleaning spree has unearthed a forgotten computer from a couple of years ago.
When it comes to tech, old doesn’t necessarily mean non-functional or useless. You may be surprised at the various things you could do with your older computer. Below is a list of things you could do with it. Read on!
- Dispose Of It (Safely) Or Recycle
Sometimes, the reason you want to buy a new laptop is because your old one just doesn’t work anymore. The device may be broken beyond repair to the point where you don’t feel it’s worth trying to do anything else with it.
Don’t just throw it in the trash or dump it. Computers and laptops have components that can do significant harm to the environment if unsafely disposed of, like the internal battery. If you absolutely want to get rid of an old laptop, leave it with a specialized disposal service—many of which end up recycling the machines. You can also directly find a recycling facility and take it there.
Take a look at dirtcheaprubbishremoval.com.au or other similar sites if you want to get rid of an old computer that you aren’t able or are wanting to fix. Such services make the process easy and often offer a pickup option—all you need to do is fill in a collection form.
- Trade In Or Sell It
There’s a relatively large market for secondhand tech, especially for used laptops. You may be upgrading, but there are many people—often students—who are looking to buy secondhand laptops. As long as it’s still fully functional and in decent condition, you can sell your old laptop or computer and get back some of what you paid for it. All you need to do is post the item for sale on an online marketplace. You probably won’t have an issue finding someone to take it off your hands.
The other option is to trade it in for store credit at the place you bought it from. Whether you can do this or not will depend on where you bought it, the device itself, and whether it’s an option. Apple typically accepts trade-ins on old MacBook’s and some of their other devices. Windows laptops vary when it comes to retail stores, but refurbishing stores are often willing to buy old Windows machines.
- Upgrade It
Laptops tend to slow down as they age. This can likely be attributed to slowdown from aging alongside older computers feeling slower as newer computers get faster. But, upgrading an old computer can significantly improve its performance, and can even be more cost effective than buying a whole new computer.
There are two particular upgrades that have the most noticeable effects. The first is to increase your computer’s RAM (random access memory). In modern computer architecture, RAM is the ‘main memory’ that a computer operates from. All relevant data the computer is currently using is stored in the working memory. When working memory is filled, data take turns utilizing main memory, residing in the computer’s secondary storage when not in RAM. Increasing your RAM gives the computer more space to store data it currently needs, decreasing the need to constantly move data between main and secondary memory, allowing it to run faster.
The second upgrade is to upgrade the computer’s secondary storage, often referred to as the hard drive. Most computers have a hard disk drive (HDD) as secondary memory—you’ll typically see this listed as ‘500GB HDD,’ ‘1TB HDD,’ etc. Upgrading your computer’s HDD to a solid-state drive (SSD) can greatly improve performance speed. This works because SSD runs faster than HDD, minimizing the time it takes for a computer to move data between main and secondary memory. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to do this if you already have an SSD.
Keep in mind that these upgrades mean taking the laptop apart, backing up your data, and often reinstalling the operating system. It’s best to have this done with professional assistance.
- Donate It
Computers are needed for just about everything these days. It’s quite difficult to apply for jobs and survive school without one. While an older laptop or computer may not be useful to you, it can be incredibly valuable to someone who needs one but can’t buy one.
You can ask your family and friends if they know anyone who needs a laptop. There are also various services and organizations that would either appreciate a used computer or help you find a recipient in need of your donation.
Conclusion
As you can see, you don’t need to let an old laptop or computer sit around unused. Sell it to get some of your money back or donate it. If you still want to use it, you can upgrade or install a lightweight operating system. This list of five is only a few of the things you could potentially do. There are many more ideas out there to explore.
