Stuff to do with a spare computer?

gamecube6 · Post by **gamecube6** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:22 pm

So my Mom's computer Blue Screen of Deathed, so I was given it to fix it. I installed ubuntu, since she only really uses it as a DVD player anyway and I have a decent amount of experience in ubuntu. I saw that she had 200GB of hard drive space, which kinda surprised me considering its performance and how all of our other computers have no more than 30GB

.

Anyway, I have no idea what to do with it now. I suggested ripping her favorite DVDs and using it for things like emulation, but that certainly won't fill 200GB of space. Any suggestions?

nevermind1534 · Post by **nevermind1534** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:26 pm

I used up 500GB in less than a year. I use it for movies, emulation, pictures, some VMs, games, and probably some other stuff that I can't think of at the moment.

Twilight Wolf · Post by **Twilight Wolf** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:28 pm

Wow, I've been able to make 120GB last nearly two years now.

Is it really necessary to fill up the HDD, though? Why not just leave the empty space on there to fill up as you go along?

Or, even better, you could swap it out with a 30GB from one of your other computers and keep the 200GB one for yourself.

jleemero · Post by **jleemero** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:47 pm

Spare Computer?
I have 16! (15, actually, one died today.)

Three servers, at the moment.
Most of my laptops go towards nonsense such as little arcade cabinets or homemade tablets. (I ought to post pics of my next one here...)

I should make a car PC...

Perhaps make a little Media Center PC! Or just, like, a DVR...

nevermind1534 · Post by **nevermind1534** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:02 pm

I have more spare PCs than that. But most of them lie around and do nothing.

Post by **bicostp** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:17 pm

gamecube6 wrote:I suggested ripping her favorite DVDs and using it for things like emulation, but that certainly won't fill 200GB of space.

Depends on how many DVDs you rip and what you transcode them to.

After you have a few of them encoded, install XBMC and plug it into your TV.

cennar · Post by **cennar** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 12:58 am

fix it and give it back to her. also start downloading Flac and HD, you will need another 200 gigs

Post by **Sparkfist** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 8:01 am

You could be silly and make your own web server. Installing and getting Apache running is pretty easy, on Windows or Linux.

File server like others said. Just reencode the movies to a high grade divx/xvid/mpeg4. You'll have the movie below 1GB so you can fit at least 200 movies on a 200GB hard drive.

If you're a big gamer... maybe old schooler in a sorts, build a game server for your friends. I've seen one friend make a Red Moon server, heard of other friends playing on a private WoW server. So you have some nice choices there.

If you're really thinking of something maybe more practical, a print server is something nice. Being able to print from any room/computer/area of the house is nice. It would please your parents if they use a laptop.

-Sparkfist

gamecube6 · Post by **gamecube6** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 5:35 pm

Thanks for all the replies!

Cennar, that was my plan until she replaced it in half an hour.

Server is probably not going to happen, considering the not-going-to-always-be-on-ness.

XBMC looks interesting, but if I go that route I'll probably choose MythTV.

Any other suggestions?

benheck.com Forums

Stuff to do with a spare computer?

Stuff to do with a spare computer?

Re: Stuff to do with a spare computer?

Re: Stuff to do with a spare computer?

Re: Stuff to do with a spare computer?

Re: Stuff to do with a spare computer?

Re: Stuff to do with a spare computer?

Re: Stuff to do with a spare computer?

Re: Stuff to do with a spare computer?

Re: Stuff to do with a spare computer?