Most of us have at least one old laptop hoarded away somewhere. Perhaps we cracked the screen, or it simply became too slow for gaming with the latest apps. Dan Ackerman has a great idea what to do next. Writing in C/Net he suggests using old laptop batteries to charge phones and gadgets when the power is down.
How to Go About Using Old Laptop Batteries in a Hurricane
This stuff is definitely not rocket science. In fact, it’s so simple we wonder why we never thought of it before. When a hurricane warning looks like turning out real, get the old laptop out of the closet and charge it up.
If you are planning on using old laptop batteries as chargers during an outage, that’s the most advanced thought to remember . You’ll discover the battery accepted the charge even though the processing speed reminds you of your worst nightmare. Now all you need do is plug in your phone (or gadget) into the laptop USB port and charge to your heart’s content until the battery is full.
Can I Do Something Similar with My Old PC?
Unfortunately you can’t do that, because it lacks a storage battery although there’s no need to chuck it away. Eric Griffin contributing to PC Mag dreamed up 15 great uses for an old PC. We rather liked the idea of substituting an entry-level operating system and using it to play legacy computer games.
Using an Old PC to Keep Cyber Crime at Bay
Alternatively, why not refresh the operating system and make it a dedicated communications center. Set it up in the games room where the family can email, skype and surf to their heart’s delight.
It won’t be a train smash if it catches a cyber cold. Your PC may be streets away from using old laptop batteries as chargers.
However it would be a shame to abandon it just because it’s reactions times got a little slow as it aged.
Related
How You Use Your Laptop Battery, Carefully
Laptop Battery Life and Squeezing More Hours
Preview Image: Digital Nomad with Laptop and Phone
