What Do You Do With Your Old Laptop/PC?

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If its really run down like my laptop, you can take away the hard drive, convert it to an external hard drive by buying a case use for those external HD and then sell the laptop for the parts.

Well, this laptop I'm using right now is still working perfectly. But this laptop is getting obsolete (no HDMI port, thunderbolt, .etc).
Running at 4GB RAM 1300MHZ, 2GHZ i5 quad core CPU. Nvdia FX1800m, 512 GB SATA.

I feel like getting the new model of my laptop (Dell Precision M4800). The guy has already prepared a quotation for me to buy and get it made.
It cost about $5500 in my currency (US$4400).
Specs: i7-4900MQ 8M cache up to 3.8 GHZ, 32 GB RAM 1600 MHZ, 512 GB SSD with 512 GB mSATA for OS bootup, nVidia K2100M 2GB GDDR, and many more.

But then, I realize this laptop is working fine (maybe might have problems handling future softwares) and I fear it might be a waste if I just get a new one. So if I were to buy, then what am I gonna do with this laptop? Trading in or selling it might be hard because it's old with scratches and such. I was advised to keep this laptop in my office and treat it as a 24/7 server and as a backup laptop.

Suggestions?
 
Thanks for the reply, guys.

Not to sound weird, but I have some sort of emotional attachment to this laptop.
And.. eh... this lappy has lots of "exclusive videos and photos". I scared people might retrieve it even if I reformat it cleanly. lol
 
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Get a program called "eraser ver6" Set it to wipe with a DOD 7 pass wipe in the settings.

Start the wipe. Take a few days off. Check to see if the drive is finished. Take a couple more days off. Check again.

When it is finished, wipe again with any setting except the gutman (unless its an old drive).

Problem solved.

It even wipes the cluster tips.
 
Thanks guys!!

Surprisingly, the salesman gave me $300 discount. So that brought the price down to $5200 (with free additional charger).
The only painful part is the tax! If there's no sales tax, the price would only been ~$4800.
 
Honestly I use them until they're unusable (Which happens every 2 years or so due to Photoshop needs)... When I buy one, I get myself a desktop and put it together myself after checking online which parts work together(I have next to no tech skills, but any idiot can do that much).

Just bought myself a new one in February and the old one becomes a hand-me-down inside the family or to my friends who can't afford a new one or have lower needs. I gave my old ipad away to a friend for a hundred bucks, my old iphone stayed in the family as did my ipod... and so on!

Also when I get myself a new laptop, I generally buy them when I'm on business somewhere with low taxes...
 
Obsolete? Wow, really? I ran a Core2 Duo PC with 2 gigs of ram for 6 years and never had any problems...
 
Actually my i5 2 core laptop is the most powerful machine in my home. I do my everyday job on Athlon II x2 desktop. Is nice to have the laptop on a rised pad next to my desktop display, I can always check things from another machine, or let it run different things on autopilot.

EDIT: a pic to confirm this:

33be25u.jpg
 
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Hey,
Do you really need a new laptop?
I had (and still have) one laptop like your...i5 , 4gb ram, etc.
What I does? I bought a new pc unit - low prices and higher performances than laptops.
dxdiag.png
As you see, is not a big difference at configuration but it works 3x better than the laptop. And cheap, I paid around 500$ for the parts...All what I need to do it's to add +4gb aditional ram (60$)
Thanks guys!!

Surprisingly, the salesman gave me $300 discount. So that brought the price down to $5200 (with free additional charger).
The only painful part is the tax! If there's no sales tax, the price would only been ~$4800.


WHAT THE FUCK....$4.8 it's TOO MUCH.
Build your own pc unit, same configuration for max. 2000$
or if you really need a laptop, then u can buy one with this config. for max. $3k
 
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I don't know about you but I have an emotional attachment with my machines. So I keep them. I would advise you to not sell it.
 
I upgrade my laptop and PC every year, and give my old one (only 1yr old) to a friend or their kids/siblings.
 
I exchange it with dealer, pay the difference and upgrade it ;)
 
If you do not have a back up, then you def want to keep it as one.
 
My wife is on an old Dell Optiplex GX110,Pentium 3, 800 with 512 MB RAM. It has her Tri-peaks score in there, and the hard drive is literally 12 years old. I have a half dozen computers around here, and she will not let me replace it. It amazes me everyday it runs.

When I approach the subject she tells me that her computer does what she wants to just fine thank you, so leave it alone.
 
Your local food bank probably could use it too, as well as Meals on Wheels.

You could also donate it to a disabled veteran, just contact your local DAV chapter.

Barring all that, donate it to the local Boy or Girl scouts.

Anyone who is home bound and has no computer would find it very helpful as well.

If you wish and you live in the US, PM me the details, and I will find someone in your area like above, and send you the information of who to donate it to in your area.

Giving it away doesn't get you cash, but it will give you a great feeling inside.

Nice Techxan. I donate my boxes to the sheriffs ranch ( temporary displaced kids. ) I generally get a donation write off. They don't have much, or ever had much. I imagine whatever they are going through in thier lives, it makes it a little easier to adjust. I've never seen spirits not get lifted when Computers and Video Games are involved..

+rep and +rep
You are in the lucky position to replace something so expensive with something even more expensive.
Others are clearly not that lucky. Seeing how you do know you will not get any good cash if you'd be selling it, I will defo root for the donation path too. :)
A good task goes a loooong way. Go make someone smile. :)
 
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