And now, here is a little idea that proves that creativity is the best friend of a person on a budget.
Somewhere there is a laptop graveyard where old laptops go to die or at least lay there because they are too slow or unequipped to handle today’s software and Internet requirements.
Laptops are often hard to dispose of when you are done with them. Many charities, such as Goodwill won’t take old computer equipment. As a result, you can usually find older laptops either discarded on the street or given away through Freecycle.org. If you have an old laptop yourself or are able to acquire one or two, you can turn them into Christmas gifts. Here is how.
Turn an old laptop into a digital photo frame. The screen size with be bigger than standard photo frames and you can save the $50 to $300.
Turn an old Laptop into a custom wall clock. Have it display the digital time and hang it up. If the laptop is complete shot, you can use the case and insert clock works for a traditional wall clock.
Turn an old laptop into an electronic cookbook. Mount it in your kitchen and store all of your recipes on it.
Purchase an LCD TV adapter and turn the old laptop into a second TV or a TV for a vacation home.
Mount it on your door as a way for visitors to leave you messages when you aren’t at home (this might be a great idea for a college student living in a dorm).
With Internet access, even slow, you can turn it into a dedicated weather station.
Turn it into a CD player, a DVD player or an ebook.
Use it as extra storage or back up storage for photos and music. Pre load photos or music on the laptop before you give it as a gift.
Click here for more articles by Mary Ann Romans.
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