what to do with a laptop?

[billygoat333]

I finally broke down and bought a new laptop. So now I have a semi perfectly good laptop (it freezes up a lot but I have a feeling i just need to redo the heatsink/TIM combo on it) its a slightly older, pentium m with an intel gma 900 series GPU so nothing too special. was thinking about making a media player out of it, just by flipping the screen around and making a box to hang on the wall in the kitchen? anyone got any better ideas? the laptop has an infrared interface/remote for dvds and music with onboard HP software to do both, with no operating system running (thought that was pretty cool of hp, just touch power, then dvd and up pops a dvd program, no waiting for windows to boot) just gotta decide what to do with it. (if its even worth it, might just take out the hdd ram and dvd drive and toss everything else)

http://www.e-lab.it/ebay/hp-dv4000-2.jpg

not actual laptop but this is the model. mine is significantly more beaten up, cracked, and well loved.

[x88x]

Jukebox, HTPC, random thinclient somewhere in the house, network-connected monitor? I would definitely pull it apart, clean the heatsinks, and re-do the thermal paste with Arctic Silver though. That or an OS reinstall will probably fix the freezing.

[billygoat333]

http://www.geocities.com/korngopher333/rough.JPG

haha super rough sketch done in paint as I am stuck @ work right now :p

but this is kinda what I was thinking. the only problem I can see is how to hide the ugly power cable. maybe putting the power brick inside the case and just having the ac plug part show? IDK.

[gntlkilr]

Print Server, recipe access terminal in the kitchen, flip the screen around and poof, instant DVD player under the cupboard with some wireless key/mouse

[x88x]

Depending on the screen size, you might even be able to get a touch panel for it.

[Luke122]

Touchscreen overlay FTW.

[slaveofconvention]

You may not need to re-seat anything - it's entirely possible the shutdowns are just down to dust - a good clear out may help before you start taking stuff apart any further...

[billygoat333]

I would love to get a touchscreen overlay. that would be sick. im still kickin around a few different ideas of what to do with this thing. lol

[progbuddy]

Take off the keyboard and touchpad, pull the screen off. flip it around, put it back on, touchscreen overlay, mod to fit.

[BuzzKillington]

flip the screen and build a custom case for it so it looks like a sleek all-in-one LCD. Mount it on the bed stand or headboard with an LCD arm for late night netflix!

[si-skyline]

Could be used to wireless up something..

A good example is I used a old laptop with a wireless card in it. hooked it up to a xbox360 with a network cable and shared the connection.

What about sticking it in your car??
Stick it in the dash or in the glovebox, movie, internet and music on the go :)

[billygoat333]

yeah, i've thought about using it as a carpc, definitely an option! :)

[BuzzKillington]

I'll take it if you decide to scrap it. :D