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Old laptops are destined for recycling facilities, but they often still have a lot of potential uses. I've been working with a couple of older models myself. I have no interest in using them on the go, so I take a few steps to get them ready for use in dedicated setups. Let's take a look.  Safety first with the battery. One of the first things to consider with an old laptop, especially if you plan on using it in a stationary setting, is the battery. Older batteries can sometimes be a bit unpredictable or even pose a safety risk over time so I prefer to take them out.   Removing the internal battery from an older Acer laptop. In my opinion, if the laptop is just going to sit plugged into AC power, it's often a good idea to take the battery out. I do this with the laptops I repurpose for stationary tasks. It just simplifies things and removes one potential point of failure or risk. I store the removed batteries in "fireproof" bags. Better safe than sorry, even if th...

The Vintage Computer Festival Midwest is a fun event in the Chicago suburbs. It's a chance to connect with fellow enthusiasts and see some incredible vintage hardware. I wanted to show a bit of my exploring and conversations with people. This was my second time visiting.  A lenticular  Commodore 64 motherboard image on display. I was immediately drawn to a display featuring a Commodore 64 motherboard. The presenter even had a cool visual effect: if you moved your head back and forth, the RF shield appeared to lift off, revealing the components underneath! Also the glass acted like an actual magnifying glass, which was neat to look through. 100 year old typewriter next to the C64 photo. Taking photos. A typewriter collector had brought a piece that was almost a century old, stating that he picked it up for cheap at a garage sale. A whole table full of various types of camera technology. A view of various MSX computers on a table. Various MSX computers were on display, representing ...