What can I do with 15 old computers?

My old highschool is throwing out 15 Pentium I's, and my friend and I are taking them. They are pretty crappy, but have NIC's, keyboards, monitors and CD-drives (and of course, all the basics are in working order).

What do I do? Well, obviously, I will install some form of Linux or BSD on them but what exactly?

Here's what I am thinking:

• a regular debian/freeBSD box for my bedroom, to read e-mail and forums using a simple window manager
• take the hard-drive out, and use the computer as a linux firewall running on a floppy
• set 2 or 3 of them together for distributed computing
• add a stick of RAM and a harddrive to a computer and use it as a server
• get a more powerful server, and run thin clients on the computers
• harvest them for parts
• add an extra monitor to my XP machine, to have a sweet dual-display, as well as some more slave disks
• share them on the freecycle network
• sell them or their parts dirt-cheap on e-bay

So many possibilities, so many computers, so little space and time. Do you have any other suggestions?

 

Making a cluster out of them would be kinda neat. But if it was me, I would get some larger storage and make one into a file server. Maybe make a firewall out of one... And definatley grab a second monitor for your main box. I got got an old 13" from my college, I always have a Windows console open on it now.

 

beath the shit out of them all

 

Keep what you WANT, and SELL the rest at a Swap Meet or yard sale! Then you'll have a few bucks for upgrades!

 

The only actual good computer part i have noticed that regular schools have is a monitor.

 

wow, those computers seem completely useless really... unless you want their monitors which seem old... you might be able to sell the monitors on ebay...
but i dont think

this will work

I would either donate them or attempt to sell it on ebay for maybe a dollar or two.

 

Make a fishtake outta it! I made one outta my dads old Mac that he had. Patch up the inside holes with bondo and cut a viewing window, and put fish in it, its awesome!

 

haha, here is a site full of em!
http://www.theapplecollection.com/Collection/MacAquarium/

 

actually if the processor is 2.4 or 2.66 ghz or higher i would be ripping the cpu out and PSU ETC find a nice case and built a fairly good game machine. just buy a decent mother board and a decent video card. maybe a decent power supply. you never mention what pentium they were. 2.66 are northwood and they over clock a lot 3.2 easy.

 

What on earth would make you believe that I would consider a 2.4 GHz CPU old? And for that matter, why the hell would anybody throw such a computer out?

I clearly stated they were Pentium I's. That means, about 130 MHz.

 

Dont go there .. and school are known in some countys or states to waste money or throw out good stuff. i seen perfect condition file cabinets and office furniture sold dirt cheap from schools and city run offices.

 

Ah. This would explain the level of education in the US.

 

yes we are very dumb . Thats why canada had the first man on the moon . produce the first atomic bomb. and silicone valley is near Toronto.

 

Didn't say you were dumb, I said your education system is terrible. This is something that most of your teachers and academics, the developers of the first atomic bomb and the geeks in silicone valley will agree with.

Not to say that the Canadian one is much better, though. It's based on the same ideas and shares many of the same faults.

 

You could have picked some better examples... The atom bomb and NASA would never have happend if it wern't for your SS buddies

 

Hush they get mad if you mention the SS.

 

The goverment only needs enough few with brains to many smart people are not in the goverment best intrest.

 

Go with the fish tank then man! Its practical, fun, and no one else has that! (besides me)

 

actually the french discover radio activity and a american russian had the first fuel rocket all the germans did was to refine it.

 

turn them into routers.....