HydroponicTrashMar 17, 2023

After some time I’ve found a way to upcycle Chromebooks to run the latest version of Ubuntu and boot to an external USB drive while maintaining the ChromeOS. The WiFi chips in these models also can create their own wifi networks so they can be short range routers.
What does this actually mean? Instead of requiring new hardware like a raspberry pi, we can take old Chromebooks that schools get rid of in the thousands and actually reuse them to create portable micro servers. Pack them full of offline books, maps, wikis, etc.
There is a major upside compared to using an old Chromebook over a raspberry pi, mainly that it's actually cheaper and can be free depending on how you source your chromebooks. I got 10 at $30 each which is cheaper than a pi or a pi alternative.

The battery life is also insane. I used it for close to 12 hours and it didn't even hit 50% battery loss. They also take very little time to charge so I'm interested to see how much power they might take up while attached to the off grid solar array.

So the plan is to make the docs and work some more on making these into portable offgrid information stations and packing them with info. https://anarchosolarpunk.substack.com/p/offgridserveruses
#solarpunk #permacomputing

Off Grid Internet Use Cases

Expanding the uses of an autonomous network, and offering some ideas on the ways that autonomous and community controlled networking can lead to change.

Anarcho Solarpunk
Show threadsilverwizardMar 17, 2023
@hydroponictrash Upcycled and recycled computers are so good! I've been digital racooning for three years now - and realizing that there's no way to need new hardware has been a depressing as hell experience - so much tech just... gone
Show threadHydroponicTrashMar 17, 2023
@silverwizard Yeah it's insane just how much is already out there and is either sitting in a warehouse being unused or sitting in a landfill. Gotta take things out of that cycle one step at a time!
Show threadCarolineCherry
@hydroponictrash @silverwizard This is so encouraging . I’ve been recycling old mobiles and iPads with local library and they’re refurbishing via a community group and being redistributed to refugees , asylum seekers and others . We need to do this as I’m very concerned that in UKs recessionary climate many are being left digitally excluded.
Mar 20, 2023 at 4:26pmWeb
Show threadmike805Mar 26, 2023
@stroppypanda @hydroponictrash @silverwizard we had a bunch of old laptops at work that did not meet requirements. I reinstalled them and gave them away to employees and their families. Second time I have done this.