The article gives a very nice overview of what to do to an old laptop. I'd like to add a few remarks though:
- some laptops don't enjoy non-branded memory modules: IBM ones for example, won't appreciate RAM that has not been tested for them (avoid generic RAM with those).
- a hard disk upgrade can actually boost performance: switching a low-cache, slow-rotation hard disk for a more recent, better equipped one can yeld a tremendous boost in application loading, increase battery life and reduce noise (switching from a 512 Kb cache to 2-8 Mb has incredible effects)
- upgrading the OS is not always a good idea: for example, switching from Win98 to XP may lead to lost power management features, worse driver support and non-working hardware.
Personally, I did the following to an IBM Thinkpad a21m:
- increase RAM to 384 Mb
- swap 20 Gb, 2 Mb cache drive to 60Gb, 6 Mb cache drive
- install a Linux flavour with Xorg 6.9.0
That machine can't do a 3D interface (Mach64/Mobility M1 3D support is too puny), but it runs Google Earth, OpenOffice, plays back DivX movies, plays SuperTux, accesses all my websites (banking and video streaming ones included), does dynamic CPU frequency scaling, supports suspend to disk...
It's cool