Segwist

Somewhere along the way, over the past few years of metageeking, I have attracted what can only be described as a pile of computers. Looking around the studio late in 2008, I did a quick stock take of all the computers and laptops lying around and wondered if there was something I could be doing with it all. Sure the big tower is for audio production and the smaller one is a media center and download box, but what about those laptops? The Asus M6R is the laptop previously used in my electronic band, the Macbook is its likely replacement and my dipping into the world of Mac and OSX, the Acer Aspire One is my travel netbook I took on a fundraising trip in Cambodia and as for the Toshiba Satellite? I’m not sure. What I am sure about, is that this makes for a lot of idle processing power.

For those who, like myself, have wondered if there was a better use for idle computing power, the answer is a resounding yes! Of course you could convert systems into media centres, try out alternative and open source operating systems like Linux or simply pull them apart and make drink coasters and magnets out of them. That might be fun. On the other hand, you might consider, as I did, utilising all that potential processing power for the greater good. Enter the World Community Grid.

(more…)