Nearly all modern computers can output video to at least two displays. Often laptops need to use an adapter or dock to use another monitor to make the second display accessible due to a lack of ports on the computer. Placing the old computer monitor to the right or left of a new monitor is the most common choice. However, you can get creative by purchasing a third-party monitor arm and attaching it to your old monitor. It may let you place the old monitor above another display or flip it into portrait orientation. The most popular hobbyist PC is the Raspberry Pi. This computer runs a Linux-based operating system and is powerful enough to handle most basic computing tasks like web browsing, video playback, and document editing. The most recent iteration, the Raspberry Pi 4, starts at just $35. Hobbyist PCs are small and use very little power, offering flexibility in using the old computer monitor. You could place it in a workshop to display schematics and project notes, use it in a kitchen to display recipes or hook it up to a solar panel for off-grid computing. You may prefer to sit the old computer monitor in a den and use a gamepad to play. Still, dedicated arcade gamers can go the extra mile and use the old computer monitor to build an arcade cabinet. You can buy an arcade cabinet kit, repurpose an old cabinet, or design and build a new one from scratch. Want the arcade feel with less work? Wall-mount the old computer monitor at eye level, then mount a shelf at a comfortable height below it. You can place a hobbyist PC and arcade stick on the shelf. This setup requires minimal space. In its most basic form, a smart dashboard might display local weather, local traffic, a to-do list, or a digital calendar. However, creative and dedicated users will find no end to the possibilities. You could turn an old monitor into the master control for a home security system or view the status of dozens of smart home devices at a glance. There are dozens of ways to create a smart home dashboard. Here’s a selection of popular software platforms and the operating systems they support.
SharpTools: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS HomeHabit: Android, iOS (beta) Calaos: Linux, Android, iOS, more OpenHab: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS
If all else fails, find a recycling program to take the monitor. Monitors, like most electronics, contain components that can be hazardous as they degrade. Recycling the monitor will keep it out of a landfill.
