At home, we're using an very old PC (486) running Linux as a gateway/hub/router to the internet. In theroy, we're only allowed to connect one computer to the net (a multi-user contract would be more expensive), but with some Linux-foo and two network cards in this gateway thingy, everything works (and is undetectable by the cable company).
Now, for various reasons, the name of this computer is 'schmetterling' (butterfly). Schmetterling is rather noisy and draws quite a bit of power. So if we don't need connection to the net (e.g. everybody is sleeping), we shut it down.
Previously, if somebody would stop working/browsing/etc, s/he would yell "Does anybody need 'schmetterling'?" and if nobody needed connection, s/he would turn of the computer.
Now, for some time, we happened to change that to "Should I shut down the Internet?" or (even better): "I'll shut down the Internet, if you don't need it anymore". Which is much more fun, and gives a certain powerfull but slightly delusional feeling...
Re:old laptops
Alias on 2006-01-08T11:36:24
And if it DOES work, hey your gateway has a built-in UPS:)
