PC World - USA 2020-07)

JULY 2020 PCWorld 109

12.

common uses are to transform an old PC
into a dedicated home theater PC or a file
server.
It’s not even that hard to do, though
obviously it means the PC’s email and Office
days are over. Some awesome free software
available for each
use: Snag
MediaPortal (go.
pcworld.com/
mdpt), OpenELEC
(go.pcworld.com/
opel), or Kodi (go.
pcworld.com/kodi;
the new name for
the uber-popular
OS formerly known
as XBMC) for a
would-be HTPC, or
FreeNAS (go.

pcworld.com/fnas) to

build out a home server

(go.pcworld.com/

hmsv).

12. BITE THE
    BULLET
    Sometimes, though, a
    system is just too far
    gone to be of practical
    use. If your old dog
    needs to be brought
    behind the shed, we
    can help you find a new
    computer. Our guides to the best laptops
    (go.pcworld.com/newl) in general, the best
    cheap laptops (go.pcworld.com/chlp), and
    the best fire-breathing gaming laptops (go.
    pcworld.com/lpgm) can help point you in
    the right direction for your needs.

11.