I have 7 computers at home (soon to be 8). While only 2 are only on a consistent basis, I usually have my work laptop on also. Much of the time they just sit there idling while I surf the web, write email, etc. etc.
I have participated in distributed computing projects such as SETI@Home and Folding@Home; these projects use my spare CPU cycles to do research to help researchers. Now an enterprising developer has launched a service that may eventually (the key word is eventually) allow users to make money off of their space computer cycles.
In the CPUShare system, sellers will post asking bids on how much they want for their spare processor cycles, while buyers will put out bids on what they’ll pay. Currently, Arcangeli is testing the system with virtual money called “CPUCoins,” although several real money sellers’ bids have been listed at 2 Euro cents per hour. No buyers have logged bids, however. Source: TechWeb
So, no buyers yet, eh? With my work PC running all the time at work, it would be a shame not to put it to a “profitable” use. Investigation into this, though, showed that you currently have to run Windows and Mac clients via a bootable CD. That means, unlike the other projects I mentioned above, you can’t share the PC resources. I’ll have to keep an eye on this and see where it goes.
