Palm Vx

Old Use: Personal organizer

New Use: Compact kitchen computer

By the late 1990s, Palm Pilots were the best-selling hand-held computers in America. Today, they're better suited to survive the hazards of the kitchen than their touch-screen descendants. Keep an old model on the counter—or better yet, attach it to the fridge door with Velcro—to keep a running grocery list, digitize and organize recipes or share a family notepad. Because you control it using a stylus, not your finger, a Palm Pilot will be easier to keep clean than a smartphone or tablet while you're cooking. And the Vx's easy-to-read monochrome screen draws little power, which means you won't need to keep the device plugged in. Even an old model should run for days, if not weeks, between charges.

iPod Classic

Old Use: Portable music player

New Use: Ultimate in-car jukebox