I know the software is free, though not sure where. I also think I read you should have some special hardware. Also, that it uses a lot of electricity.
Question is, given no expectation of getting rich, using a stock Windows Dell laptop, and having electric included in my rent, is there a way to do it?
Thanks
Technically, yes, it’s possible. However, as a result of an arms race of computing capability, Bitcoin mining has become the sole province of large consortiums using specialized hardware dedicated only to Bitcoin mining who seek out the lowest available electricity costs. Not only will you not “get rich”, you will not have any net profit in any way, nor would you be likely to even successfully mine anything, due to being massively outcompeted by mining groups.
Pretty much pointless. You will have better shot at making money by using your laptop as a shovel to dig for gold.
Well, that’s no fun. I guess I was looking to try it out just to see better how it works. I really need a hobby. 
No.
So this isn’t a perfect analogy, but it works well enough to explain why: Consider a race with a small prize, but which is run continuously. At the start, everybody starts running, someone crosses the finish line first and wins the prize. At that point, everybody–regardless of progress–starts over at the starting line and runs again.
There are two interesting parts to this race: First, there are no real rules in this race, you can use any vehicle/technology/whatever you want in order to get across the finish line first. Lots of different mechanisms are developed, but all focus on speed.
Second, the location of the finish line isn’t known in advance, so most folks will be racing in the wrong direction in most races. You’ll only know you’ve found the finish line when you actually cross it.
That’s bitcoin mining, and the technology in question is number-crunching technology (sometimes homebrew, often stolen networks, often racks and racks of off-the-shelf video cards – which is what takes up the electricity you’ve heard of). Everybody’s racing to solve a math problem, and when someone does, everybody starts over. Because of the somewhat random nature of the search, it’s not impossible your little laptop might beat out the big boys, but it’s astronomically unlikely.
You do not need to run any software to see how it works, only a passing familiarity with cryptography. Look for a 2008 article by “Satoshi Nakamoto”.
It is a fascinating topic. Just don’t expect to actually make any bitcoins. At all. (I’ve heard all the bitcoins are made in China these days.)
If you’re in the mood for programming puzzles, take a look at Advent of Code? It’s a series of 25 puzzles for Xmas 2018. I have no idea if they will do one this year, but it’s fun.
Or there is always Project Euler, a series of programming puzzles that go from simple to completely insane.
Nowadays most of the mining pools wont even accept CPU or most GPU miners and are all using dedicated RISC hardware optimized for mining.
About 8 years ago I managed to mine up about 6 bitcoins as part of a pool that were lost to the collapse of Mtgox bitcoin exchange.
Theoretically I will be getting a refund of the value at the time of the crash (around $483 each) but I am not holding my breath. at present prices those coins would be worth about $32K and were breifly worth around $100K
I’m also a MtGox debtor and my understanding is that the current best estimate of what we’ll get back (in a few years) is $2-3000 per BTC. But of course, I am not holding my breath.
All these words swirling around, seeming to almost make sense to me. So tantalising, yet so opaque.
Pretend for a minute that i’m old and ignorant and am still unconvinced about ‘credit cards’ let alone ‘bit coins’. Point me to some reading that explains bitcoin mining for old geezers.
It sounds like the sort of thing that the widow of the former President of Nigeria will be contacting me about soon. I’d better get some study in so I can help her. I wonder if she’ll take a cheque?
Ignore this request.
I’ve just seen Darren Garrison’s link above, which looks like it covers bitcoin mining in suitably one-syllable words.
Once you get through that here’s a podcast that will explain the MT Gox nightmare. The whole series is great, I highly recommend it.