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Okay, so the term "Open Source" gets stretched a lot these days, from "Open Source" religion to "Open Source" politics. In some places, it applies better than others. But IMHO, it is actually possible to share the "source code" by abstracting the hardware and sharing the info on-line. Think of it as a free and open inventory of hardware that anyone could access. Maybe "co-op hardware" is a better term for it. But still, the idea is that if we want to see a wider adoption of FOSS, we are going to have help people get it on hardware. And why not save the environment in the process? I started DIYparts.org, which is a free (beer and freedom) site for exchanging hardware locally, so as to avoid the cost of shipping. This is not really a shameless, plug, because it is there for the community to use. I don't make any money from the site.

Regardless of how well Vista is selling, every new box purchased with Vista pre-installed means the potential for GNUsters and Penguinistas to pick up a box from their neighbor and install GNU Linux on it and give it so someone who has never tried Free Open Source Software. How cool would it be if we could match FOSS installs one-for-one with XP cast-off boxes. Look for gifting opportunities through Craigslist, Freecycle, and DIYparts.org. I'm sure that there are about 300 sites that I have forgotten there, but you get the picture.

It would be cool if we could develop some type of Sourceforge or Sourceforge-type of sites to help people exchange hardware locally, so as to avoid the cost of shipping. There is already Craigs List and Freecycle, two that I can think of currently, but nothing dedicated solely to computers, like SourceForge is for software.

I mean, imagine what a SourceForge for older harware could do for schools, non-profits, etc.

Anyone who has ideas on this could email me at einfeldt at gmail dot com.

I have started a website at DIYparts.org to do just that, and would appreciate any tips as to someone else that is doing it better, so that we could either just quite DIYparts.org and join them, or improve DIYparts.org where that other site is lacking.

We are going to start offering videos for free to download to give newbies an idea how to start with GNU/Linux. The DIYparts.org site is here:

http://www.diyparts.org/

Which reminds me, they did a good audio interview with the founder of DIYParts.org, Christian Einfeldt. Funny thing is he credits Adam Doxtater (the "Mouth of Mad Penguin") as being one of the top four people we'll be talking about in years to come. Did I fall of the train somewhere and bump my head?

OK, so I forgot my AOL friendly link :)

The website http://www.diyparts.org/ which in past supplied 3rd world countries with computers now has an option where you upload the information of a computer you have to give away and someone in your area viewing the website will contact you regarding it for free stuff.

DIY Parts
Craig's List
FreeCycle
eBay