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Refurbishing PCs For Charity?
Used PC Guy asks: "I'm trying to run a program to recycle PCs for charity to give to underprivileged kids. Trouble is, these kids have never seen a PC. What should I teach the kids if they're about 14-21? Should I teach Windows, Linux or both? What hardware should I be requesting, and what's the best way to test the influx of hardware that's coming in quickly, efficiently and reliably to make sure won't need servicing within another 6 months?"
It's easier when you're showing strength in numbers, you know. One man outfits just don't have the same credibility.
If you have the money, why spend it on software? Spend the money on good broadband connection and networking the computers. If you have all that, spend it on books that you can keep in the place and possibly loan out so they can read some thing on their own.
My suggestion would be to use Ubuntu. And when you show them software, show them cross-platform solutions. Firefox/Opera, Thunderbird or some webmail, Gaim, Gimp, OpenOffice.org2.
I mean, that's the crux of learning computers. Typing documents and emails. Sending IMs to stay connected. Looking up stuff online for learning, entertainment and procrastination.
My brother has a scanner and he lost the drivers for it. It was a pain to find them online. For me, with Ubuntu, it worked without any setting up. I was surprised. If you're getting hardware that you might not have the driver CD for, Linux really is much better at support (unless you can hunt down the drivers online).
But the main thing is, people are capable of learning if you have faith in them and put in effort and create a good atmosphere. If you dumb everything down too much, then they'll learn less. But if you expect more, they'll surpise you. Don't be afraid to teach them about the hardware a little bit and the network. They might not fully grasp everything, but they'll be a little better off. And you'll be able to spot the smarter ones who'll be more motivated to learn.
In times like these, it is helpful to remember that there have always been times like these. - Paul Harvey
Despite what a lot of other posters have mentioned, I'd have to say that Linux would be the best choice. As a distribution maintainer myself, I get a lot of e-mails from users – and a lot of it isn't just the usual support stuff, a good deal of the mail I get is from ordinary people who decided to switch to Linux (and my distro was the first one).
I may be a bit biased on this, but I'd have to say the only real problem is typically the installation. After that, it's a snap. If the machines have enough horsepower – for my own distro, a Pentium-233 with 96MB can handle KDE, Firefox, and OpenOffice.org rather nicely – I'd say stick on KDE, create a default user account and make it auto-login, assign a strong root password – but tell them what it is! – and maybe set up some shortcuts on the desktop to any apps they may use. Problem solved!
I'd have to say that everyone in my family seems to like my distro too. Even my parents. Which may sound sort of stupid and obvious, but not really – I had to fight tooth and nail to get them to try Linux out! They just did not want to give up Windows, at all! But as soon as they saw it, they were hooked too...
But one quick suggestion – if you have to teach them on Windows, please, do yourself (and them) a favor and DON'T USE INTERNET EXPLORER. I'm obviously no expert on psychology, but I've noticed that most people, once they find something they like, generally don't want to switch off to something better unless it's forced upon them. So if you get them used to using an insecure, non-standard browser such as Explorer, it will likely serve you right when you can't convince them to try Firefox because of the unpatched security vulnerability du jour in IE.
Creative misinterpretation is your friend.
It's the same way in English too, it's just not common use. American Heritage Dictionary: Learn v. 6. Obsolete. To give information to.
I think that the best way to test a computer / components is to use a LiveCD: you get a fully-fledged OS as well as the tools you'll need to check and configure different hardware. When I was volunteering at Interconnection, I often brought in my own Knoppix 3.9 disk to test the old systems we would get. It's not *fast*, but legally it beats copying Win2K disks and just shutting them down once you got as far as the 'Ready to install' screen.
Another reason to like LiveCDs is that they're indistructible. With Knoppix, you can save personal settings to an HD with ever actually having to install the OS to the drive; alternatively, you can vet the hardware with the LiveCD, then move it to the HD as a Debian install.
The whole argument about which OS is better should be ignored; any OS is better than nothing, and you can get FOSS disks for a lot less than MS licenses, which for a non-profit should be a key consideration. I grew up with a Commodore 64, moved to a Mac SE, played with an Apple IIGS and Mac Color, then went with an IBM for my first self-bought machine; these kids need exposure to computer concepts and access to working systems more than they need to be kept within the bounds of the "majority" OS and its peccadillos.
-- Let him who is without spelling error ignite the first flame --
At Free Geek, we use Linux. And when people ask me why, I usually end up defending Microsoft.
I know that people pirate and copy Microsoft products all the time. And at many levels this is kind of done with a wink wink nudge nudge by everyone involved, including probably Microsoft themselves.
However, when you are running an organization, and you are producing computers, people can start asking questions. Which means, if you are installing Windows, make sure it is legal! If you are churning out lots of computers with pirated Windows, you will probably get caught. It doesn't matter if it is for charity.
Now, that does mean that you will be paying 200 dollars a license, and 400 dollars for a license of Office. This means that if you wanted to give out, say, ten computers with Windows XP Home Edition and Office Standard Edition, you would be paying 6000 dollars.
At Free Geek, aside from any philosophical ideas, we can't afford to spend 6000-10000 dollars a week on licenses for computers we are giving out.
Hopefully I didn't put any [] around my words.
The problem with windows on refurb. computers is that you might not be entitled to the license that originally came with it.
There is a company here in Portland called Free Geek http://www.freegeek.org/ that recycles computers and electronic components. The refined their own version of linux to make a quite useable machine. Most of them are donated to charities, and not kids, but my understanding is that the people who receive them have little trouble using them.
There's nothing magic about Windows and Office... a decently configured linux box and open office are just as easy to use and just as effective for someone who doesn't already have a computer and isn't a power-user.