Slashdot Asks: Appropriate Place For Free / Open Source Software Artifacts?

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Slashdot Asks: Appropriate Place For Free / Open Source Software Artifacts?

Posted by timothy on Thursday October 30, 2014 @04:55AM from the you-haul dept.

A friend of mine who buys and sells used books, movies, etc. recently purchased a box full of software on CD, including quite a few old Linux distributions, and asked me if I'd like them. The truth is, I would like them, but I've already collected over the last two decades more than I should in the way of Linux distributions, on at least four kinds of media (starting with floppies made from a CD that accompanied a fat book on how to install some distribution or other -- very useful in the days of dialup). I've got some boxes (Debian Potato, and a few versions of Red Hat and Mandrake Linux), and an assortment of marketing knickknacks, T-shirts, posters, and books. I like these physical artifacts, and they're not dominating my life, but I'd prefer to actually give many of them to someplace where they'll be curated. (Or, if they should be tossed, tossed intelligently.) Can anyone point to a public collection of some kind that gathers physical objects associated with Free software and Open Source, and makes them available for others to examine? (I plan to give some hardware, like a pair of OLPC XO laptops, to the same Goodwill computer museum highlighted in this video, but they probably don't want an IBM-branded radio in the shape of a penguin.)

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I know! by Anonymous Coward · 2014-10-30 05:01 · Score: 2, Insightful

Give them to Timothy.
With any luck it will keep him busy and we wont hear from him for a while.
1. Re:I know! by Anonymous Coward · 2014-10-30 05:09 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  I was hoping to hear Bennett Haselton's opinion on the matter. ... Ok now that that is out of the way I'll go back to normal posting.
2. Re:I know! by Anonymous Coward · 2014-10-30 05:42 · Score: 0, Informative
  
  He's a frequent contributor.
3. Re:I know! by rogoshen1 · 2014-10-30 07:01 · Score: 1
  
  not frequent enough, we've gone at least 3 articles without him taking a shit on the front page. C'mon man, eat some fiber and get on with it.
4. Re:I know! by Lord+Kano · 2014-10-30 08:33 · Score: 1
  
  Message Jon Katz,
  Maybe he'll tell him how to get in touch with Junis to install linux on his old Commodore.
  LK
  
  --
  "Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
5. Re:I know! by Anonymous Coward · 2014-10-30 12:36 · Score: 0
  
  Give them to Timothy.
  No point asking about open source on Slashdot. This is a Microsoft/Apple site now.
Ebay by gunner_von_diamond · 2014-10-30 05:02 · Score: 1

Sell it.
source forge! by slashdice · 2014-10-30 05:03 · Score: 0

It's where artifacts and obsolete code goes to die. Like a public toilet for open source shit (which also doubles as a glory hole).

--
Copyright (c) 1990 - 2014 Dice. All rights reserved. Use of this comment is subject to certain Terms and Conditions.
Me too! by Anonymous Coward · 2014-10-30 05:04 · Score: 1

I have a bunch of that stuff too. Try to sell it on eBay as a donation to FSF or EFF starting at $1 and if no one bids on it even with that arrangement then probably it's just worthless nostalgia stuff of no value to anyone but you...
1. Re:Me too! by shadowknot · 2014-10-30 05:09 · Score: 0
  
  I'd second this. I'd certainly be interested in looking at such a collection on eBay and if the donations went to an organization that supports Free Software all the better.
2. Re:Me too! by Anonymous Coward · 2014-10-30 05:28 · Score: 0
  
  Even lets say it is worth anything. What are you going to do with it?
  I am currently slowly purging this junk out of my life. It is kinda interesting to dig thru. But that is about it. 99% of it is worthless trash. That 1% could be worth something but not really worth pulling out. At this point it is fairly clear what is worth anything. Anyone need a net yarozee?
  I am also un-digital pack ratting myself. I have many gigs of downloaded demos/exes/zips of things I was sort of interested in over the years. The porn collection was an easy thing to wipe out as most of it is not nearly of the same quality you can get now (took about 30 seconds to delete). I honestly do not miss it. For some reason it is the demos/exes/zips/other that I am having trouble with. Out of all of it I have many obsolete copies of software. Yet for some reason I hold onto it. The only stuff really worth keeping is the patches for old games. As those can sometimes be a pain to get. 18 copies of different versions of sound blaster AWE drivers for windows 95? Not so much.
  Some of it I could donate. But most of it is very common junk. So yeah usually you are better heading to the local ecycler and hope they actually do better than just dump it.
3. Re:Me too! by Anrego · 2014-10-30 07:45 · Score: 1
  
  I've been going through much the same.
  For physical stuff, have made multiple trips to the local eco recycling place with loads of old computers and peripherals. I'm still keeping some stuff (like my trusty Dragon32 and it's associated junk) do to sentimental value, but I'm less attached to the pile of CD-ROM drives, box of IDE cables, and stack of old machines. If I haven't turned it on in a year, it's gone!
  For digital stuff, I keep most of it for the reason you pointed out. The sum total of 1996 to like early 2000 can probably fit in a few TB, and I've got a 20TB file server (which isn't really that uncommon any more). I've considered dumping it to an external (no need for it to be spinning all the time), but just can't be bothered.
4. Re:Me too! by camg188 · 2014-10-30 12:20 · Score: 1
  
  In a clutter purge back in 2005, I threw out my Atari ST 520 with hi-res 640x480 monochrome monitor. I really regret that.
5. Re:Me too! by Anonymous Coward · 2014-10-30 12:43 · Score: 0
  
  I threw out soooo many burned CDs and DVDS over the summer...it just mad me sad that I wasted so much time of my life downloading all this crap, most which I never even watched and then just threw out without a second thought ten years later.
6. Re:Me too! by Anonymous Coward · 2014-10-30 13:00 · Score: 0
  
  Old games and related memorabilia are most worthless now thanks to sites like GOG. I tried to sell some old "big box" PC Games and got a few bites but didn't get anywhere near the cash my nostalgia addled brain was foolishly expecting.
7. Re:Me too! by vilanye · 2014-11-01 12:49 · Score: 1
  
  At the very least, it might have some educational value.
  Uploading it to a repository would be the best thing to do with it. What happens to the discs is of no consequence.
Figure out which ones are rare and/or special by drinkypoo · 2014-10-30 05:05 · Score: 3, Funny

Figure out before you try to get rid of them which knickknacks and giveaways are actually special somehow. Take all the other ones, put them into bags, and take them down to the your local landfill for recycling. Now put the valuable ones on eBay, perhaps in one or more lots divided by brand. Not expecting to get any notable money, but that would be a nice side effect. It's just a nice way to handle getting paid for shipping, really.
Nobody wanted most of that shit when it was new. It has never ceased to amaze me how an industry which literally creates XL and 2XL customers will have 2000 size M tee shirts made, and 200 size XL, and 0 size 2XL. I've had to see some horrifyingly hairy midriffs in various technical departments.

--
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
1. Re:Figure out which ones are rare and/or special by RGRistroph · 2014-10-30 05:10 · Score: 0
  
  "local landfill for recycling"
  Recyled as . . . an artifical hill ?
2. Re:Figure out which ones are rare and/or special by drinkypoo · 2014-10-30 05:29 · Score: 1
  
  Recyled as . . . an artifical hill ?
  The electronic doodads get shipped off to be broken down. The stuff made of paper gets turned into more paper. Even some of the stupid figurines are marked for recycling.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
3. Re:Figure out which ones are rare and/or special by houstonbofh · 2014-10-30 05:33 · Score: 1
  
  Many landfills also do recycling. It allows them to fill less land...
Dumpster by Anonymous Coward · 2014-10-30 05:07 · Score: 3, Insightful

Find the nearest dumpster and throw them in. Nobody (or very, very few people) wants worthless old CDs and floppies.
1. Re:Dumpster by i+kan+reed · 2014-10-30 05:20 · Score: 1
  
  Back in the day, AOL free trial disks made excellent replacements for TPing a school or house.
2. Re:Dumpster by justthinkit · 2014-10-30 06:31 · Score: 1
  
  And arrange counselling for your friend. I can't imagine the dilemma he finds himself in when holding an empty laundry detergent bottle.
  
  --
  I come here for the love
3. Re:Dumpster by antdude · 2014-10-30 10:03 · Score: 1
  
  Back then 3.5" disks were useful to be reused as blank ones. ;)
  
  --
  Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
Internet Archive. by martiniturbide · 2014-10-30 05:08 · Score: 1

The Internet Archive is very good to preserve open source projects. It is not like Github, but it is good as a search library for ISO images, source code and old software. Also a lot of Creative Commons wikis get dumped there (and I guess we all know the wayback machine). Check it out: http://www.archive.org/
1. Re:Internet Archive. by martiniturbide · 2014-10-30 05:12 · Score: 1
  
  uhm.. but I don't know much about what the Internet Archive does with physical objects. I'm just reading... http://blog.archive.org/2011/0...
Call the History Channel by fustakrakich · 2014-10-30 05:13 · Score: 1

Do one of those stupid auction or flea market shows that dominate now. You might make a buck...

--
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
Jason Scott by Ceriel+Nosforit · 2014-10-30 05:14 · Score: 1

Sounds like something Jason Scott might be interested in.

--
All rites reversed 2010
Obligatory by pushing-robot · 2014-10-30 05:24 · Score: 0

It belongs in a museum!
Oh, wait, you already thought of that. Sorry.
Have you considered donating to https://archive.org/details/so... ?

--
How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
1. Re:Obligatory by pushing-robot · 2014-10-30 05:50 · Score: 0
  
  Sorry, guess I should have read you submission more thoroughly. Even if you find a museum to take the old paraphernalia, it likely won't make it to their limited display space. Your best bet may be to contact those who were involved, their companies, their schools, and see if someone with a personal interest may want to display it.
  On the other hand, they're knickknacks as you said, and while they may have substantial meaning to you, their power lies mostly in evoking memories in those who lived through certain events. They don't really speak for themselves as a record of the past, nor will they say much to those outside the free software movement or to future generations. The best you can probably do is make an electronic record which can be tagged, indexed, and archived, so that future scholars might expand (ever so slightly) their knowledge of these events.
  Or just let them go. I'm reminded of a Star Trek quote: "...Humans have a compulsion to keep records and lists and files. So many in fact, that they have to invent new ways to store them microscopically—otherwise their records would overrun all known civilization."
  
  --
  How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
Your local Jr. High and High Schools by Anonymous Coward · 2014-10-30 05:25 · Score: 0, Interesting

A small display-box containing 1 or 2 items that were "new" in the birth years of the students attending that school would be nice to have in the display case in the math/science/technology wing of every middle- and high-school.
Of course, we are only talking 12-14 years back for Junior High Schools and 14-18 years back (Windows 98!!! oh wait, that's not open source) for High Schools.
Well, perhaps they can have a "your mom and dad's computer" display with things in the 25-55-year-old range.
Think About the Children... by Anonymous Coward · 2014-10-30 05:31 · Score: 0

...Who have never seen an AOL CD!
1. Re:Think About the Children... by Zaiff+Urgulbunger · 2014-10-31 16:17 · Score: 1
  
  I can't help thinking, that just for the comedic value, it would be worth having a box full of AOL CD's just so you (and by you I mean *I*) could prank mail them to someone. Everyday. For a year! Oh the fun!!
All the collector's value of an AOL CD by Kjella · 2014-10-30 05:35 · Score: 1

Back in the dotcom days everything was funded, even Linux companies with too much VC money pushing physical CDs on everyone who'd take them. Vast numbers of discs were thrown away when they were no longer the latest and greatest version. I'm guessing for every person who'd want one there's a hundred thinking "yeah I might have something like that in my closet somewhere", personally I might have Red Hat Linux 6 (not RHEL 6) somewhere. I used to have OS/2, but I threw away all my floppies some years ago. Even for a trip down nostalgia lane I'd probably look for a VM/emulator to install it in from an ISO, it's not like they had album art and liner notes.

--
Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
1. Re:All the collector's value of an AOL CD by afairch · 2014-10-30 07:32 · Score: 1
  
  I used to have a collection of install media for Red Hat dating back all the way to 3.0.3, and Debian dating back to at least 1.3. In addition, I used all of those free floppies that AOL used to mail out to install Debian, Slackware, and various BSDs - nothing like the fun of downloading 1.44 MB files over a dial-up connection, dumping them off to a disk with dd, and doing it all over again when, inevitably, one of them was corrupted. Eventually I got tired of them collecting dust and taking up space, so I just dumped them all.
Famous Quote by paysonwelch · 2014-10-30 06:44 · Score: 0

IT BELONGS IN A MUSEUM!
Waste Management Inc by Anonymous Coward · 2014-10-30 07:32 · Score: 1

I hear Waste Management, Inc accepts all kinds of donations like this.
Jason Scott of textfiles.com/the internet archive by Anonymous Coward · 2014-10-30 07:51 · Score: 0

Jason Scott keeps everything from old BBS freeware, teletype porn, to 2600 issues. He also works at the Internet Archive, which hosts tons of old content.
Computer History Museum? by Anonymous Coward · 2014-10-30 09:07 · Score: 0

CHM in San Jose might be interested in some of the physical goods.
Don't forget the Computer History Musuem by caperry · 2014-10-30 10:18 · Score: 0

The CHM in Mountain View [http://www.computerhistory.org/] also accepts donations of items like this, and they have access to the proper resources to care for said artifacts. You may want to contact them as well. They will be happy to take your IBM branded radio at least :)

--
-Carl "No, we already thought of that one. 'Why?' '42' - It doesn't fit." -Hitchhiker'
anyone still have a cuecat? by Anonymous Coward · 2014-10-30 15:19 · Score: 1

ahhh, yeah, hype of slashdot past...
Jason Scott... by Anonymous Coward · 2014-10-31 00:06 · Score: 0

at archive.org?
Upload them by vilanye · 2014-11-01 12:48 · Score: 1

Upload them to some repository so they will always be available to anyone who wants it.
Old Software CD's by Anonymous Coward · 2014-11-01 22:17 · Score: 0

I have a old copy of Firefox 1.0 and source code on CD.
I also have a copy of Every version and Every variant of Every Windows OS Home and Server (bunch of weird servers like Backroom) from 3.1 up 8.1
and more Linux discs and floppies then i can count.
even have harder to find sets of Netware and Banyan VINES on floppy and CD.
have always wanted somewhere to send them all
I believe CD media has a life of 10~12 years if im not mistaken and alot of these are older then that
I wonder if they even all still work.
i volunteer at a technology recycling facility and have free pick of the CD/DVD bin we fill it every month
( i think maybe 50-100,000 CD's per Gaylord which is a 4ft x 4ft Box on a pallet) maybe more never counted them Lol!
but i grab every disc i see that says Microsoft/Linux
Simple Answer by Anonymous Coward · 2014-11-06 05:45 · Score: 0

Donate all Open Source artifacts to the Internet Archive. There are various ways of doing this.
They are even lovingly making cushions out of old t-shirts for the auditorium they use.
Check it out at archive.org