Old Boxen and Charitiable Organizations

SupaDupaFly writes "I noticed one of your readers asking for information about setting up a nonprofit organization for recycling old, yet perfectly usable computers. Well, I work for one called Share The Technology in NJ and it is a very worthy cause. We accept donated computers and fix, clean, and upgrade them for donation to underpriveleged schools, nonprofits, and disabled individuals. If any readers would like information on how to set up one of these organizations in their hometown, or would like to help out this one, shoot an email to share@libertynet.org for information. " Also, RobLimo has written a piece about a Baltimore, MD based organization called Geeks Into the Streets which aims to do something similar. I can't emphasize how much of a good thing this is. It's nice to see that there are folks attempting to find a good use for old resources.

Comments

Project Spin

[Accipiter]

I'm actually doing something with any old computers I can find. I'm attempting to set up a Beowulf-ish cluster with old parts. I take anything I can get, including parts as well as complete systems. I promised everyone who donates gets their name on the contributers page, as well as a free shell on the end result.

I'm going to put an ad in the paper asking for donations of old equipment. I just wish I could give the people more of an incentive to give me their old systems (other then freeing up that dusty space in the garage.) It pisses me off when I see someone with an old system doing nothing but taking up space, and they refuse to get rid of it for whatever reason. I could be making real good use of that computer, as could lots of other people. To keep it and not use it is pure selfishness.

-- Give him Head? Be a Beacon?

Any organizations like this in Denver?

[scrytch]

I'd heard of one or two, used to be with an outfit that did work with schools and communities, but I can't find it anymore. I had lots of fun teaching complete computer illiterates how to write HTML by hand with notepad (well, PFE) -- a reasonably marketable skill while learning about files and networking and so on. De-mystifying the workings of the web is empowering that way.

And yes they ran Windows, 3.1 to be exact. X wasn't going to cut it in 4 or 6 megs RAM, and believe me we tried. Web server ran linux though.

Share the crap. Wherever.

[rde]

This is truly a Good Thing among Good Things. My questions: is there a site that those of us in various far-flung corners of the globe can use to see if there are any local operatives? If there isn't, will someone set one up? If no-one else will, is anyone willing to send me information on their projects so I can do it myself? Is animaniacs on today?

hmm

[Signal 11]

I wanted to do something similar by going door to door and picking up old 486's for use in a beowolf cluster. The problem is that if you pick up a computer comparable DX4/100 for more than $50, you're paying more than it's worth by my estimates. We used a dual-celeron 300 system as a base comparison, and then used bogomips generated for each type to form a baseline. Unfortunately, the disposal of these machines often cost more than $50..

The other problem we ran into was energy consumption - running 50 DX4/100's puts out (a) alot of heat and (b) sucks up alot of energy, making it uneconomical to use old machines for our beowolf cluster. :/

I'd like to chat with anybody though that has tried this to see whether there is anything I may have overlooked, however.

--