Giving Back

[killergamer]

I had been talking to luke tonight and he brought up a cool idea about getting people to donate computer hardware. I thought that was cool and would like to take it one more step. I have been thinking about posting ads looking for older hardware that people were just going to throw away. Then with that hardware I would build the computer for kids in the school district that don't have computers. I was going to ask for computer monitors, keyboards, and mice too. I just wanted to know if there were any things you guys would suggest I do to this to make it more productive. I have a car to pick the stuff up. I was just thinking about OS though and I cant figure away around getting those.

[nevermind1534]

I was just thinking about OS though and I cant figure away around getting those.

pm sent

[PartyLikeARockstar]

We all know Linux would work for this, maybe even Edubuntu in a school setting. Count me in, and have some rep. I'm always cool for donating. PM me what you need, I'll dig through some stuff I have left.

[simon275]

I think we did this either last year or the year before on the forums if memory serves? The community pc?

[nevermind1534]

I think we did this either last year or the year before on the forums if memory serves? The community pc?

Dave had us send in computers and computer parts for that summer camp. Sadly, I never got a chance to take that opportunity to get rid of some of my extra junk. I have been here just short of a year, so I very well could have missed something.

[jdbnsn]

We've actually tried this several times and not once has it worked (except for Camp David). I would love to see it actually work, I lament the fact that we have not been able to pull it off, so if you guys think you can do it you have my support.

[nevermind1534]

I have tons of P3s if you are in need, as well as some other random parts.

[NightrainSrt4]

I've found it easier to do this on a small scale, instead of trying to collaborate with people all around the country to get it done. You don't get any fame or notoriety by doing it on a small scale, but the families of whom you help are far more than grateful enough to make it all worth its while. I've never used any as a tax write-off but perhaps I should lol, but I started when I was 18 so you don't tend to think of that stuff then.

Just a couple of weeks ago I donated a:
2.6Ghz P4
512Mb Ram
40Gb Hard drive
nVidia 5200FX
Aftermarket heatsink

to a kid who just turned 20. He's been having a hard time, getting involved with the wrong people, and being exposed and getting involved in pills, drinking, and weed. He's been trying to get away from all that this past year and get a car and go to school. I've seen improvement and have heard so from his family.

So I took another chance and donated to someone I thought could really use it to try and turn his life around. Get information for college, and have a world of information right at his fingertips. Only time will tell if I helped at all, but I am hoping it opens up some windows for him.

I go small scale, and try to impact one person at a time. I'm working towards my 5th or 6th now in the past 3 years, and hope to keep it going. The next is a good kid trying to get into chef school and make something of himself. To carve himself opportunities his parents never afforded him. Almost finished with that one, just a couple more things.

I do it small, but to them, its something real big.

[Luke122]

Killer was talking about putting an ad in his local paper to do this for someone local to him, he was just asking for suggestions from us. :)

[NightrainSrt4]

Oh no I totally understand, I was just referring to big things, as they haven't been super productive.

As for ideas, hmmm...

I got a lot of 1.4-2.6Ghz ish rigs from the local town disposal place. The guy that ran it used to let me go through and take whatever I wanted. It was no issue for them because people pay them to dump them there, and they have to recycle them, so with me grabbing some they'd make free money. One time I got an emaculate blueberry iMac wrapped with accessories in bubble wrap. The ethernet jack was shot but everything else was mint.

I've got a few from helping people build a new rig, and they gave me the old one, because of the money I saved them.

Look through your local craigslist. You've got to be real fast on the emails though, but if you've got a busy CL, then you can get lucky and snag some good stuff. I got a few 3u servers that way, one of I gave to sxrguyinma.

Ad in the paper could work, but don't you have to pay for those? The money spent might be better spent on gas picking up free or cheap ones or something. It by no means happens fast or often, but occasionally you luck out if you watch your sources.

[nevermind1534]

but occasionally you luck out if you watch your sources.

I got one main source. I occasionally luck out at other random houses that just happen to be throwing away computers, but they're usually from the same house.

[killergamer]

ok so far I have a guy that has a few extra things to spare and he works at a computer repair shop and is going to ask if I can get some of the stuff instead of them throwing it away and Luke is sending me some stuff. Now the new question is what tools should I buy? And Should I get a anti static wrist band? Then do you guys have any good suggestions? I feel good about this right now and cant wait till its spring break when I can really work on the computers.

[PartyLikeARockstar]

ALWAYS get the anti-static. ESD is a real b****. I would hate to see you fry something with carpet static.

[DaveW]

I have a wrist band but never use it. If it's cheap get one, but frankly you'll be fine touching grounded metal before picking up a part.

Just don't rub your feet on the carpet and go Palpatine on it's ass and you'll be fine.

-Dave

[nevermind1534]

I've never used a wrist strap, and have yet to fry anything with static.

[knowledgegranted]

I would like to take a chunk at this and help you out. I have web hosting, many web developers and a domain you may have. Let me know about that.

I would also like to help you out in other ways; technology is a big thing in the united states at the moment. With this more for cheap environment we have going it may be easy for us to get a decent computer, but think of those down the street in the unkept house.

I also have:

3x Pc's from an old job.

Pentium 4's
1gb Ram
30 GB hardrives

I have already written over the hardrives with new binary code so everything is unread able and installed linux.

I may also be able to help out with you OS problem, please e-mail me!

[msmrx57]

Like this idea for so many reasons. +rep:up: