Older Machines

[W3WN]

So, outside of outright trashing them, what can you do with some older (but fully functional) computers?

I have two Compaq Evo D300V machines that are about to be decomissioned. (One was my working computer, I just need to transfer my Citrix settings to it's replacement; the other is my shack computer, and I should have everything transferred to a Dell Optiplex 320 by the weekend). Both are XP Pro machines running SP3. Nothing wrong with them, they've just been or are being replaced by faster machines with larger hard drives. (The new working machine is Win 7; the new shack machine is still XP)

I thought there might be interest in the boxes if I threw a copy of Linux (Ubuntu) on them & made them relatively cheap. Sold a different 300V at the club hamfest back in January for $20, to ham involved in the HackPittsburgh group -- mainly because he needed a machine for a print server, and it saved him an hour to setup a different box. So, frankly, I have little faith that doing the work to convert the other two boxes is worth it.

I also have a Compaq laptop that was running Windows 2000; it could run XP if it had a bigger drive (it's only 20 GB. Well, it would run XP, just there's no room, really, for anything else). It's also phased out, as I have an Dell laptop that will take over it's functions (this will be the computer for digital software for the Omni VII). Other than the OS & small drive, it works fine. Again, I can throw Ubuntu on it simply enough. But is it worth the bother?

I really hate to just trash the machines. Just not sure what else to do with them. I really don't think I'll get more than $20/25 even on eBay or somewhere else.

And... no, I've looked into donating them. Goodwill & similar outfits have politely declined, as they have a glut of donated machines.

Thoughts?

[K7SGJ]

So, outside of outright trashing them, what can you do with some older (but fully functional) computers?

I have two Compaq Evo D300V machines that are about to be decomissioned. (One was my working computer, I just need to transfer my Citrix settings to it's replacement; the other is my shack computer, and I should have everything transferred to a Dell Optiplex 320 by the weekend). Both are XP Pro machines running SP3. Nothing wrong with them, they've just been or are being replaced by faster machines with larger hard drives. (The new working machine is Win 7; the new shack machine is still XP)

I thought there might be interest in the boxes if I threw a copy of Linux (Ubuntu) on them & made them relatively cheap. Sold a different 300V at the club hamfest back in January for $20, to ham involved in the HackPittsburgh group -- mainly because he needed a machine for a print server, and it saved him an hour to setup a different box. So, frankly, I have little faith that doing the work to convert the other two boxes is worth it.

I also have a Compaq laptop that was running Windows 2000; it could run XP if it had a bigger drive (it's only 20 GB. Well, it would run XP, just there's no room, really, for anything else). It's also phased out, as I have an Dell laptop that will take over it's functions (this will be the computer for digital software for the Omni VII). Other than the OS & small drive, it works fine. Again, I can throw Ubuntu on it simply enough. But is it worth the bother?

I really hate to just trash the machines. Just not sure what else to do with them. I really don't think I'll get more than $20/25 even on eBay or somewhere else.

And... no, I've looked into donating them. Goodwill & similar outfits have politely declined, as they have a glut of donated machines.

Thoughts?

Put them out by the curb with a sign that says do not touch. They'll be gone in 15 minutes.

[W5BRM]

Put them out by the curb with a sign that says do not touch. They'll be gone in 15 minutes.

No no its "for sale $25"

Thats when they disappear in minutes

[n6hcm]

i put a *toilet* on the curb and it was gone in 20 minutes.

nearly everyone has a an old computer or ten laying around. they're increasingly made of unobtanium (IDE disks are less commonly available, memory for upgrades isn't cheap anymore, ... ) and so while they're useful they're kinda risky.

wipe the disks (use something like D-BAN) and put them on the curb. interested parties will pick them up and find a way to use them.

[KC2UGV]

Craigslist them in the free section.

Make sure you note "WILL NOT DELIVER", otherwise, people will ask you to deliver (For free) free stuff.

[K7SGJ]

I wonder if he'd deliver free to AZ?

[n2ize]

Reef them. Remove the covers and toss or drop them into a lake, river, or other body of water. the open cases piled atop one another provide an excellent breeding ground for fish and other aquatic animals. Just like when they reefed hundreds of old NYC Subway Cars in the Chesapeake Bay. But on a smaller scale.

[KG4CGC]

Reef them. Remove the covers and toss or drop them into a lake, river, or other body of water. the open cases piled atop one another provide an excellent breeding ground for fish and other aquatic animals. Just like when they reefed hundreds of old NYC Subway Cars in the Chesapeake Bay. But on a smaller scale.

Aquarium level reefing.

[K7SGJ]

Reef them. Remove the covers and toss or drop them into a lake, river, or other body of water. the open cases piled atop one another provide an excellent breeding ground for fish and other aquatic animals. Just like when they reefed hundreds of old NYC Subway Cars in the Chesapeake Bay. But on a smaller scale.

The reef thingie is a great idea, but I'm still using my computer, so, I drained the tank, with the fish,.......and.....well.......I don't need that aquarium screen saver anymore.

[W2NAP]

can you deliver to Indiana?