[Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] recycling computers

[Ken Pogran]

One issue to contend with in donating old computers for reuse is that 
once a computer is old enough, it is no longer supported by newer 
versions of its operating system. Of course, you could still run it with 
its old OS, but then...

  * It probably won't be able to take security updates, potentially
    leaving it (and its users) vulnerable to hacking and other security
    flaws of the old OS, long since fixed in newer versions.
  * It may not be able to run a web browser new enough to include
    capabilities contemporary web sites assume are there, causing some
    web pages not to display properly, or some ecommerce things not to work.

Some years back, my dad was using a hand-me-down computer, and his 
bank's "on-line banking" web site began telling him that, after a 
certain date, he wouldn't be able to access it with his current 
browser.  The browser was packaged with the OS, and the computer 
couldn't run a newer version of the OS, so in order to continue to use 
on-line banking, we had to get him a new(er) computer capable of running 
a supported OS and browser.

At a senior center, especially, I'd worry that users might be flustered 
by web pages not loading properly, or by compatibility warnings from 
ecommerce sites. There's some point at which the most appropriate 
destination for an old computer is an electronics recycling facility.

Ken Pogran


OLGA P GUTTAG wrote on 2/20/23 3:12 PM:
> There are multiple organization that bring old computers back to life 
> and donate them to entities that have need for computing but at a very 
> low complexity (senior centers for email correspondence, …).
>
> Rather than frying your computers or destroying the disks plse 
> consider taking the effort of wiping the disc clean and donating your 
> old computer to one of these up-cycling groups. I bet there are many 
> very poor people in our rural areas and in the rest of the world who 
> would be happy to get your discarded computer.
>
> Stay well,
> Olga

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