[Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] recycling computers

[Drew King (dking65@kingconsulting.us)]

My group here mostly takes in computers capable of running Windows 10.

If the computer was previously running window 7 It should be capable of running a Linux distribution with current updates.

Also, keep in mind that Google has a free OS called Chrome OS flex.

A simple Google Chrome operating system might be simpler for somebody than running a free Linux.


I think we took a donation recently this past month of close to 100 computers that will be reconditioned and distributed to the needy.

All of the computers get a clean install of Windows 10 and Microsoft office too!

We have some sort of nonprofit arrangement with Microsoft.  I don't know exactly what it is but I do know that our refurbishing group puts office on all of their computers they hand out.




-- 
Drew King



On February 20, 2023 4:35:22 PM EST, Ken Pogran <pogran at alum.mit.edu> wrote:
>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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