Location: Aylmer (Gatineau) across the river from Ottawa
Posts: 16,051
#1 and # 2 will never happen so I voted for #3. By this I mean the government accepting the donation of a used computer as a tax write off.
I don't have anything right now in terms of a "computer" worth donating but I have a couple of used peripheral devices that I would happily give away if someone were to come by and pick them up.
Thanks, that's great feedback. I'll put that mentally in the category of "Supporting local programs"
Makes me think of an idea of finding ehMacians to help facilitate local programs as well, in situations if there isn't a program already established, or maybe helping bring attention to reputable local program already established.
Good luck with your program and I'm sure there are those for whom it will work. I just wanted to go on record as supportive, but in my own ugly way.
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I voted for #3 but I do tend to donate my machines to either family/friends that are in need or to local services that can use them. I used to volunteer doing linux installs on old used equipment to go out to school (but they don't seem to run that program ay longer). It would be great to have the older/used equipment going to help local causes.
- If I still got some payment for my used Mac (Say, 50% of "street value")
- Worry free disposal: If the Mac was picked up at my home or work
No trouble for me and I get some $$ out of it? Sounds like a no-brainer to me.
Mind you, all I have is an iBook G4.
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Whenever I get a new Mac, the equipment it replaces 'trickles down' through a number of other levels, before finally becoming redundant. So while I do tend to get myself a new iMac every 2 years, what I would have available to donate is going to be much more than 2 years old.
My newest gear goes to my home. Then what I have at home goes to my office. What I have at my office might go to someone else at work, or a family member, or friend. And finally, what winds up being available to donate, is 4, 6, or more years old. Like Macfury said, that's G4 territory - and that's what I have that could be on offer. A G4 Mac Mini right now, and maybe in a few months, a G4 iMac.
Still functional, maybe still useful if you want to run an older Mac OS on them. I honestly don't know if that's the sort of thing that would be useful in the 3rd world or to local charities.
On the other hand, I'm not worried about tax receipts, I don't want to try and sell the old gear, and I'm not interested in the social side of things, so I voted 'Other'. If the old gear can be put to good use (instead of a landfill or just gathering dust in a closet) then that is enough motivation for me.
Two or three years ago, I gave a couple G3 iMacs away to friends-of-a-friends' teenage kids, and from what I heard, they were happy to have them. Maybe G4 Macs still have some life left in them too?
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Interesting that this comes up. I am currently attempting to gather interest from the Capital Regional District (CRD) of Victoria BC that manages many programs including low cost housing. I have emailed them a few weeks ago but yet to get a response.
Currently there is no official system for donating old systems here in Victoria besides selling it.
I inquired a while ago and there was some interest from a few local charities but I was unable to follow through due to life events.
Eventually I end up working a 'very part time' donation of G3/G4 Macs to the less fortunate...which at this point are mostly seniors with little/no income due to various life events they have experienced.
I have found anything newer than G3/G4 are hard to get people to donate without any tax receipt. Often we get others junk that is 'working' which is unfortunate, but you have to just gut and recycle the bits.
That's my story anyway. I am going to pursue this further as I would like to see some kind of program setup here in Victoria.
Back onto topic a bit, I voted for 4 regarding data as I have found that almost everyone who was willing to donate their equipment questioned me about the data on the drive (if there was any). I had to assure each that the data would be securely wiped and a fresh OS installed.
After some incidents a few years ago (i.e. ebay HD with FBI data on it) it is generally one of the primary concerns of anyone selling/donating their used computer. Often people just remove the drive or recycle the whole machine to make sure their data does not get in the wrong hands.
I'm sure that you'd get newer units when people have a better idea where the computers are going. One thing I have been thinking about is the best way to get the right machine to the right person is to have a checklist of what people do with the computer.
For example, if someone just does email, light surfing, and some basic WP. Then they would be fine with a well upgraded G3 with 10.4 but a family with young kids would need something newer like a G5 or early intel. Any kind of program like this would be the most successful using some variation of this strategy.
Hope that all helps in your goal ehMax
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I should be happy if the surplus equipment is "free cycled." I am not that hung up on the concept of underprivileged, if there's a need and the equipment will passed on to others after using it, I'm cool with that.
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