Re: OT: How long things last

[David Ross <dr@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Are we doing someone without much money to give them a computer that chews power at a high rate, especially the monitor, and has consumables that are hard to find and expensive when you do. Sounds a lot like the check cashing outlets that service poorer areas.

I've taken a position lately that I don't donate things that have drawbacks that would keep me from using them. We give toys and gifts to various outfits every year at this time. We go out and buy working items that we wouldn't mind having in out house.

To be honest I'd have trouble giving someone a laser printer that doubles as a space heater and requires $100 in toner when it runs out and feeling like I'm doing them a favor. And is a color printer that costs $30 to refill any better when used by little kids who want to print lots of color?

Hersch Nitikman wrote:
> 
> My son is a school teacher in Santa Barbara. He has fixed up several
> 'obsolete' computers, and given them to poor students and their families.
> He says there is also an outlet here for functioning computers and
> peripherals that are tuned up and sent overseas to the Pilippines and other
> 3rd world locations, where they are greatly appreciated. Just because we
> have to be close to the bleeding edge doesn't mean that others can't write
> letters, articles and books on our 'obsolete' equipment. My wife wrote her
> stories on a CPM Kaypro II and a daisy wheel printer.
> Hersch

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