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mayer
150.6k
Asked
Green uses for older Macs
With a garage full (about 50) old macs, from CIs & CXs to LCs and Beige G3s, there just has to be some uses for all these old computers. Things like house monitoring, watering the lawn, security, temperature control. I know a lot of this would be dependent on software, but what's available? There's nothing wrong with my Mac+ 4MB, I just need to be able to put all these wonderfully built machines to use. What do you do with yours? Desktops and laptops?
Edited by: Matt Newsom ( )
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rj713
39.5k
Answered
Accepted Answer
Hi Richard--What I usually do is refurbish them and find appropiate OS and browsers for them and one of the free word processors. I then download the users manual and give them to kids who can't afford them. I used to do this with windows machines but it got to expensive buying the OS's from Microsoft and I find the older Mac OS's very reasonable. I don't want to start kids out as pirates so every computer go with the software that's loaded on it. I'll be passing on a nice Pismo with 512 MB memory and a 40 GB drive with Panther this week to an 8 yr old. On occasion I pass on some old crt iMacs to a local home for unwed mothers to be used in training them for employment. I find the biggest problem just now with the older machines is finding usable browsers.
As a hobby I feel its a useful way to spend my time a give back a little. Sorry to be so long winded but this is a subject that's important to me--anyway its an answer to your question. Ralph
+ on the question. Ralph
ever tried a simple linux distributtion on those computers ? kid's like them, i used mostly ubuntu, simple design and free software all around the os situation here is slightly different than in the usa - osx is very expensive - a used leopard setup dvd can cost +100$, tiger goes sometimes in the same price range - windows xp cost sometimes around 20-30$ - and ubuntu is free ;-)
It may come to that Markus. Its getting more and more difficult to find a useable browser for the OS's that I can afford to give away--usually OS 10.2 or 10.3. I want the kids to be able to go online and do research and that calls for a fairly modern browser. I have several copies of ubuntu on hand and have tried installing on Macs with limited results. I may have to go back to Windows machines for satisfactory results. Ralph
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95% of what most people use a computer for hasn't changed since the TRS-80 first hit the market. Folks want word processing, spreadsheets, and a fun game or two. Your older machines can still do all of this.
Additionally, you can give them to high school science clubs, electronics classes, or even art classes. Those machines make great teaching tools when kids are allowed to do tear-downs and such. As a kid I used to tear apart anything and everything I could get my hands on. Doing so gave me a real passion for tinkering.
Hope this helps,
Jessica
jessica, i did something like you and now i am a freelance tech on the side, it could happen to you
nick,
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rdklinc
16.6k
Answered
Here's a GREAT use for Apple IIs that I just ran across:
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Gabe
5.2k
Answered
I work with a friend in his project, which is called "The More Than Tomorrow Project" and what we do is we fix old broken computers, usually install Windows XP, or Ubuntu onto the machines, and send them off to india where computers are scarse there. I think the best usage of old computers that we no longer have use for is to fix anything broken inside of it, and give it to people who need it. Also my friend gives to the local community by giving computers to some people who need it, teaching classes (which I helped to teach) to kids and adults on how to take apart and diagnose computers (and their problems).
So in the end, if I were you, I would see if there was an organization near you that does the same, or if you are in the NYC area, you can donate it to him.
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remacberli
7.6k
Answered
We sometimes refurbish windows boxes (linux too) and give to a school for autistic kids. Mostly we get the machines from a local company that uses them to render animations. When they frie a graphic card or a power supply they don't bother repairing them so they give them to us.
OK, slightly off topic, but there are a lot of uses for older computers.
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Chris Green
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nick
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Brian
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Definitely Puppy Linux, Bruno 2
The operating system AND apps all fit in under 512Mb.
Obviously that means they run fast (lean coding)
It can be run from CDROM(can load entirely into RAM for super speed), HD, or USB drive.
This Bruno version seems to find everything i've thrown at it. I use the USB Puppy Linux Bruno 2 stick as a Rescue tool to retrieve data from botched Winblows systems for friends. Awesome.
For up to date FireFox and most office functions with full codecs for music, cameras, phones, video etc, ready to run in such a small download, Ya gotta try it. ;-)
The newer Puppy Lucid is Ubuntu based for compatibility.
Ubuntu has done WONDERS for making Linux GUI accessible.
And the Mint project has made Ubuntu EASY!!- Great Job Folks!
Enjoy!
it fits in kind of way, using old computers in general. if it isn't only about apples from the garage. i have a lot of old PCs i am going to give away to my local school... so this reply makes it easier for me to decide what to use as operating system on those...
Dear Oldturkey03,
If an old laptop or PC can run Unbuntu as in the replies above, it can run Puppy Linux. Puppy linux gives its user up to date Brpwser/Interne
Hi Richard. Here is a article about the kind of use you have in mind I think. Ralph http://www.macworld.com/article/46576/20...
rj713,
Also here is a site I frequent often whose purpose is to keep old Macs going. Ralph http://lowendmac.com/
rj713,
Ralph, That's the kind of thing I was looking for. I can't count how many Macs I've given away. Trouble is they all want full internet now and get disappointed when the old machines won't do it. Give a machine to a lot of places and you just set yourself up for 4-5 free service calls because if it's free they'll call you every time they forget a keyboard command instead of reading the manual. There's a lot to be said for anonymous giving, leave it on the door step and run.
mayer,
That's the way I give them to the kids--I give them to the teacher to pass on to the child. Ralph
rj713,