Call for salvaged hardware!

[Matt Price]

On Mon, 2009-12-07 at 14:38 -0500, Colin McGregor wrote:
> On 12/7/09, Matt Price <matt.price-H217xnMUJC0sA/PxXw9srA at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> > some of you may remember that years ago I taught a linux-focussed "build
> > your own computer" course using salvaged hardware. I'm reviving this
> > course in the new year at a downtown elementary school, and am looking
> > for parts for 15 or 16 systems that school kids will build up, install
> > ubuntu on, and learn to use.  If it's successful, I'm hoping to expand
> > the program out into a bunch of neighbourhood schools, and maybe get a
> > kind of computer club going where kids learn a little bit of programming
> > and systems administrations.
> >
> > Anyway, that said:  i thought I had a line on a substantial supply, but
> > my source has fallen through.  So I'm putting out a general plea for
> > hardware -- boxes, parts, monitors, keyboards, mice, etc...  Meanwhile
> > I'll keep plying my other connections as well.
> >
> Okay...
> 
> I've been involved with Jon Alexander in doing some computer
> give-aways at a local food bank, where my role has been to do some
> introductory Linux education (the machines go out the door with Ubuntu
> installed). C. Martens in in the process of setting up something
> quasi-similar. Lee Andrew MacNeil is interested in other projects
> centred around keeping old machines out of landfills.
> 
> So, what I see here is multiple projects looking at ways of helping
> people who need computers, get them free. So, next question, all these
> projects have an on-going need for computer equipment. Question is,
> how can these projects and people help each other?

Colin, I think you're asking a really important question.  I was just
talking to John this afternoon about this very thing -- the
proliferation of similar projects that's happening right now (and I'd
actually include things like Hacklab in this list, too, even if its
focus is a little bit further out from the central cluster that binds
the rest of us together).  I think we should think about trying to work
together, at least in a loose, informal way; and about what the precise
scope and ambition of each project is, and how we might support each
other.  

I'd really like to hear what other people have to say.  Thanks for
raising this issue, Colin!

Matt

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