School + Computers = *waste*!

[Incomplete Dude]

I just think that all these companies that throw away their computers every few years should seriously consider donating them to poorer countries.

[Mr Alex]

My school just got new computers last year after running on Windows 95 for as long as I can remember. All of the teaches computers have beige cases, running XP, they seem to be OK.

Now that that is over, it is time to ask MM3 a question. Where do the computers go when they are thrown out, I assume not in the dumpster outside the school, because of the Larsonage. Anyhow, if they are, I would very much like to borrow them myself.

[mm3]

They get picked up by some unnamed truck. After asking school officials where the cargo goes, they said "off to get melted down" which is insanely sad.

[daria7483]

Some school systems put old computers in surplus and then auction them off, with the school system keeping the proceeds. I believe that's what's done here in Virginia.

[Mr Alex]

Hopefully MM3, that teacher was an idiot, but I'm afraid that might not be the case. I personally would follow that truck to wherever it went, if I had the time. So, if I come see you, if you still live in NY(C?), I'm going to bring you and we are following said truck.

[dogboy]

Originally Posted by daria7483

Some school systems put old computers in surplus and then auction them off, with the school system keeping the proceeds. I believe that's what's done here in Virginia.

You're right Daria. I work IT for my school and that's what we do. The reason we can't give them away or donate is because they were bought and paid for with tax payer's money, and so the citizens actually own them. As a result, the school has the responsibility of retrieving as much of that investment as possible, and rolling it into the new purchases. Nothing is ever simple.

[Mr Alex]

and so the citizens actually own them

I will be paying taxes this summer.















Gimmie.

[Valerye]

send me one or five :P

[PadDaBrat]

Replacing the computers at that rate seems dumb beyond reason, but they do have a point in buying Latitudes/Optiplexes over Vostros.

Having worked at Dell tech support I can say that the Latitudes are much better built. Meaning that they won't get fried parts that need replacement all the time, and that they generally take physical abuse better.

The Optiplexes are more easily accessible if they need maintanence, compared to the shitty design of the Vostros. They also don't take up as much space.

That said, there's still not really a good reason for using Dells at all imo.

[daria7483]

Originally Posted by dogboy

You're right Daria. I work IT for my school and that's what we do. The reason we can't give them away or donate is because they were bought and paid for with tax payer's money, and so the citizens actually own them. As a result, the school has the responsibility of retrieving as much of that investment as possible, and rolling it into the new purchases. Nothing is ever simple.

Well, I'm definitely not opposed to trying to recoup some costs from the used computers, but as taxpayers we also support things that could be considered basically publicly-funded charity, such as welfare and food stamps for low-income families. So would it not be a bad idea, and legit, to have social workers redistribute the used computers to low-income families who do not have one? With computers being heavily used in public schools and probably even more heavily on the college level, it seems like kids who don't have one at home are at a huge disadvantage. On the other hand, I could think of some advantages to not having a computer at home too.