Rebels With A Cause

Anyone who has known me knows I have a hard time accepting authority. My High School years were typified by clashes between myself and teachers, the principal, parents and eventually the law. I just could not accept that in a free country, there were so many things I was not to do. Now as an adult I realize many if my battles were misplaced. However, when it comes to certain things I still bring the same level of defiance, energy and intensity into the mix. At Computers for Charity we've manged to assemble a whole crew of life's rebels and miscreants together for a good cause.

When someone says "You can't do that", we have to disagree. We've found through trial and error that many things people say you can't are simply limitations of their own mind. That old PC may not be suitable for Windows 7 but our techs are not deterred by that. We prefer not to pollute the world with another Windows operating system destined for obsolescence. We prefer to install something less prone to viruses and more secure and stable anyhow. We prefer to use Linux.

This too is frowned upon by the world. Why not give people something that really works? For one Windows doses not always work. For instance on a Dell laptop that we had the installation disks for, we installed Windows XP. After the install the tech was attempting to install drivers for the computer form Dells website. The computer had no sound, no networking and only basic video drivers. At this point we could see why the user had discarded this computer. Instead of hassling with the drivers we booted to an Ubuntu Live USB to test the hardware. Under Ubuntu the computer worked flawlessly.

It's outside the box thinking to work with an alternative OS like Linux. If we only stuck with the status quo we would be out of luck in a lot of cases. That's why I have become a huge fan of Linux since we started this whole endeavor. It fits my personality. It breaks the rules by offering something for free (a great desktop operating system), that others are paying hundreds of dollars for. And they are not enjoying as good of an experience with the whole Windows 7 upgrade thing either. What kind of person does it take to work with an OS that has only about 1% of the desktop market? It takes a rebel.

The whole Idea of fixing computers that are slated for disposal makes no sense to a lot of people, and for obvious reasons. We acquire a lot of junk along the way. Sometimes computers are discarded for good reasons. It would be nice if every computer we received was the result of an upgrade. Unfortunately we see a lot of bad hardware that takes a lot of troubleshooting and perseverance to pinpoint exactly whats wrong with it. Once we identify a faulty component it can be replaced. In many cases its multiple components. Computer techs are well compensated for this reason. Who would take on this kind of work just to give it away for free? Only a rebel.

Thank God for the rebels. Thinking outside of the mainstream is not always easy or fun in our modern society either. People tend to question your motives and your methods. Our thinking, attitudes and appearance may be outside of the norm but that does not make us bad people.However, when your really in need of computer help do you really want to deal with the snooty guy from the computer store who will charge you $50.00 just to look at your computer? We do that for free. We can save your data, kill your malware, get you connected, fix your OS or install a new one. We are not hindered or easily deterred because we have suffered a lifetime of persecution for honing these very skills that are now a lifesaver to you. We love the challenge as well as the opportunity to teach you a few things along the way. I guess all I'm saying is give geeks a chance. We may not be James Dean rebels, but we are the kind of guys you can count on. If you need a computer or need yours fixed we can help.

Mixed feelings Dells partnership with Goodwill

If you haven't heard, Goodwill and Dell recently teamed up in a new computer recycling initiative. "The program’s goal is two-fold: divert nearly one million pounds of used computers and computer equipment from area landfills over the next year; and provide consumer education on the importance of environmentally-responsible computer disposal. Reconnect also can help create job opportunities for individuals with disabilities and other employment barriers."
This is right up my alley right. Yes and um...not so much. I'm happy to see large corporations getting on the bandwagon with e-cycling initiatives and I'm glad to see that some of the proceeds will go to help handicapped children. My daughter is handicapped and though we've never utilized goodwill's services, its nice to know they are there. But the question I have to ask is, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE COMPUTERS? I emailed the reconnect program rep and asked just that. Will they come back into our community as refurbished systems to help families and charities? The answer is no.

In fact Dell is taking these systems, at least the ones that are Dells and refurbishing them for profit. Profits a good thing, but not when its taking computers form people that need them. That is why at Computers for Charity we never, never sell a computer to anyone., We give them away for free. We provide the free training as needed to individuals and organizations to help them to get the most out of the computers we provide.

Dell is also taking the equipment that is not refurbished (which will be a lot!) and recycling it. Recycling in this sense means SHREDDING PERFECTLY GOOD COMPUTERS for the metal. The only sin these computers committed was not being a Dell. We have an inside joke at our shop when a new computer comes in. I look at it and say "Don't be Windows!". But we care not if it's a Dell or a Compaq or a Gateway. Computers can be refurbished for reuse no matter what the brand name. Reuse consumes 20% less energy than Recycling. That's why we only send equipment to be recycled as a last resort. We are not in this for a profit. Were in it to do the most good for the environment and for the people we help too!

The Dell representative told me that they can only work with Goodwill in this initiative and there was no way a local organization such as ours could benefit from this program. The refurbished systems still go form $450.00 and up still placing them out of the price range of a small non profit or a disadvantaged family (I know I can't afford that type of expenditure personally, especially not in this economy).As a supporter of Goodwill industries and a supporter of Dells initiative as a whole I see this as a positive trend. As a charitable computer refurbisher I fear the downside will be less computers available to local families and organizations who desperately need them.

My recommendation to those who want to see their outgoing equipment be put to good use would be to first check for a local non-profit charitable refurbisher to see if they will take your donation. There are plenty of them around in the big cities like Computers For Communities and Free Geek to name a few. Locally in Bowling Green, Ohio Computers for Charity is the only 100% charitable organization that is providing computer systems to people in need for free. We hope to be able to serve all of Wood County as the word gets out that we are taking computer donations for charitable purposes.

You can contact us at computersforcharity@gmail.com or visit our website http://computersforcharity.webs.com to see if we can take your donation. If we cannot take your donation Id be happy to recommend taking it to Goodwill as this is another environmentally safe and charitable way to dispose of your unused equipment.