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What do you do with your "replaced" computer?
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Feb 2, 2020 16:38:06   #
Bill 45
 
Destroy the hard drive and the rest into the trash can.

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Feb 2, 2020 17:02:39   #
via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP
 
elliott937 wrote:
Since we all here are photographers, I thought this should go under Photography Discussion.

I've always wondered what others do when you replace your 6 or 8 or 10 year old computer with a brand new one, aside from turning it over to Recycle People, what have you done with your old(er) computer?

I have an Apple G-5 iMac, about 8 or 10 years old. It is sitting at my side desk, unused. It still functions, and believe it or not, it has PSCS4 on it, along with Microsoft programs. They all function, but with a much older OS, compared to today's operating systems. I'm currently use High Sierra, and happy of course.

My guess, nearly everyone here has gone through this cycle like me. I'd like to learn what you all have done with your "old or older" computers, especially if they were Apple computers.

And thanks for your feedback.
Since we all here are photographers, I thought thi... (show quote)



2nd screen.

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Feb 2, 2020 17:38:51   #
Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.
 
DirtFarmer wrote:
I agree. No point in giving kids outdated computers. They can get experience with them in the schools.

When I was running the farm I used old computers to control things and take data in the barn. They were offline so security was not an issue. If I had an application that needed reliability I used a newer computer, but the really old ones that worked were just fine for recording weather and rainfall and cooler temperatures and such things.

Unfortunately, newer computers are hooked on internet connectivity. They will hang occasionally telling you they need an update for security purposes. That makes them useless for standalone recording applications. There should still be a market for some of the older operating systems.
I agree. No point in giving kids outdated computer... (show quote)


I'm afraid you misread my message. Yes, I gave my old computer to my grandson, but not to use for text or gaming or whatever else it is that kids do with computers. This grandson likes to know the "inside" of things, wants to know how it works, so he takes the computer apart, makes notes of what part comes from where, what the part is, what it does (or is supposed to do), etc. With these parts he was even able to help a few people with replacement parts! Not bad for a 12-year old, I'd say.

He was also ready to take his Mom's sewing machine apart, except that she decided that for the amount of sewing she does, she couldn't justify the price of a new one!

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Feb 2, 2020 17:51:50   #
MrGNY Loc: New York
 
I have a G4 collecting dust. My late 2009 27 iMac that runs OS X ond Windows 10 was moved to my shop. The graphics card flaked out and it sat for a yr. before I got around to fixing it. This was replaced by a 27" late 2014 Retina Display iMac that runs both Win dows 10 and latest Mac OS.

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Feb 3, 2020 00:25:39   #
cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX
 
Reformat the hard drive and give it to a school, church, or civic organization. They can get greatly discounted operating software to install. Do not leave your operating system on. It is probably registered to you, and should not be used by strangers.

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Feb 3, 2020 05:48:06   #
letmedance Loc: Walnut, Ca.
 
elliott937 wrote:
Since we all here are photographers, I thought this should go under Photography Discussion.

I've always wondered what others do when you replace your 6 or 8 or 10 year old computer with a brand new one, aside from turning it over to Recycle People, what have you done with your old(er) computer?

I have an Apple G-5 iMac, about 8 or 10 years old. It is sitting at my side desk, unused. It still functions, and believe it or not, it has PSCS4 on it, along with Microsoft programs. They all function, but with a much older OS, compared to today's operating systems. I'm currently use High Sierra, and happy of course.

My guess, nearly everyone here has gone through this cycle like me. I'd like to learn what you all have done with your "old or older" computers, especially if they were Apple computers.

And thanks for your feedback.
Since we all here are photographers, I thought thi... (show quote)


I generally give them to the less fortunate children in the neighborhood. When working for a large corporation I often raided the HazMat pile and salvaged the discarded laptops for these children with the approval of management of course.

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Feb 3, 2020 06:51:50   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
Build up a Linux cluster.
--Bob
elliott937 wrote:
Since we all here are photographers, I thought this should go under Photography Discussion.

I've always wondered what others do when you replace your 6 or 8 or 10 year old computer with a brand new one, aside from turning it over to Recycle People, what have you done with your old(er) computer?

I have an Apple G-5 iMac, about 8 or 10 years old. It is sitting at my side desk, unused. It still functions, and believe it or not, it has PSCS4 on it, along with Microsoft programs. They all function, but with a much older OS, compared to today's operating systems. I'm currently use High Sierra, and happy of course.

My guess, nearly everyone here has gone through this cycle like me. I'd like to learn what you all have done with your "old or older" computers, especially if they were Apple computers.

And thanks for your feedback.
Since we all here are photographers, I thought thi... (show quote)

Reply
 
 
Feb 3, 2020 07:33:21   #
Bartulius Loc: Bristol, Ct
 
I donated mine to an organization that recycles the components.

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Feb 3, 2020 09:08:52   #
elliott937 Loc: St. Louis
 
Okay, I must ask this here, although it might be for a future discussion on the 'general chat' section. But here in St. Louis, I've learned that recycle centers ship all their 'stuff' to resale stores. That which is truly unrepairable is return to recycle to dispose as they "do". But those products that actually do 'power up', they are resold over their counters. When I quizzed them, the informed me that is the common practice in all major cities. Shocking? I was. I wanted to share this with you all.

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Feb 3, 2020 09:10:37   #
MWojton Loc: Yardley, PA
 
I have this dilemma as well. I am afraid to get rid of it because of all the sensitive information that can be left on it. How do you remove the hard drive? And after doing that, is all of the personal information removed?

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Feb 3, 2020 09:24:48   #
rvharvey Loc: Southern New Jersey
 
I wish I had kept the first computer I bought in 1983, a Commodore 64. If I had kept the first half dozen cars that I owned, I would be a millionaire. I learned from these experiences and am keeping my wife of 57 years. I am much happier with her than I could ever be with that computer or those cars!

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Feb 3, 2020 09:30:12   #
sb Loc: Florida's East Coast
 
I remove the hard drive and then take them to Office Depot for recycling. Formatting the hard drive does not necessarily remove all data. I think that most people recommend making it physically impossible to access the drive. My local Office Depot tech guy recommends taking a hammer to the old hard drive - but they are actually built really tough, so I prefer simply drilling holes down through the drive before recycling.

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Feb 3, 2020 09:38:45   #
tairving Loc: Magnolia, Texas USA
 
I remove the hard drive and then put them out at the curb. The computer is gone long before the garbage pickup. This also works for old appliances, furniture, etc.

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Feb 3, 2020 09:46:48   #
gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast
 
My grandkids usually find a use for one. The younger ones aren’t too picky.

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Feb 3, 2020 10:20:36   #
yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey
 
How about use it as a server (music, video).

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