NWA-PCUG 06/99 NewsLetter Article 18861 N. Hwy 112, Springdale, AR 72762-9303 For Sale - 99 Percent Off! By Ben Stallings, Twin Cities Free Net The saga of an accidental computer-recycling project. Now, let me begin by saying that I'm no neo-Luddite. I spend 8 to 12 hours a day on the computer, telecommuting to a virtual office where I serve people I've never seen. I resent cathode-ray tubes as backward, inefficient technology that should be phased out. I've been known to take my laptop on camping trips. That being said, I also refuse to join the rat race. I don't care that I could buy a new laptop that's 6 times faster than the one I have -- I don't need a new laptop. I don't care that a 56K modem could speed up my Internet connection -- 14400 bps is good enough for what I do, and it has to be good enough for the thousands of people in the Twin Cities metro area who can't afford better. Twin Cities Free-Net's (http://tcfreenet.org) goal is to build community through electronic communication for all. Since the Internet has become much more accessible and affordable in recent years with terminals in the public libraries, monthly ISP rates as low as $6.95 a month, and community organizations giving away free 1200 bps terminals to all commers--the Free-Net has focused its attention on providing content, not access. Still, before coming here I toyed with the idea of picking up a few old Macintoshes, refurbishing them, and selling them to the public, donating the profits to the Free-Net. When another non profit handed me an old Mac SE, the idea became a reality. When I saw the stash of Mac SE/30s and Classic IIs at DRAGnet, a local EPA-licensed computer recycling center, it took hold with a vengeance, and I bought a dozen -- keyboards, mice, hardware upgrades, and modems included. I found buyers more quickly then I could fix them up, and soon most of them were out the door for $60 apiece or $30 plus 5 hours' volunteer work. That's 1% of the original price: 99% off! Then things kind of got out of hand. DRAGnet was on its way out of business, and its mountain of SEs and Classics would be trashed if someone didn't buy them. I thought maybe I could handle another 20, but before I knew it I had bought 40 computers and 48 modems. Now we're talking 1988 technology here. The SE/30s and Classic IIs I had been dealing with before could run all the software I use on my 1994 laptop, but these then-year- old boxes have essentially the same functionality as the original 1984 Macintosh....just more memory and disk space. Still, they're more than adequate for word processing, painting drawing, playing certain games, and of course accessing the Free-Net. They easily max out their 14400 bps modems and can transfer files as well as anyone. The $45 price tag is again 99% off their original price, and who's going to argue with a 10x speed increase over the little terminals you can get for free? Sales have been sluggish. I have a closet full of Macintoshes, more at the office, and still more in the basement of a volunteer in the suburbs. I've had help from volunteers with testing and assembling the components, but in the end I do the quality control, not to mention the one-on-one training for people who haven't had a computer before. The signs I put in the neighborhood have attracted a number of people who cannot complete a coherent sentence. I have yet to break even, much less donate the profits. Still, it was a good idea, and I'm confident I'll eventually get rid of the stockpile and make some money for the Free-Net. I've already helped get a number of people online, and it's very heartening to see the look of pride they get when they realize they own a computer and can use it to do meaningful things. If your community doesn't have a computer-recycling place that sells to the public, you might consider pulling together some volunteers and trying it, but I have a few recommendations: 1. Pick a single model of computer that's available in large quantities of identical configurations. That will save you hours and hours of time by simplifying testing, part replacement, configuration, and pricing. 2. If at all possible, start with a small number of units and a limited time space, so you can be quite sure of your demand and supply. 3. Find a convenient place to store and work on the computers before you buy them. Good luck! Oh, and if you know anyone who wants an old $45 computer, just let me know. This article is furnished as a benefit of our membership in the Association of Personal Computer User Groups (APCUG), an international organization to which this user group belongs. The author, Ben Stallings, is the general manager of Twin Cities Free-Net, a nonprofit online service that seeks to build community in the Minneapolis - St. Paul metro area through electronic communication for all.