mark@cs.ucsd.edu (Mark Anderson) (06/09/90)
As technology races forward, today's dream machine quickly becomes tomorrow's relic. As we upgrade to the latest and greatest we often find ourselves in possession of machine we never plan to turn on again. Some of us pass them on to relatives. Other, unable to sell them in good conscience, simply junk them. The other day on the radio I heard of an organization gather slide rules for us in third world class rooms. Does any one know of such an organization for surplus computer equipment? The relative worthlessness of machines depends upon what else is available. There are surely many small business in places like the Baltic Republics that would treasure an IBM AT. As these technology poor places moves towards a market economy, there seems to be plenty of places where our obsolete computers could be of uses. I am wondering if I am just being too naive? Would these machines be of any benefit without an existing support structure to repair and aid in instruction of their use? Worse yet, would they be a burden? Comments? mark anderson