tkt8763-01: Donated Computers

[Jim Huerkamp <huerkamp@pier.st.usm.edu>]

I generally don't feel that donated computers are a very good deal for
educational organizations.  I hope that this story will explain why.
The names have been changed to protect the innocent ...
Several years ago, a prominent politician for this area, now retired,
approached a local school district.  This person learned that a local
military base had a warehouse full of old computers.  The politician
wanted to know if the military would be interested in donating the
computers to this district.  The Politician and the military worked out
a program by which the unused equipment could be put into place in the
schools.  The military even supplied a support technician for the first
school year.  Sounds like a pretty good deal so far!
However, when the equipment was put into place, it became clear that
this was a very bad decision.  The networks were dificult to get up and
running in the morning.  Often it took until late morning to get a lab
up so class could be taught.  Because the equipment was old, it was not
unusual for it to fail, and fail often.  But because it was put into
place with the help of a prominent politician, it had to stay in place
for quite a while. :(  The schools found finally ways to get it out and
even went back to older equipment that had been moved out to make way
for the donated equipment.  Eventually, the military equipment found its
way to a dump in the vocational center...  Donated equipment can be much
too costly in terms of manpower, time and tempers. Not to mention, it
may not match the needs of the schools.  My experience is that you may
be told that you will receive 3 year old machines, you will probably
actually get 6 year old machines!

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