tkt8763-01: Donated equipment

["Harrison B. Black" <hblack4@bellsouth.net>]

Here are a few comments about donated equipment.

Donated equipment can be a great help if you PLAN correctly. Each school
needs to have a person to COORDINATE the donation of computers and other
equipment. This person must be knowledgeable enough to know what
equipment can be used (especially stand alone PCs), what equipment will
work with your existing network, what parts can be used, etc.

Before any equipment is delivered, the person should visit the site to
inspect (yes, inspect) the equipment. If the equipment OR parts can be
used, GREAT! If it can't tell the person that you're sorry but the
equipment won't work with your current network. There should not be a
situation where equipment just shows up at the school.

Be sure to look at other devices that your school may be able to use:
scanners, laser printers, CD-ROM, speakers and sound card, etc.

A few notes:
1. There should should also be a wish list for equipment. You never know
when someone will say they want to buy some "computer stuff" for the
school but don't know what to buy.
2. Be sure to ask for any manuals that came with the equipment.
3. Ask for software donations. It may not be necessary for your school
or class to have the latest version of Word (MSU still hasn't upgraded.
Did anyone notice?) Software license for most companies are
transferable.
4. Don't forget about donation of paper. I have know of a few schools
that don't order paper because it was donated by the local paper
company.
5. Check these sites for low software prices
"http://www.journeyed.com"            "http://www.edresources.com"
6. You'd be surprised at what software will run on a 486SX-25.
7. Learn a little about equipment maintenance. Do you know how to clean
a mouse? If you have two broken computes, can you switch out the part so
you will have one working computer?
8. Look out for friends who must have the newest computer. Snag their
old ones. There are many people buying the new PIIIs. Find out what they
are going to do with their PIIs.

I know everyone wants the most up to date equipment but that is not
always possible.

A short story:
A company was struck by lightening I think about a year ago. They sold
all of their computers for $50 each. A friend brought me one to check
out. The mother board was fried but we were able to use the monitors,
CD-ROM, etc. I also told her to keep the keyboards and floppy drives as
replacements. She bought several computers and donated the working
equipment to her daughter's school.

Another short story.
I have a friend who is an elementary school teacher. His school has a
computer lab. His students often have free time either given by him or
after they finish their work. He feels that it's a bit much to shuffle a
few students to the computer lab off and on. He has donated his (and
others) older model computers to his class room. For the software that
he wants his students to use in his room, the older computers work
great.

Well, this was a bit longer than I expected. I hope this stirs your
thoughts.

Harrison B. Black
2nd year Ph.D. student
Mississippi State University

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