[NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:1030] Computer Donations

From: Emily Hacker (ehacker@bnkst.edu)
Date: Tue May 16 2000 - 10:55:52 EDT


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Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:1030] Computer Donations
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This recent Ed Week article <http://www.edweek.org/ew/ewstory.cfm?slug=36soule.h19> discusses new legislation proposed in the New Millennium Classrooms Act that is designed to encourage businesses to donate used computers to schools. The legislation proposes expanding the tax breaks businesses receive for school donations and increasing the eligibility requirements of acceptible donated computers from two years old to three years old. The writer points out that the long-term cost of maintaining out-of-date computers can, ultimately, be greater than the perceived value of a "free" machine. Additional drawbacks are schools that have to maintain computers with multiple operating systems, obsolete software and little to no multimedia capacity. 

Has your program ever received donated computer equipment? What was your experience with the computers in terms of maintenence, cost and useability? Would you recommend or discourage literacy programs from accepting donated equipment? Are there any specific questions you would advice potential recipients to ask the donator about the equipment... any guidelines?

Thanks for your input.

Emily Hacker
NIFL-Technology List Moderator
ehacker@bankstreet.edu
(212) 875-4687



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