Return-Path: <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.9.3/8.9.0.Beta5/980425bjb) with SMTP id QAA21712; Tue, 16 May 2000 16:39:26 -0400 (EDT) Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 16:39:26 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <1C162B457107D411B5830060943069614077E2@lhup.edu> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Mingle, Mary" <MMingle@lhup.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:1033] Hardware Donations X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: multipart/alternative; X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Status: O Content-Length: 8166 Lines: 244 This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. ------_=_NextPart_001_01BFBF75.DD8A462E Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" I worked for a small literacy program that received what sounded like some great computer donations but turned out to be a collection of mismatched parts (there were closed-circuit monitors mixed in with the computer monitors) and cables that were left from an intensive scavenge by the donors -- in other words, there were perhaps just enough hardware components to assemble two decent machines and another that took a great deal of time for which to locate drivers. If it would not have been for two willing volunteers -- one with a technical degree as an Electronic Technician -- and donations of odds and ends like power cords, the three machines would not have been possible. One suspects that it was cheaper for the business to haul it to our site than to pay disposal fees! Then the search for software began; most often, businesses that donate computers must wipe their hard drives clean, eliminating the software to remain "legal." Here are my recommendations: Thank the business sincerely for thinking of your organization at this time; however: Get a detailed list of exactly what you are getting from the business. Ask questions or examine the equipment in person before agreeing to accept it. Get a knowledgeable staff person, volunteer, wife of a volunteer, etc. to look at the equipment. Ask if software will be donated as well; what platforms (PC or MAC); what versions. Consult your technology plan (we all have one of those, of course) to see if this equipment really meets your needs. Unless you have a staff person devoted to technology in your program, plan on using volunteers to set up the equipment and "play" with the printer drivers and other software. College students may find this interesting, and at least they have the patience! Do not feel obligated to take the equipment! Mary Mingle ABLE Net (PA) -----Original Message----- From: Emily Hacker [mailto:ehacker@bnkst.edu] Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2000 10:55 AM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:1030] Computer Donations 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 Mary Mingle ABLE Net West Branch Technology Center 110 E. Bald Eagle St. Lock Haven, PA 17745 (570) 893-4038 Fax: (570) 748-1598 mmingle@lhup.edu <mailto:mmingle@lhup.edu> ------_=_NextPart_001_01BFBF75.DD8A462E Content-Type: text/html; charset="windows-1252" <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=windows-1252"> <META content="MSHTML 5.00.2722.2800" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV> <P>I worked for a small literacy program that received what sounded like some</P> <P>great computer donations but turned out to be a collection of mismatched</P> <P>parts (there were closed-circuit monitors mixed in with the computer</P> <P>monitors) and cables that were left from an intensive scavenge by the donors</P> <P>-- in other words, there were perhaps just enough hardware components to</P> <P>assemble two decent machines and another that took a great deal of time for</P> <P>which to locate drivers. If it would not have been for two willing</P> <P>volunteers -- one with a technical degre<SPAN class=610011620-16052000>e as an </SPAN>Electronic Technician -- and</P> <P>donations of odds and ends like power cords, the three machines would not</P> <P>have been possible. </P> <P>One suspects that it was cheaper for the business to haul it to our site</P> <P>than to pay disposal fees!</P> <P>Then the search for software began; most often, businesses that donate</P> <P>computers must wipe their hard drives clean, eliminating the software to</P> <P>remain "legal."</P> <P>Here are my recommendations:</P> <P>Thank the business sincerely for thinking of your organization at this time;</P> <P>however:</P> <P>Get a detailed list of exactly what you are getting from the business.</P> <P>Ask questions or examine the equipment in person before agreeing to accept</P> <P>it.</P> <P>Get a knowledgeable staff person, volunteer, wife of a volunteer, etc. to</P> <P>look at the equipment.</P> <P>Ask if software will be donated as well; what platforms (PC or MAC); what</P> <P>versions.</P> <P>Consult your technology plan (we all have one of those, of course) to see if</P> <P>this equipment really meets your needs.</P> <P>Unless you have a staff person devoted to technology in your program, plan</P> <P>on using volunteers to set up the equipment and "play" with the printer</P> <P>drivers and other software. College students may find this interesting, and</P> <P>at least they have the patience!</P> <P>Do not feel obligated to take the equipment!</P> <P>Mary Mingle</P> <P>ABLE Net (PA)</P> <P> </P> <P> </P> <P>-----Original Message-----</P> <P>From: Emily Hacker [mailto:ehacker@bnkst.edu]</P> <P>Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2000 10:55 AM</P> <P>To: Multiple recipients of list</P> <P>Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:1030] Computer Donations</P> <P> </P> <P>This recent Ed Week article</P> <P><http://www.edweek.org/ew/ewstory.cfm?slug=36soule.h19>; discusses new</P> <P>legislation proposed in the New Millennium Classrooms Act that is designed</P> <P>to encourage businesses to donate used computers to schools. The legislation</P> <P>proposes expanding the tax breaks businesses receive for school donations</P> <P>and increasing the eligibility requirements of acceptible donated computers</P> <P>from two years old to three years old. The writer points out that the</P> <P>long-term cost of maintaining out-of-date computers can, ultimately, be</P> <P>greater than the perceived value of a "free" machine. Additional drawbacks</P> <P>are schools that have to maintain computers with multiple operating systems,</P> <P>obsolete software and little to no multimedia capacity. </P> <P>Has your program ever received donated computer equipment? What was your</P> <P>experience with the computers in terms of maintenence, cost and useability?</P> <P>Would you recommend or discourage literacy programs from accepting donated</P> <P>equipment? Are there any specific questions you would advice potential</P> <P>recipients to ask the donator about the equipment... any guidelines?</P> <P>Thanks for your input.</P> <P>Emily Hacker</P> <P>NIFL-Technology List Moderator</P> <P>ehacker@bankstreet.edu</P> <P>(212) 875-4687</P></DIV> <P><FONT color=#008080 face=Arial size=2>Mary Mingle<BR>ABLE Net<BR><BR>West Branch Technology Center<BR>110 E. Bald Eagle St.<BR>Lock Haven, PA 17745<BR>(570) 893-4038<BR>Fax: (570) 748-1598<BR><A href="mailto:mmingle@lhup.edu">mmingle@lhup.edu</A> </FONT></P> <DIV> </DIV></BODY></HTML> ------_=_NextPart_001_01BFBF75.DD8A462E--
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