Re: goodwill store brag

["Byron Q. Desnoyers Winmill" <byron@b60z27hbb464i.ab.hsia.telus.net>]

Well, I'm fairly confident that the original owners drop off complete
systems.  At least, this is the case with one store I go to, where
finding a Commodore 64, or Atari ST in a box is common enough.  The
Intel junk often seems to be separated, but I could really care less
about that stuff.  An Apple II (IIe, IIc) from that location is also
reasonably complete (often the software is missing).  The problem is,
that store is the exception and they rarely receive computers.  I am
also addicted to finding unusual hardware.  :-)

>>But, for all you thrift store junkies out there: is it common to for you
>>to find parts of computers, but not the entire machine?

> The people who tend to work in them know little about computers,
> and if you were allowed in the back room, I bet the rest of the parts
> are sitting there collecting dust.

Alas!  But, if my supposition that most original owners contribute
complete systems is true, why can't they figure out that a cardboard
box of tangled cables and mystery boxes (with buttons, lights, and
switchs) belong together.

Maybe it is just to add excitement to our quests?  To make us
appreciate our finds more?

>>Are people simply breaking apart these old systems, hoping that the
>>keyboards and displays will work on their PC's, then donating the parts
>>when they discover the parts will not work?  Or are stores simply
>>tossing the stuff which doesn't resemble contemporary computer parts?

> Too a certain extent, I agree with both of these theories. Anyone that works
> at a thrift store, and reads this forum, please fill us in. We would all
> appreciate it very much

About three years back, I spent a summer in one thrift store.  You never
saw so many complete, working systems on display.  :-)  These computers
also sold rather quickly (dispite the fact that we were keeping the good
machines for another program), and people were satisfied.

The other program (the one I was hired for) involved fixing up XT's, and
the occasional AT, for families who could not afford computers otherwise.
Usually, the recipients were quite happy, contradicting the conventional
wisdom that anything less than (specify trendy processor) is suitable for
charity, or the used market.

Byron.

-- 
The software package said 'Windows 95 or better', so I installed NetBSD ...