Re: Apple 3.5 Superdrive Disk Controller

[Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca>]

On Tue, 26 Aug 2008, Steven Hirsch wrote:

> a2fan@hotmail.com wrote:
>
> > "Free computer to good home. Apple IIGS, not PC or Mac compatible,
> > hate to throw it away"
> >
> > I always check out those ads. I've opened a lot of cases, and
> > sometimes I'd get extra lucky.
>
> Be glad you don't live in Burlington, VT.  We've been in a huge "green" 
> electronics disposal spasm for the past three years, while simultaneously all 
> the Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc. stores stopped accepting computers.  The 
> net is all the good stuff has been ground up for precious metal reclamation.
I've been thinking that's happening here, in Montreal.

There seems fewer bits of electronics lying on the sidewalk waiting
for the garbage trucks, of course it's subjective.

But there are various centres and programs to collect "electronic waste"
and I do wonder if it's the best thing.  Yes, it keeps it out of
the garbage, but my guess is that those running it will scoop off
the "good stuff", ie recent computers that they can instantly
see value in, and identifiable electronic equipment, like turntables.

The odd stuff gets "recycled" by being churned up or whatever they
do with it, because it's not recognized by the people, and hence
"it has no value".

I'd love it if I could go to one local collection that happens twice
a year, and stand around and grab the interesting things.  Unusual
items, yes, but there are also some things that could supply interesting
parts like those really old clunky cellphones.  I suppose I could
stand around and try to "hijack" things people bring in, but likely
the organizers don't want people trying to take from the collection
once it's handed in.

They money they get from reselling pays for the program, so they
don't want to lose profit, even if they aren't likely to get much
gold from that old computer or whatever that they can't see any
other value in.

For that matter, people may be more likely to donate rather than
toss if they know it's for a good purpose, rather than it landing
in the hands of "Johnny" passing by who finds it in their garbage.

The local Rotary club has an annual "garage sale" in June, selling
off donated items.  There was a time when I'd find all kinds of
neat electronic stuff, one time there was a eprom programmer built up
from a commercial circuit board, and it was like hitting the jackpot
since few people were interested in it.  Now they seem selective,
so while they still have lots of computers and electronics for
sale, there's very little exotic stuff, like the reasonable Mac
powerpc I got two years ago for five dollars.

I admit, though, that this year I got a Grundig Satellit 700 shortwave
receiver for a mere $2.00, an especially undervalued item.  I didn't
even see it first, someone was holding it when I recognized what
it was, and I was certain I'd lost it, but he put it down.

   Michael