Recycle Your Computers

Recycle Your Computers
October 1993

If you have been using a computer in your business for more than a few years, you realize that computer hardware must be upgraded to properly operate the new generations of software products. What will you do with your older equipment?

I've got a few suggestions for you. As you install new equipment in your office, “grandfather” your older equipment to employees who don't need the added capabilities of the new equipment. For example, a part-time word processing person may not need the speed of your new i486 processor. Most word processing software will run well on an 80386 ('386) processor-based computer. Pass on your old PC to someone in your office.

If you don't have anyone in your office to whom you can pass on your computer, consider donating it to a non-profit group.

The Howard County Sexual Assault Center in Columbia is in need of two '386-based computers to run a critical database management system. The computers will be connected to a Novell NetWare network, so they don't need to have working hard drives or diskettes. The Center also needs a laser printer to prepare formal documents. The Howard County Sexual Assault Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping assault victims. If you have a computer to donate, please call Joy Teague, the Center's office administrator, at (410) 964-6432.

St. Timothy's Parish Day School in Catonsville requests donations of any computers that can be used in a student computer learning center. The students will practice basic keyboard skills, data entry, and word processing. Anita Dudek, principal of the school, is committed to offering the best educational advantages to her students. Mrs. Dudek may be reached at (410) 747-6558.

If you have a computer that is in less than operating condition, please call Don Bard of the Central Maryland Microcomputer Users Group. Don heads up the group's Lazarus Project. This project reconditions used computers, makes any necessary repairs, and then makes the useable computers available to needy recipients. Don may be reached at (410) 740-0735.

I think it's important that businesses help non-profit organizations whenever we can. If you have any computer equipment or supplies that you would like to donate, please call me or one of the three people mentioned in this article. I'll make sure the equipment is donated to a non-profit organization. The non-profit recipients will greatly appreciate your generosity.

David Stephen Murphy is President and CEO of Damar Group, Ltd. which presents computer training classes, publishes computer learning guides, and helps organizations do business on the Internet. The website is http://dgl.com, and Mr. Murphy may be reached at dave@dgl.com or 410.567.5366.

updated November 2, 1996
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