[hblug] Computer refurbishment Ideas

[Michael Adams]

No particular order.

1. Toss out the idea of exchanging parts. It conflicts with a
recycling/collection day, and adds to the complexity.

2. Perhaps two collection days, one in Hastings, one in Napier a week
apart. Yes people are that parochial in the Hawkes Bay that we are
guaranteed more boxen that way. More advertising too.

3. Broadband instead of winmodems, it just works. (More on this soon, I
am working on it, and must of necessity, keep details close).

4. Consider it as a total non-profit event > Period! The taxes would be
too much hassle, we would need to become an employer. All income needs
to be reinvested back into the service. It is far too public to try to
do under the table. Of course the odd box going home may be ok... for,
ah, testing purposes.

5. New HDD's in all boxes older than 3 yrs. This would reduce repairs
and  hassles, and increase storage space. A bulk deal is easy to
arrange.

6. OpenOffice.org is a must for schooling, it's MSOffice support is
second to none. Xubuntu doesn't have it, and isn't considering it. Is it
downloadable for Xubuntu.

7. On the recycling day if we check monitors only. Linux practically
needs 1024 X 768 pixels minimum. This excludes text mode for IPCop if
we do them. Things just do not work smoothly on less. Monitors will be
half the physical space requirement and they are relatively easy to
test. 15 inchers and up for desktops, 14 inchers for IPCop's, anything
less binned straightaway.

8. It is not an ongoing business, it is an event. We stop all support
after three months unless someone wants to follow it through privately.
Either it is repairable within three months, they biff it, or they
upgrade. Some support would be required under the consumer guarantees
act. What is our obligation.

8a. Someone privately may want to look at building modern linux boxes
for those wanting an upgrade. We could give a name out with each box.

9. Now we are getting to a level within the group where people are
thinking seriously, I will ring Daniel, then the council bloke to
arrange a meeting. Chris, would you like to be in on that as well? I
will need to step aside and let someone else liase due to my
unreliability.