What to do with all those old software boxes, disks, CDs and computers? Keep reading...
FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, one comment frequently popping up in the InfoManager posting form asks us about old, outdated computer stuff -- software, hardware, media and so forth. Over those years, my stock reply has been :: "find someone who can use it and donate it." However, these days, that response is no longer valid. Oh, the anguish of ending an era.
Yesterday I got this post from long-time reader, Jim Pollock. Jim writes to ask:
> I have a lot of old software and manuals including > some User Group Technical Manuals in Ring Binders > that Apple sent out to user groups in the late 80s. > I have had a Mac since 1986 and have a lot of > memorabilia collected, need to get rid of it but > seems a shame to send it to the junk. > Any ideas?
To Jim and all those others out there now facing the same dilemma -- yes it is truly a shame -- but don't feel bad, I'm wrestling with the very same problem.
Covered up in antiquity
Being a visible character in the computer world as well as the user group field, I have accumulated more than a share of stuff. I literally have closets filled with everything from books to software to gimmicks and giveaways. I have a footlocker trunk dedicated to t-shirts 80% of which are from software or hardware vendors. I have 8 years of tote bags and t-shirts that say "Macworld Faculty" from my years of conducting sessions at Macworld -- as well as Adobe t-shirts and totes from some 15 years of Adobe breakfasts, NAUGs and NAUGSAW conferences.
As book reviewer for Amazon, UGN and the Design Bookshelf, I've accumulated well over 1,000 books on software and hardware. Most of those now so dreadfully outdated I can't even give them away. And, that's the problem.
The computer and the internet have established their own "product life" far different from most other products you buy. We used to say "Donate your computer to someone who can use it." But today, even the computer organizations providing computers to the needy around the world say "Nothing beige." If it's not internet savvy, and able to support today's browsers, then no one wants it. The "value" of a computer is no longer judged by computing power -- but rather whether or not it can surf today's media-rich web.
So what to do?
THE BOTTOM LINE IS -- somehow, make it go away in the most humane, environmentally sane way you can -- but get rid of it.
What to do with dead computers: I rented a dumpster which occupies a car-space on our parking lot. Every other Wednesday morning at 6AM a guy in a truck comes and dumps it. I'm now being punished for never throwing anything away -- slowly working through and trashing 30-years of accumulated junk. Last month, the City of Harrisonburg banned disposal of computers, monitors and other related hardware. Now, such stuff requires a rather expensive permit to get rid of. I considered digging a big hole at the back of the farm property for a permanent grave. But I couldn't find a backhoe operator willing to work at night.
At one point, I was cutting old computers up, utilizing the interesting looking parts in making award sculptures for user groups. This worked for a while, but then the user groups stopped even showing up to receive their awards. So, why bother? I know one fellow who makes toys out of the parts. Others make lamps, flower planters, aquariums, wall hangings, mobiles or furniture from them. But that just seems like too much trouble.
You can't give computers away and you can't bury them either. I know a company out west who will grind them up for you. They separate the plastics from the metals and recycle the powder. But you have to pick up the shipping charges . You can't win. If you have an idea that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, I'd really like to hear it.
Software: If it doesn't run on today's computers, and you can't find anyone using yesterday's computer, then forget it. You see a lot of older versions of software on eBay. Yes, you could try that. But seriously -- you'll spend more time setting up and getting it on eBay than the sales. What's your time worth, anyway? I had considered making a list and posting it to the web site for anyone to have for free. But then reconsidered because of the time involved in that process. Just not worth it.
Collectibles? You probably have something you think is really collectible, right? Chances are, it's not. Nothing is collectible until you find someone who wants to collect it -- because you don't. I saw original, framed, eWorld installation diskettes going on eBay for around $50 each. Business was brisk. But then, there are idiots out there who will buy the junk. I had an original "Mac Watch" in its original packaging. I was offered $100 for that -- which I immediately grabbed. He sold it on eBay for $150. So, if you think it's collectible, then give eBay a shot. You're probably better off to store it away so your children, or your children's children can sell it on eBay.
Diskettes: What do you do with these? I recently put all mine in several large boxes -- an estimated 2,000 of them. There were over 500 of them in the SMUG library alone. The Publishers' Warehouse had over 600 in inventory when they were eclipsed by CDs. I can't even believe they still sell diskettes, but they do. I can't find anyone interested in erasing them -- and most computers today don't even have a disk drive. You can't recycle them -- so just store them in the landfill for several hundred years.
You could always make art from them. Sculptures? I recently saw where someone had completely covered their entire car with diskettes. I considered roofing a building with them. They would make superb shingles -- if they weren't just so tiny -- as shingles go!
CD-ROMs: Beware and don't necessarily just load just any legacy CD you find. I made that mistake, and even though the 10-year old CD was loaded with great clip art, it spun and spun in the drive and then locked up the system. They only way I could get it out was to unplug the Powerbook and remove the battery. I've heard worse stories.
Again, you could always shingle your garage with them. They're waterproof, and as long as you overlap them enough to cover the hole, they're weatherproof. Build a sun reflector to light and heat your pool. Cut them up for glittering jewelry creations. Give them to friends and relatives as 'coaster' gifts. String them on lines in your garden... they make perfect scare-crows in reflective motion. String them between light poles on your used car lot -- or, on the house for the holidays. One Christmas, old CDs became tree decorations. I'm working on a sculpture with mine -- several hundred of them. Wish me luck.
I've now put up a 4 x 8 foot sign-board on the wall in the back studio. As I start cleaning up 25-years of software storage I'll clip an interesting piece of the packaging or manual and paste it to that sign-board. I know I'll have enough to fill it up. Perhaps even twice. Once it's full, I'll photograph it and post it here. The sign-board itself will some day probably be considered art.
At the end of the day there's really nothing to do but get rid of all of it. Strip out all the paper goods, cardboard, boxes, etc., and have the recycling center pick it up. Same goes for books. Separate the plastics and metals the other recycling.
Gather up everything left over; and in the dead of night, drive it down to the local shopping center. Give it a good heave into their dumpster. Cross your fingers and hope there's no security video cameras watching.
Good luck.
'Till next time thanks for reading...
Fred Showker, Editor/Publisher UG Net News
Fred Showker is co-editor of "MUG Info Manager," the User Group Network News service, and a founding Apple User Group Advisory Board (UGAB) member. He was an original founder of the User Group Forum on AppleLink Personal Edition which became America Online in 1988 ... read more
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