874
Sounds like a good way to make use of old eMachines, at a large discount too.
Finally, the year of the Linux Desktop! (eMachine edition)
this post was submitted on 22 Jul 2025
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When quarantines hit and everyone was communicating via zoom, I offered to recycle people's computers and destroy their old hard drives for free. I'd remove and drill multiple holes through the hard drives, vacuum/dust the computer, install a small, inexpensive HDD, and install Ubuntu.
Then I'd install zoom and chrome (sorry) and then pair each computer with a wired mouse, keyboard, and webcam that I had laying around in bulk. Then I'd drop these computers off at shelters, elder communities, and religious institutions. Essentially, anywhere you'd find someone who didn't have the means to contact family, attend an interview, or whatever.
Recycling/upcycling old computers isn't just good for the environment and your investment, it's good for your community!
You’re doing the lord’s work, fartographer
Eh, I didn't have much else going on and playing Jackbox remotely with my family made me realize how much others were possibly missing out. I don't even know if or how those computers were used. I just had a lot of time on my hands and an urge to use my then-new drill. Then, I'd move the equipment out before my wife killed me and then let literally anyone else handle the logistics.
Prior to the pandemic, I'd take 20+ year-old laptops and other equipment to a friend's ranch and we'd shoot shit. One time, I peppered myself with glass from a CRT after shooting it from a few feet away with a 16 ga.
I'm not directed by charity, I'm just wildly impulsive and occasionally productive.
Do we have a rimjob Steve comm?
You monster...
Chaotic good
Why chrome?
Sometimes you have to meet people where they are with something familiar, I’m guessing?
I guess if there's also Firefox installed on the computers as a separate alternative browser then I wouldn't be mad.
Mainly because it's what people knew and expected. "Other" browsers make it too easy to blame user errors on an unfamiliar environment or interface.
But most of all, it's about picking my battles. I'm there to get employees and volunteers to help vulnerable people get connected and don't want to get hung up on trying to educate them about privacy and ethics.
Sometimes, designing systems for non-technical people requires a little compromise on the licensing extremism that is very baked into FOSS culture.
It is why most Linux folks are stoked that Linux can play Windows games reliably — it means that millions of Windows lifers are getting exposed to Arch Linux for the first time. Sure, Steam is proprietary, and so are Nvidia drivers, but nobody decides to start with Linux and stay there (they do, but, I am talking single digit numbers vs the billions using Windows). Everyone has to start somewhere.
That said, big frown on Ubuntu. I would personally prefer something like Debian that has fewer major update increments, or an immutable Arch setup.