Hardware Dump

[skroo]

Since a lot of us have accumulated hardware over the years we probably no longer use, I was thinking about the possibility of setting up a hardware dump at Defcon. Chances are it's too late to do it this year, but what I'm basically proposing is an unmanned table or two where people can leave hardware for others to take for free. This shouldn't impact on our hardware vendors since most of the stuff that's going to end up there is likely nickel-and-dime or seriously oddball anyway.

Thoughts?

[Thorn]

Great idea, skroo. I think my wife will rent a semi-trailer if she thinks it will move stuff out of the basement.

Of course, the real trick will be not coming back with more than what I'd left with...

[Deviant Ollam]

hmm... last year i bought two of Uncle Ira's ruggedized utility company laptops because they looked pretty bad ass. when i got them home i found them to be pre-broken for my convenience. (which is rare for Meco... never had a prob with their offerings before)

chances are that they are easily fixable, but -- like Thorn -- the people with whom i live are getting fussy about how additional hardware shelves keep seeming to materialize in our house's spare bedroom. i'll likely be unloading them as giveaways this year, either at the free hardware table or during my talk.

heh, a little piece of you dies inside the day when you realize that you simply don't have the time to tinker with every whack-ass piece of hardware that you've packed away.

[astcell]

I'm ahead of you. I already offered my personal Toughbook in trade for whoever offers me the most alcohol.

I have dozens printers that need a new home, hundreds of AC cords, and about 75 "ancient" computers, the average being PIII 800Mhz with 256mb ram and 20gb hd.

I will see what I can bring.

[A]

<shameless plug>

Well as Uncle Ira's magical world of oddball hardware is not going to be at con this year, there will be a serious lack of such things to give away in the scavenger hunt.

We reserve the right to refuse anything we think to be total junk, but the scavenger hunt would be a great outlet for some of your "junk".

</shameless plug>

[KeLviN]

ira's out?!

[Siviak]

as I have mentioned I have more storage than I know what to do with... bring all you can and if we don't get rid of it at defcon I feel sure that with all the people that make weekend trips out here I can find it all a good home

[TheCotMan]

as I have mentioned I have more storage than I know what to do with... bring all you can and if we don't get rid of it at defcon I feel sure that with all the people that make weekend trips out here I can find it all a good home

Be careful with that offer... some old junk requires extra fees in order to be dumped legally. Heavy metals used in boards along with other chemical used in the creation of older boards sometimes cause old electronics to be classified as needing special processing when being dumped.

This may not be an issue now, but if you were to move or get rid of that stuff, it could cost a bit of money.

[John D]

ira's out?!

Yup, Meco man decided not to sell this year. Claimed he wanted to enjoy DC once instead of working. He isn't even driving down, he's on the same flight as me.

-JohnD

[Siviak]

Be careful with that offer....

you have a good point... I resend my offer until further planning has been completed.

thank you and good day.

[John D]

Be careful with that offer... some old junk requires extra fees in order to be dumped legally. Heavy metals used in boards along with other chemical used in the creation of older boards sometimes cause old electronics to be classified as needing special processing when being dumped.

This may not be an issue now, but if you were to move or get rid of that stuff, it could cost a bit of money.

It is about to get a lot worse too...

At work I have to deal with RoHS (Reduction of Hazardous Substances) which is required by 07/06 and WEEE(Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) which is required by 08/05. These are both directives out of the European Union. RoHS bans the use of lead or cadmium (and four other substances for a total of 6 right now, it can change) and WEEE requires manufacturers to have a way to dispose of their devices and track the disposal.

Most of you are thinking, well that is Europe and not here, well California and Massachusets have similar legislation (and I assume other states will follow). Japan and China also are doing something similar to this. I assume it will eventually be around the world.

In the end what does this mean? Once implemented in the US it will be a pain to dispose of any electronics that has been soldered with lead based solder. Which is pretty much everything out there right now. Now some states have added a tax to electronics so that the disposal is paid for by the consumer at the purchase and they have free drop off sites (which means a minimal increase in price for electronics). The other problem will be when everyone switches over to a non-lead based solder. The alternatives have to be done at a higher temperatures (potentially damaging the parts themselves) and look like crap (no more shiny solder joints, they will all look like cold solder joints). In the beginning I believe there will be a quality problem till everyone figures out how to do it right.

[astcell]

So since I pay $8 extra to buy a monitor, does that cover disposal after I am done with it?

[John D]

So since I pay $8 extra to buy a monitor, does that cover disposal after I am done with it?

In California I believe so, at least that is what I hear, I don't live there.

Actually I looked it up http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Electronics/...tes/050324.htm

and yes, you just need to find a drop off bin somewhere.

-JohnD

[TheCotMan]

In California I believe so... you just need to find a drop off bin somewhere.

Sometimes, Fry's and other places have had "recycling days" where they encourage people to bring in old monitors and junk to drop off for "free."

Also, sometimes counties will have "toxic and hazardous chemicals dump days" where you can dump stuff off for free-- maybe computers are now on these lists too. (?)

[Clp727]

I read an article posted somewhere on line that stated that vintage computers are becoming the rage for collectors these days. I tried to google for the article but didn't find it. I did, however, find this; http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...062701770.html

Google turned up tons of web pages devoted to old computers, and related hardware. Wow...I thought all this stuff I had stashed away was worthless!!

Google rules!