Lazyweb Query: What to do with the antiques?

[mdlbear]

As part of the effort to clean out the garage attic, we've uncovered several file boxes of ancient software. We're talking mostly Windows 3.1, but also some Mac II (Myst, anyone?) and Windows XP games. We haven't had a machine in years that can run some of them.

Give it away, or send it to the dump?

Meanwhile, if you're in the area, feel free to come by, gawk at it, and take whatever you want.

We also have a huge pile of old PCs. Some were working when they were retired. Most have halfway decent cases, SCSI cards, and so on that might prove useful to someone.

Comments

[kshandra]

eleri and vaxjedi will almost certainly be interested in the Myst software. They're Eleri and Scott Hamilton on FB/G+...and as they're in Mountlake Terrace, good fannish people for you to link up with as you get established in Seattle. (I'm pretty sure gridlore and/or dafydd and I brought El to Starport at least once when she was visiting...but the fact that it may have been with dafydd is indicative of how long ago it was, so I don't necessarily expect you to remember.)

[chaoswolf]

I'll take the XP games.

[joecoustic.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if it would be worth the bother but you might check into any more charitable type organizations that have been gifted computers with older operating systems that might be able to use them. Other than that craigslist, ebay or the dump depending on you level of energy I would say....

[joecoustic.livejournal.com]

I just reread your post and caught the part about having the old pcs too. And if you really had the energy you might consider configuring some of your old pcs with older operating systems that would run the said software and then donate them to charities yourself.

[mdlbear]

I'm not sure I still have legal copies of Windows from that era. And certainly not a sufficiently old Mac. Almost all the PCs in the house run some form of Linux; it would certainly be reasonable to power them up and make sure they boot.

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

In Columbus, Ohio, the children's science museum has a "Cyber Cafe" that accepts old computers, vacuums, and other antiquated tech for kids to make reservations to tear apart to see how they're made.

Maybe there's something like that on your side of the world, too, at one of your science museums.

[mdlbear]

/me grins. Maybe. I used to do it myself, when I was a kid.

[ranch101.livejournal.com]

You could drop a line to the Computer History Museum here in Mountain View and see if they're interested. http://www.computerhistory.org/

[egoldberg.livejournal.com]

Weird Stuff.

[eleri.livejournal.com]

I commenteth, as directed by Kiri :)

[mdlbear]

Hi! So... might you be interested in a copy of the original (Mac II-era) Myst?

[eleri.livejournal.com]

ja! If nothing else for the sheer nerditude of it :)

[mdlbear]

We'll have to get together after I move up to Seattle. Or perhaps during Westercon?