Hello everyone,
partly I am curious, partly I am in desperate need of solution, and of course this may be a great opportuiny to tell some stories that our friends over at green peace shouldn't hear - what do you do with computer that are no longer functional/powerful enough?
Of course, some computers you can send to your parents for them to browse the web, check e-mail and stuff like that, but when there's no one to pass machines to, what to do?
I have currently one old notebook (4 years or so) that I don't have use for, so it got me thinking.
Any ideas/stories about disposing of machinery in forests? :) (not kidding, one time I found a computer scattered across path)

eBay mostly does the job for me.

They get repurposed.
I still have some old hardware lying around for the simple task of playing classic PC games that don't like newer hardware and newer OSes.

Personally, if they are technology that are way too old... like older than P4, they tossed. Otherwise, I give them to family, friends, OR there are non-government organizations who will take them and distribute them to the poor communities around the world.

I donate them to friends and family, otherwise I sell them in garage sales.

THIS!

Ditto. I have three desktops and two servers in addition to my main PC, all built from the bones of old machines. The weakest one is a desktop that is acting as a simple file server, running Linux on a 300MHz P2 with 64 MB of RAM. Someone can always find a use for old hardware, but if you can't find someone who wants your old hardware, then just make sure you send it to a recycling center.

I have a bit of a problem throwing things away. My wife can attest to this at length... :)
But if it something that you know you will never use, talk to a school, church or charitable organization in your area. Even old equipment can be useful to these types of groups. Even if they just recycle it for cash, it helps them out.

Usually when I buy a new computer, I look for a store that will accept old parts in trade-in even if the discount they give is minimal. That way I don't have old parts lying around and everything that can be re-used (DVD Drive, HD, TV tuner card) goes into the new computer.

i lurve old parts.. mm...

Well, my aunt and uncle run a non profit that refurbishes old computers for the under privileged so I send my old computers to them. They fix it up or take the parts from it that they can use and recycle the rest of it.

I usually burn them or dump them into the local river
no I'm kidding. Computer recycle drives are where mine go

i figured a couple of low level formats oughtta wipe it.
i doubt you'd be able to smash it with your boots.
also, just opening a hard drive will ruin it, the air destroys it pretty much.
otherwise I'd keep it, put win98 on it, and run a good copy of system shock 2 on it.. hehehe.

I generally resell them to my less-than-tech-savvy friends.
Sold a machine I bought for $1200, played on for about three years, and resold it for $675

stealing is wrong, mmkay