Here’s how to get rid of your old computers
You just got paid for finishing up your past project and are about to get started on a new one. Flush with cash, you're going to upgrade the staff's computers, which are well beyond their last legs. So you buy a pile of PCs with LCDs from the discount Web site (Hey, you're not that flush!) and when they arrive, you're faced with a quandary: What the heck are you going to do with all those old computers and CRT monitors?
Well we caught you a little late. One of the first things to do when contemplating new computers is to figure out the best way to get rid of the old one. Otherwise, your old computers will end up in storage, or in someone's garage because let's face it, most folks hate throwing away perfectly good things, especially electronics.
What is probably everyone's favorite, but perhaps least known option is trading in your old computer for a new one. This can actually be a pretty good deal if your old computer is less than five years old. While you won't get a fortune for the old workstation, you might get a few hundred dollars credited towards the new one, depending, of course, on condition and specs. Even if you get almost nothing for your old PC, the ability to easily and cleanly dispose of your old gear is well worth the effort. Dell, Gateway, HP, and IBM all offer trade-in programs, so check their Web sites. The bad news is that old CRT monitors have almost no value, and cannot be traded in.
Another popular way to get rid of old PCs is to donate them to a needy cause. The Hawaii Computers for Kids program (www.catii.com/comp4kids.html) or the Hawaii Open Source Foundation (www.hosef.org) are two good, deserving organizations. They'll take working computers that aren't terribly old. Check out their Web sites for more detailed information on what they will and won't take.
You can claim a tax deduction for charitable contributions to either organization. For gear less than two years old, your deduction can be equal to the original purchase price.
So what if you're stuck with older gear that can't be traded in or donated? Disposal is definitely an issue. In Hawaii, households are not restricted from disposing of computer equipment in their regular trash, but commercial businesses are not allowed to do so. But just because it's legal, doesn't mean it's good. So even if it's just a single home PC, consider taking the effort to take your PC to a recycler. Earth911.org (www.earth911.org provides a good way to find a recycling center near you. Yes you will be paying someone to take your trash, but it's much better for the environment.
John Agsalud is president of ISDI Technologies Inc., a Honolulu-based IT consultancy. Call him at 944-8742 or e-mail
jagsalud@isdi-hi.com.