Round IDE Cables

[kony]

But you can get a used P3 from Directron for only $69.

http://www.directron.com/gxa.html

It's not my $, not my system. I already have parts I could
make as good or better a system out of just lying around but
that is not what many people want, they ONLY want their
current system running again. Plus considering the
Directron system:

1) It's already old, it too may fail.

2) It needs completely setup for their uses, uses which
they were content with on their present system. Remember
that not everyone "needs" more than office, email, and basic
websurfing. Plus, it's not so clear they have a viable
license to use their software on the Directron system, nor
how much if any software that "might" happen to be on the
Directron system's HDD, is legal to use at all. A box
without software isnt' so useful.

3) Their webpage note: "Systems will only be shipped UPS
3day (or faster) or Fedex 3day." Go ahead and price 3-day
on a whole box... not exactly cheap, it's not only $69
delivered.

# Operating System: Windows 95 or 98;
# Software: Office Suite 97 and others (no warranty or support on any
of the software).

Does it ship with the licenses for these?

But you have to charge them at least $69 to make it worth your while.

Maybe I'm just the kind of person that believes in doing
things for others sometimes without trying to make a buck
off of it, particularly when it's not costing me anything to
do so. It's not like they're expecting let alone demanding
any particular turnaround time or a warranty.

I will give them a power supply for free or base it on their
ability to pay in some cases, depending on what gets done.
If they had need for spyware/viri removal (more and more
common these days) that may not have a lot to do with
keeping their old system running vs. buying the one from
Directron or wherever. Plus the way I see it, they aren't
rolling in dough if they're using a 10 year old system.
It's 5 minutes and sometimes they offer to pay more than 5
minutes of my time is worth, other times they'll come back
and buy a new system, or refer someone else that does.

Everyone has their own criteria for what's a for-pay service
and what's free, good PR, or whatever-you-want-to-call-it.

The mice that have made nests in those old cases must love you. It's
like a high-rise condo to them.

You're being ridiculous. When I get an old box I take it
out back and put a leaf-blower to it (seriously, sometimes I
do this because I'm definitely NOT going to muck around with
a lot of someone else's dust). Beyond that, there's no
problems letting 'em sit. Sometimes the batteries are dead
but i have plenty. Other times the case just starts to rust
a little but we're not talking about reusing the case
itself, it just happens to be the most convenient container
since the parts are in it.

You just aren't thinking in a same mindframe, you are an
end-user with needs for one system, perhaps a couple but
I've been servicing/selling/more for years, in addition to
my own personal-use systems.

 

[Bob]

Plus considering the
Directron system:

1) It's already old, it too may fail.

It came from the Houston public schools. Likely never used.

2) It needs completely setup for their uses, uses which
they were content with on their present system. Remember
that not everyone "needs" more than office, email, and basic
websurfing. Plus, it's not so clear they have a viable
license to use their software on the Directron system, nor
how much if any software that "might" happen to be on the
Directron system's HDD, is legal to use at all. A box
without software isnt' so useful.

The box comes with the s/w, so it is licensed. IOW it was an OEM
setup.

3) Their webpage note: "Systems will only be shipped UPS
3day (or faster) or Fedex 3day." Go ahead and price 3-day
on a whole box... not exactly cheap, it's not only $69
delivered.

I would not know about that since I live a few miles away from
Directron.

Does it ship with the licenses for these?

Who cares.

Maybe I'm just the kind of person that believes in doing
things for others sometimes without trying to make a buck
off of it, particularly when it's not costing me anything to
do so. It's not like they're expecting let alone demanding
any particular turnaround time or a warranty.

I assumed it was for pay. If not, then you must be very popular with
all those legacy computer parts.

You're being ridiculous.

No shit! Did it take you this long to figure that out.

When I get an old box I take it
out back and put a leaf-blower to it (seriously, sometimes I
do this because I'm definitely NOT going to muck around with
a lot of someone else's dust). Beyond that, there's no
problems letting 'em sit. Sometimes the batteries are dead
but i have plenty.

You save old batteries too. You're incorrigible.

You just aren't thinking in a same mindframe,

I am trying to introduce a little levity here, and you took me far too
seriously.


--

Map of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
http://home.houston.rr.com/rkba/vrwc.html

Individualism is a political and social philosophy that emphasizes individual
liberty, belief in the primary importance of the individual and in the virtues
of self-reliance and personal independence. It embraces opposition to authority
and to all manner of controls over the individual, especially when exercised by
the state or society. It is thus directly opposed to collectivism.

 

[kony]

It came from the Houston public schools. Likely never used.

Err, I tend to think the opposite is true, that it's just as
likely they were booted up in the morning then ran all day,
every school day for years. It matters not if a kid was
pecking on the keyboard. Even if that isn't true, it
doesn't necessarily matter. Over time contact contamination
builds up, the battery drains, the capacitors start drying
out. Granted most of these things are relatively easily
rectified, and on the Intel OEM SE440BX boards they used
very good caps (for that era)... if it weren't for that I'd
have called them junk, but they are solid foundations for an
older system if that's what someone needs.

Even so, keep in mind that again we consider different
perspectives. The liked Directron box was a 450MHz. I can
throw a 400MHz K6 into a box for (free since I have a few)
practically no cost to system owner. It wouldn't be as good
a performer but frankly it's splitting hairs at this point,
would be in the same ballpark yet either antiques by modern
standards. The beauty of old boxes is that they're
practically free- $100 is nowhere near free, particularly
when you can get a low-end Compaq box now for under $300 if
you keep an eye out for sales, and with the current price
wars under $200 should be a reality. I don't like such
cheap stuff BUT once again- it's not my $$$.

The box comes with the s/w, so it is licensed. IOW it was an OEM
setup.

No. It either comes with the physical license certificate
or it is definitely not licensed, illegal to use it. Even
if it is the exact installation it shipped with from the
Dell factory which WAS licensed for use to the original
purchaser, it is defintely NOT licensed for use to anyone
who does not possess the license certificate.

Fortunately after a certain point ('98 or '99?) most OEMs
started putting the windows certificate right on the side or
rear of the case. That doesn't cover any other software
though. Granted, you'd probably not get caught using it,
but if we want to delve into details you're not really
getting any software you don't have a license for, it's same
difference as getting a blank hard drive and downloading
warez off the internet that was the same title Dell had at
the time.

I would not know about that since I live a few miles away from
Directron.



Who cares.

The issue of setup is significant. I'm willing to plop in a
power supply for (often free) little to no cost. I'm not
going to order, receive, set up and configure then migrate
someone else's system to that Dell for free. Suddenly it's
not a $100 ($69 plus S/H) system anymore.

I just can't see the justification for it frankly, not from
a 10 year old box as most could've been upgraded to at least
a 200-400MHz CPU very cheaply- since those CPUs alone have
practically no value. Take the remaining $80 and get a nice
new hard drive and IDE controller card (or SATA, whatever),
and it'll run a lot faster at those typical
office/email/surfing tasks that are oh-so-common.

I assumed it was for pay. If not, then you must be very popular with
all those legacy computer parts.

I do some things for pay, but if something only takes 5
minutes and no parts cost, often it'll be free. Depends a
lot on the situation- many have bought systems from me or
will when the time comes. I don't push, sway, or anything
like that, simply asking them if they need more performance.
It suprises me too but many don't.

Sometimes the batteries are dead

You save old batteries too. You're incorrigible.

?
No I buy batteries in bulk, lots of 10 makes 'em cheaper.
Why would I keep decade old batteries?

I am trying to introduce a little levity here, and you took me far too
seriously.

Ok.

 

[Bob]

Why would I keep decade old batteries?

Because you keep decade old everything else.

That scene in Mel Brook's History of the World where the old prisoner
is petting his dead birds comes to mind.


--

Map of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
http://home.houston.rr.com/rkba/vrwc.html

Individualism is a political and social philosophy that emphasizes individual
liberty, belief in the primary importance of the individual and in the virtues
of self-reliance and personal independence. It embraces opposition to authority
and to all manner of controls over the individual, especially when exercised by
the state or society. It is thus directly opposed to collectivism.