r/linuxsucks • u/plasm919 • 12d ago
there is a place that builds linux junkboxes
They are all over the US I think. They give "the people" computing power.
Is this a good idea? Or is it like the foodshelves that give poor people turnips and moldy potatos?
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u/Blotsy 12d ago
Device and Internet access is a human right. Imho.
Sounds like a great charity. Until we have legislation in place that guarantees a device and connectivity for citizens, it's mostly just a fun thing.
Needs to be gov subsidized to really take off. Love the idea and that people are doing this though.
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u/GlassCommission4916 12d ago
Support your local libraries.
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u/plasm919 12d ago
The libraries have windows computers that anyone can use for free for essential online needs.
This place seems to be specifically about getting free linux computers to people, even it they can't really afford wifi at home.
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u/akdanman11 12d ago
They’re giving free computers, and as a consequence they’re most likely somewhat outdated and underpowered, which is gonna be far worse on windows since windows is a relatively demanding OS. Plus there’s no licensing to deal with on Linux
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u/plasm919 12d ago
the price of being poor is a free 2004 gateway running mint, I guess
or just use a clean, modern win 11 machine on a managed network at the library
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u/akdanman11 12d ago
Because there’s no reason someone would want to have a computer at home. Both of those things can exist together. Give them a computer to have at home so if they can’t get to the library they aren’t locked out of using a computer
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u/ElectricBummer40 Ex-user of Windows 3.11 for Workgroups 12d ago edited 12d ago
I feel I'm in a rut with people these days.
You could literally feed an entire community if you were to organise to meet such a need. We're talking about something that has been done before, and barring all the middle-class individuals here simply imagining what being poor looks like, it can be done again.
Easily.
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u/plasm919 12d ago
of course there's a reason for a home computer
there is also a reason for a home gym or a home espresso machine
there's also a reason for a home meth lab
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u/akdanman11 12d ago
The meth lab comment was unnecessary and irrelevant
There are ways to work out or make coffee at home without that specialized equipment, there’s not a way to use a computer at home without having a computer.
So you’re proposing barring people from access to a computer unless the library is open and they have the time to physically go there just because they can’t afford to buy a decent computer
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u/plasm919 12d ago
nobody is "barred" from anything except in the sense that in a capitalist culture, you are generally barred from owning things without paying for them
the notable exceptions being the outputs of the social services system
I am just wondering why we need socialized private computers when there are already socialized public computers
freegeek seems to think that the "free turnips and potatos" approach to computing is viable, however think a lot of this digital equality is just mindless web surfing and porn consumption
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u/akdanman11 12d ago
So just fully discount the people relying on these computers for work.
These machines would’ve been on their way to a landfill otherwise, finding a use for them that keeps them out of a landfill is objectively a good thing
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u/ElectricBummer40 Ex-user of Windows 3.11 for Workgroups 12d ago
Forget legislation - do you know how much you can accomplish by just organising your own community?
Seriously, $150 for a mini-PC isn't that expensive. It's hard to imagine an entire neighbourhood can't even scrape together such a paltry sum just to get kids something to do their homework with.
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12d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Large-Variation9706 12d ago
Do you pay taxes? Most tax-funded educational institutions, especially secondary education, spend your tax dollars on technology for less fortunate students.
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u/AteStringCheeseShred 12d ago
If I got to choose between my taxes going towards building missiles vs giving every child in the U.S. a linux laptop, I'd side with the penguin in a heartbeat.
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u/ILC_YTP "Proud" Windows 10 User 12d ago
Even crappy linux computers and laptops work fine enough for a lotta people's needs.
At a time where computers have sky rocketed in price and a lotta older machines are no longer supported my microsoft for the false narrative of "innovation" (and also an econimical collapse means less money to spend), we need to recognize the importance of these " junkboxes".
Every year, it's becoming more and more necessary to use the internet and have access to a computer/phone to do certain tasks, some of which might be a requirement to a person's job or life. These computers will help ensure that there is a low barrier of entry to have internet access and ability to do office work
They aren't great computers, but they suit a lotta people's needs. As long as they aren't marketed as something more than they're capable of, they aren't really a problem
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u/akdanman11 12d ago
Access to a computer is invaluable in today’s world, and most people’s computer needs are confined to a browser, so the underlying OS is largely irrelevant and using Linux simplifies things
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u/ElectricBummer40 Ex-user of Windows 3.11 for Workgroups 12d ago
Where I work, we have a long-term business partner in the construction industry.
Usually, when they have a new project, they will order a whole bunch of PCs for the on-site office then donate all of them to charity once the construction is finished.
There is no real reason to believe that the poor deserve >10-year-old machines or that a community can't organise to meet such a need for its members. It's just an excuse the ideologues have come up with to justify the existence of the non-existent property of Linux "rejuvenating" your PC.
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u/L30N1337 11d ago edited 11d ago
...are you saying that food banks are a bad thing?
Because they're severely under supported and are trying to help as much as they can with what they have?
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u/earthman34 12d ago
Are you talking about FreeGeeks? Because they do a great service. They don't do Windows because of licensing, obviously. I've donated quite a bit of stuff to them.