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Comment by _l4jh | Hacker News Reader

Look into recycling it to somebody who could use a computer. Maybe it is someone down on their luck or struggling to survive and can't find a way forward or an elderly person or just a kid who could do with their own computer.

Slap Ubuntu on it and pay it forward. If you gift it to somebody looking to use it for more than Facebook then stick some free ebooks for Python or such on it.

It is easy to think "but everyone has access to a computer" and while that is mostly true having your own computer is very different from access to one.

My father is a teacher and has recycled three laptops (and a desktop a long time ago) to kids living on the poverty line. I know at least one was very grateful as I got a lovely thank you letter from them.

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It's a good use of them, but just realize that most people you donate a laptop to don't have internet access at home - other than on their phone. Don't count on them just downloading X and Y and load it up with everything you can ahead of time.

I tried this once. All the local groups that took computers only wanted machines less than 5 years old, and even then only if they were capable of running the latest OS (ie win 8/10). Obviously my definition of "end of life" is different than most and I decided to continue using the machine. In fact, I am typing this on said machine. Continued use is better than recycling.

Fortunately I have not had this problem but I can imagine it being one. A lot of recycling systems are very picky about electronics. Sad as my main machine is 5 years old! (ThinkPad T420s).

Having been on the receiving end of charitable laptop donations (working at a school in the Third World), I fully understand and sympathize with this 5-year-rule. You wouldn't believe what kind of crappy old laptops get donated - absolutely useless stuff. All too often, the only thing you gain out of a well-meant donation is the hassle of disposing of a piece of junk. Of course there are still laptops that are older than five years and still work fine, but you have to draw the line somewhere.

Why "slap Ubuntu on it?" Personally I use Fedora but don't see the reason why he should change the operating system...

Of course the OS choice is up to you :) I could/should have said "slap Linux on it" but as I pretty much only use Ubuntu on my personal computers I write Ubuntu out of habit now. Fedora is a fine choice as well. Just don't stick Arch or Gentoo on it unless you also include your phone number for support ;)

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