What do you do with your old tech?

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flynkiwi

152 posts

Master Geek

#151139 15-Aug-2014 09:53

I am having a bit of a cleanup at home and wondered what most people do with their old equipment?
Eg I have a couple old PCs (Pentium D), non Freeview 32" LCD TV, DVD Home Theater, Xbox original etc

It all works but the technology has been superseded.

Was thinking of putting it on Trademe but are interested to see how others dispose of it?

In hindsight instead of holding on to it with the intention that I could use it somewhere else (but now no room to) its best to actually sell off as soon as possible anything you upgrade as not to be hit by too much depreciation in its value...

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Geekzone

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#1108845 15-Aug-2014 09:53

Hmmmm. Here we go.

I am the Geekzone Robot and I am here to help. I am from the Internet. I do not interact. Do not expect other replies from me.

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BlackGlove

59 posts

Master Geek

#1108849 15-Aug-2014 09:57

That's a good question, and I think your idea of selling it off as soon as possible is probably the best way to go. Every now and then I have to justify all the boxes of old PC parts and cases stored under our bed. usually I hold on to things for far too long then give them away for free on the staff intranet, or end up taking them to be recycled (e-cycled?).

It is handy to have old bits and pieces lying around to test if something is failing (RAM, video cards, power units, etc) - but I know I hoard far more than I should.

BlackGlove

59 posts

Master Geek

#1108850 15-Aug-2014 09:58

An equally interesting question would be: What's the oldest piece of tech that you have stored now for 'one day' or 'just in case'? :)

Keef

20 posts

Geek

#1108855 15-Aug-2014 10:05

I hang on to some stuff for sentimental reasons or simply because I feel I paid too much to let it go, but for the rest I take it to work when we have a e-waste / recycling collection.
My phones/ tablets I buy, I tend to sell quickly to get something back on them before I upgrade, think i had my s4 for 6 months although this sony z1 is lurking, had that since november..

Finch

2851 posts

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#1108857 15-Aug-2014 10:07

I generally sell my technology that I no longer use when I upgrade it. However depending on the condition of something it could be worth keeping for another 10+ years and it could be worth more then. Example is the Xbox you have, in 30 years there wouldn't be many around and somebody might want to purchase it for whatever reason.

xpd

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#1108859 15-Aug-2014 10:17

Ive got 3 Xbox (original), one chipped for the kids to watch stuff on (other two for spare parts), but thats soon to be passed onto my FIL to watch stuff on (prob put PS3 in its place for the kids).
Old PC's I tend to get working and pass onto friends/family that need one (for kids, upgrades for their own).

Old tech goes cheap on TM these days, thats why i try to pass it on to someone in need rather than waste my time trying to sell it....

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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floydbloke

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#1108870 15-Aug-2014 10:49

Trademe is too much of a pain for me. Too many idiots asking inane questions or with specific requests that I haven't got the time or energy to deal with.

Mostly my old tech goes in the cupboard under the stairs, thinking I'll find a use for that again some day, until a clear-out every two years or so when I think "why on earth did I hang on to that?" and it goes in the wheeliebin typically (although I do take heed of special disposal requirements for thing like old batteries etc.).

Did Eric Clapton really think she looked wonderful...or was it after the 15th outfit she tried on and he just wanted to get to the party and get a drink?

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floydbloke

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#1108876 15-Aug-2014 10:52

BlackGlove: An equally interesting question would be: What's the oldest piece of tech that you have stored now for 'one day' or 'just in case'? :)

I've got a ZX81, physically in bits and modded with a 64K RAM chip, but it still ran when I last fired it up in 2011.

Did Eric Clapton really think she looked wonderful...or was it after the 15th outfit she tried on and he just wanted to get to the party and get a drink?

Glassboy

850 posts

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#1108877 15-Aug-2014 10:52

I keep old consoles, and recycle everything else.

afe66

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#1108882 15-Aug-2014 10:57

Still got my Acorn Electron from 1985 +3 unit, Slogger ROM board...

An Atari 2600 with pacman and space invader cartridges...

A.

toyonut

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#1108921 15-Aug-2014 11:35

Not allowed to hoard things any more! Wife says no

. Mostly try on Trademe, but it just is barely worth the effort for the handful of dollars you get. With the speed of hardware now, it can be useful for a long time so I just replace when it breaks. If it is really old, just e-cycle when they have a free collection day.

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

kobiak

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#1108930 15-Aug-2014 11:47

when I really don't need it or don't want it (read not allowed to keep under bed for just in-case reason) - facebook about it, there's always 2 or 3 people who want it for free with pick-up only option :)

helping others at evgenyk.nz

NikT

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#1108945 15-Aug-2014 12:05

I generally pass mine along to family, or sell choice pieces to friends for reasonable prices. Looking forward to deciding which family member gets my iPad 2 when Apple stops supporting it!

If anyone has old phones lying about, there are Vodafone phone recycling and trade-in options that might save some space in the cupboards.

Product Manager @ PB Tech

Smartphones @ PB Tech | Headphones @ PB Tech

MikeB4

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#1108949 15-Aug-2014 12:07

I give mine away.

flynkiwi

152 posts

Master Geek

#1108950 15-Aug-2014 12:08

Thanks for the interesting responses. We have an e-waste day coming up at the end of the month which is one of the reasons to have a cleanup (although well overdue).

I do have a Sega 1000 console with cartridges that I am keeping hold of from when I was a kid, but nothing else has sentimental value.

Things like inkjet printers where its cheaper to buy a new printer with ink included than replacement ink cartridges, then are definitely heading to the e-waste.

I also have a HUGE box of cables...just in case. I am sure there are many here in the same situation. lol

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