What to do with your old home Computer
Sell, recycle, or donate it?
Altair Computer
You may have come across an old computer found buried in your parents garage that's been hiding since the 1970's, or you've finally decided to get rid of that old family computer you bought 10 years ago that's been gathering dust in the closet....
Whatever the case, you have a few options on ways to get rid of it without just throwing it in the trashcan (which doesn't benefit yourself, or anyone else, and is not ecological).
Old obsolete computers can be recycled and repurposed in a variety of ways.
They can be used to create art, as a learning tool for children, or as a way to teach people about the basics of computer hardware and software.
They can also be used to create a low-cost, low-power home server or a media center.
Additionally, some of the components from the computer can be salvaged and reused in other projects.
Finally, old computers can be donated to schools, libraries, or other organizations that can use them for educational purposes.
Is it a valuable old computer sought after by collectors, a rare find?
First, Search the Internet and eBay and see what similar computer models have sold for to determine it's rarity and value.
Some vintage computers such as the Altair Computer (pictured) are highly valuable to collectors. eBay is a great place to auction off rare and valuable computers.
List of rare and valuable vintage computers Highly sought after by collectors:
Whatever the case, you have a few options on ways to get rid of it without just throwing it in the trashcan (which doesn't benefit yourself, or anyone else, and is not ecological).
Old obsolete computers can be recycled and repurposed in a variety of ways.
They can be used to create art, as a learning tool for children, or as a way to teach people about the basics of computer hardware and software.
They can also be used to create a low-cost, low-power home server or a media center.
Additionally, some of the components from the computer can be salvaged and reused in other projects.
Finally, old computers can be donated to schools, libraries, or other organizations that can use them for educational purposes.
Is it a valuable old computer sought after by collectors, a rare find?
First, Search the Internet and eBay and see what similar computer models have sold for to determine it's rarity and value.
Some vintage computers such as the Altair Computer (pictured) are highly valuable to collectors. eBay is a great place to auction off rare and valuable computers.
List of rare and valuable vintage computers Highly sought after by collectors:
- Cromeco
- MITS Altair
- IMSAI
- Apple I
- Apple II (Original)
- Apple Lisa
- DEC PDP
- Compucolor
- Micral
- RCA COSMAC
- Intel MDS / MCS
- Sol
- Kenbak
- Synertek
- Data General Nova
So, it's not worth thousands of dollars, but it still can bring in some extra money...
Original IBM PC
If your old computer is not highly valued but still worth selling for some extra money then consider offering it for sale on eBay, locally on Craigslist , or offer it for sale in a yard sale.
Many of the older 8-bit home computers from the 1980's are still very popular with hobbyists and collectors:
More common vintage home computers, but
still having value to collectors and hobbyists:
- Apple II+
- Apple IIe
- Apple Macintosh (Original)
- Atari 400 / 800 / XL
- Commodore 128 / 64
- IBM PC 5150
- Texas Instruments Ti/99-4a
- Apple Macintosh
- Commodore PET
- Timex Sinclair
- Osborne Portable Computers
- Amiga
- TRS-80
- Next computer
- Z80
- Heathkit
- Kaypro
- Coleco Adam
- Mattel Aquarius
If it's a newer computer but now obsolete, consider doing a trade-in...
Trade-in programs are a great way to get rid of old computers and get some money back. They are also a good way to make sure that your old computer is not going to be thrown away or sold for parts.
There are many different trade-in programs out there, but the most popular ones are Apple's trade-in program and Best Buy's trade-in program.
Apple's trade-in program is one of the best because it offers up to $200 for an old Macbook Pro or MacBook Air, $150 for an iPad, and $25 for an iPhone. The customer can also choose to receive an Apple Store gift card instead of cash. The downside is that they only offer these prices in stores, so you have to go into the store in order to get them.
The Best Buy trade-in program is one of the most popular and it has been around for a long time, they offer trade-ins for laptops, desktops, tablets, and smartphones. They will give you an instant quote on their website and then you can go into the store to complete the process.
If your old computer is just not worth selling... Donate it!
Older Windows PC
If your computer is not worth the trouble of selling due to having a low resale value, then consider donating it to a local thrift store (like Goodwill Industries) - be sure to get a receipt for your donation and save it for filing for a charitable tax write-off when you do your taxes!
Other options include contacting your local school district to see if they accept donations of modern, but out of date, computers for use by students.
Lastly, you can also drop off your old computers and peripheral devices at your local metal recycling facility that accepts eScrap (electronic scrap). They may even give you a small amount of money for it depending on the type of computer it is and what recyclable precious metals may be inside.
Common - out of date computers, good candidates for charitable donation, or take to the recycling scrapyard:
Other options include contacting your local school district to see if they accept donations of modern, but out of date, computers for use by students.
Lastly, you can also drop off your old computers and peripheral devices at your local metal recycling facility that accepts eScrap (electronic scrap). They may even give you a small amount of money for it depending on the type of computer it is and what recyclable precious metals may be inside.
Common - out of date computers, good candidates for charitable donation, or take to the recycling scrapyard:
- 5 to 15 year old PC & Laptop computers running Windows 98, Vista, ME, NT & XP.
- Apple computers more than 7 years old deemed obsolete.
Disassembled hard drive with destroyed platters
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