[sf-lug] how to get computers?

[jim stockford]

    i believe the process of giving computers away
should be somewhat flexible. i buy what you've
outlined to a rather large extent, but i know there
are some who'd benefit who won't be able to
come to the kipp school or even if they can come
won't be able to take a computer away--this has
nothing i can see to do with buy-in: they may be
willing to buy in, but without an accommodating
process, they lose, and, it seems to me, unfairly.

    it comes to mind to ask whose computers are
these? if they're james', shouldn't the give-away
process include james' blessing or direction? if
by some stretch the people involved in working
on these can make some claim, then perhaps a
give-away process should include them.
    do i understand correctly that there are some
computers for give-away in the four locations:
berkeley, marin (novato), san francisco, and san
mateo? should give-away policy and procedure
be uniform across all locations?

i'll see your two and raise you one.
jim



On Mar 3, 2008, at 6:44 PM, Christian Einfeldt wrote:

> hi
>
> On Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 5:25 PM, jim stockford <jim at well.com> wrote:
>>
>>  as to having a give-away meeting:
>>     pluses are they come get the computers and
>>  we can give them a one-shot training session.
> In my experience, if you don't get people to "buy in" to the computer 
> by coming to a class or two, they don't value the box, and there is a 
> greater likelihood that they will just install Microsoft Windows on 
> it.
>   
>>  it would be nice to give a CD-ROM away with
>>  every computer so's each person has a copy
>>  of the OS for recovery
> This is a really good idea.
>  .
>>     minuses include a seeming restriction on the
>>  window of time they can get one: only when
>>  we're there to give 'em away; and only those
>>  who can get there get one--what about people
>>  without transportation or the single mom in
>>  antioch....
> Again, IMHO, this is a "buy-in" issue.  The real world digital tipping 
> point is getting closer every day now, I believe, and so we no longer 
> are in a position where we have to be extra special nice to get people 
> to adopt these boxes.  We should try to impose some measure of 
> discipline and desire in people who get our boxes, because there *are* 
> people out there who will jump through a few hoops to get a box, and 
> for the rest, we don't want them as "clients" anyway, because they 
> will just waste our time.
>      maybe have a give-away meeting as well as
>>  another means to get computers to those who
>>  need them.
>
> Yeah, if we have a giveaway meeting and we do it regularly and get 
> people to sign up, that again will instill a sense of having "earned" 
> the computer, and it will build community.  People really need to 
> "get" it that they must give back to the community.  I don't 
> particularly like to support leeches any more.  I have supported a lot 
> of leeches, and I am tired of it.  I feel that my time is valuable, 
> and I want the "clients" to acknowledge the same by having some 
> orderliness about picking up a box and showing that they will learn.
>   
> Just my two cents.