When someone asks me about upgrading that old 286 or 386 PC, I wince. Trying to turn a Model A Ford into a Taurus isn't worth the effort.
I recommend donating the old box to a worthy cause, taking the tax write-off and springing for a new Windows 95 Pentium. (DOS zealots can send their objections to my e-mail address below.)
The problem has always been finding a worthy cause. Most charitable organizations are wary of electronic gear because they usually don't have anyone capable of evaluating - repairing - upgrading - figuring out how it works.
On the other hand, the need for computers is more critical than ever. A surprising number of small community organizations are still using typewriters and many schools and youth programs are woefully short of computers.
Equipment clearinghouse
That's where Cincinnati's Community Resource Center is picking up the slack.
The 10-year-old center serves as a clearinghouse for donations of surplus office equipment and supplies to schools, non-profit groups and religious organizations.
Office equipment includes computers, but the Resource Center didn't have the facilities to fix up old computers to give to organizations. Until the Cincinnati PC Users Group stepped in.
Last year, members of the users group heard about the center's need for some PC gurus, and volunteered their expertise. The Resource Center responded by renovating part of its office space into a computer renovation facility.
The result: a place where conscientious computer users can recycle those old PCs, and where qualified non-profit groups can pick up a somewhat aging but still serviceable workstation.
Right now, demand is greater than supply.
Executive director Molly Lohr says the center has a waiting list for 200 computers, and recommends that any organization looking for used equipment be prepared to wait five to six months.
The problem is bringing all that old equipment back to working order and cobbling together functional workstations.
The Resource Center doesn't have much use for the ancient XT and AT machines, and since most organizations want to use Windows, they need at least a 386 machine.
''We're getting lots of 386s,'' Ms. Lohr said last week. ''We don't have much luck placing 286s.''
Don Sceifers, president of the users group, said about 6-12 members have been spending every other weekend working at the center. So far, they've been construction workers, getting the shop ready and moving in donated equipment. Now they're starting to renovate those old computers.
The volunteers are part the club's Hardware Special Interest Group. Most are hobbyists, and fixing PCs is a way to learn about computer hardware.
Volunteer Matt Mercurio said he was originally reluctant to work on the old PCs until another member reminded him, ''you can't break what's already broke.''
What the center needs
According to Mr. Sceifers, the Resource Center needs:
Late-model PCs. ''We're really looking for companies that want to unload their 386s and low-level 486.'' And PCs and Macs only, no mainframe equipment.
Working monitors, especially color monitors.
Legal versions of older software.
Older memory cards and SIMMs.
Hard drives.
Floppy disks.
The users group also needs volunteers willing to fix equipment. ''We'd like to have a varying crew so if someone doesn't come, we can still turn out computers,'' Mr. Sceifers said. And to avoid burning out the dozen or so current volunteers.
Groups looking for equipment should have official IRS non-profit 501(C)(3) status. And be willing to take what's available.
''We're not in the business of doing upgrades,'' Ms. Lohr said.
The machines come with basic DOS, but the users group is talking with Microsoft and other companies about getting licenses to install older versions of Windows and other programs.
And they plan to develop a program to teach the non-profits to use the equipment.
''We hope to have something ready by fall,'' Mr. Sceifers said.
Equipment can be donated to the Community Resource Center at its office in Swifton Commons, 7030 Reading Road, Bond Hill, or by calling 351-7696. Anyone interesting in volunteering to fix computers can contact the users group at (513) 396-7373 or e-mail sceifers@one.net. The users group has a web page at http://www.cincypcug.org.
E-mail Charles Brewer with questions, comments and suggestions at CBrewer@enquirer.com.