Microsoft launches PC-rebuilding scheme
Schools and charities get old biz PCs
Posted in Management, 17th August 2007 08:51 GMT
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Microsoft Ireland has launched a scheme aimed at keeping PCs out of landfills and re-building them for use by schools and charities.
The Microsoft Authorised Refurbisher (MAR) programme, which was officially launched at the Rehab Recycle facility in Tallaght on Thursday, provides companies with a means of disposing of unused or end-of-life computer equipment which can then be serviced, re-conditioned, and installed with new software.
These computers can then be donated to local non-profit organisations or educational institutions that might not otherwise be able to afford such technology.
There are already four companies in Ireland actively refurbishing computers as part of the programme and Microsoft is currently recruiting new firms to join the initiative so that increased numbers of PCs can be re-built and passed on.
The initiative allows eligible refurbishers to install a range of Microsoft software on the computers for suitable recipients. To ensure that the machines are useful to charities and schools, the programme requires that any donated machines have a minimum specification. Refurbishers are also provided with special certificates of authenticity (COAs), and Eligible Recipient agreements from Microsoft.
Under the MAR programme, over 1,000 computers have been re-distributed to schools and charities to date. Microsoft Ireland, which employs over 1,200 people at its Sandyford campus, has given over 400 of its own computers to the initiative.
"The MAR programme promotes the reuse of technology and provides a ready supply of computers for charities and schools," said Tom Murphy, head of public relations and community affairs at Microsoft Ireland.
"Already a number of leading environmentally-conscious companies are availing of the MAR programme and our aim is that as many companies as possible look at the programme as a realistic alternative to scrapping unused technology while knowing that the donated computers will have a valuable extended life in a growing number of charities and schools," he added.
The initiative has received the approval of WEEE Ireland, the national compliance scheme for electronic recycling. To date WEEE Ireland has financed over 200 of these refurbished computers in its "schools awareness campaign" that's operated by Rehab, and Leo Donavan, the organisation's chief executive was fully of praise for the programme.
"WEEE Ireland is delighted with the contribution from the Microsoft MAR programme in providing the software to allow the economic reuse of these computers. Our schools awareness campaign provides the opportunity to support the MAR programme, provides a market for the refurbished computers, and educates the schools about electronic recycling," he said.
Companies or individuals interested in finding out more about the MAR programme can visit here.
Copyright © 2007, OUT-LAW.com
OUT-LAW.COM is part of international law firm Pinsent Masons.
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COMMENTS
why put any os on them
get them to the schools with one LTSP server and use those old computers as clients. We've just solved the OS licensing problem, alot of support problems, no hard drive means less power usage, and it can be configured, reconfigured, and customized any which way you can think of.
Hand-me-downs? not any more
Having been refurbing old office PCs for schools for years I have noticed that schools now often reject PCs unless they are under 18 months AND come with a flat screen!!
With the cash input from the gov and better fund raising, schools are more likely to buy new or leased with support contracts.
Nice idea, but too little too late
huh?
"Call me cynical but surely Microsoft could use their 'deal' with Novell or Linspire and have the machines preloaded with something like SUSE Linux which will be supported a bit longer (or even better, Ubuntu 6.06 which will be supported until at least 2009 on the desktop, by which time another long term release would have come out which would probably still work on the machines)."
Of all the OSs you mention the only one with a long-term support roadmap is XP - the others will only be supported for a couple of years - I wouldn't put money on Novell/SuSE, Linspire or Ubuntu even being around in 2014 (which is the current date for the XP rug being pulled out).
@Rob Beard - XP will be supported
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So, I assume they will have XP installed on them?
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It does say that on the MAR Site had you bothered to read it.
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So far so good, but what happens when Microsoft stops supporting XP? (2008 is it?). I can just see a whole load of machines then without security updates and possibly turned into zombie machines for spamming etc.
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Oh dear, no, Microsoft aren't ditching patches for XP in 2008. Mainstream support ends on 14/04/2009, and extended support 08/04/2014 so surely enough time then as Extended Support offers Security related Updates support still...
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Call me cynical but surely Microsoft could use their 'deal' with Novell or Linspire and have the machines preloaded with something like SUSE Linux which will be supported a bit longer (or even better, Ubuntu 6.06 which will be supported until at least 2009 on the desktop, by which time another long term release would have come out which would probably still work on the machines).
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Well XP wil be supported for a number of years yet, so there's no need.
'PCs for kids'
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/08/22/more_on_the_pcs/
Giving away old computers with Windows 3.1 or 95 on seemed like a good idea in 2001.
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