Basic Intake Documentation

When a customer wants to donate a computer or related item to Free Geek, they do so in the Basic Intake (a.k.a. Receiving) area. This area is run by volunteers and overseen by members of the Free Geek staff.

Meet the donor

 * Remind them that we have a $10 fee for monitors.
 * Ask if they need help unloading, and give it to them if needed.
 * As they unload, fill out a receiving ticket, indicating how many of each type of gizmo they are donating.
 * Give them the receiving ticket and direct them to the Front Desk, where they can get a receipt and make a donation (or pay a fee).
 * Thank them for the donation.

Identify what they gave us

 * Look at the documentation on the walls to identify the common types of gizmos we receive.
 * Identify the gizmo:
 * Systems
 * The main part of the computer, into which the keyboard, mouse, printer, and monitor will plug. These do all the "thinking".
 * Monitors
 * The screens that when attached to the computer, let you see what's going on.
 * Keyboards
 * Plugged into the computer to let you type words into the system, for instance to write a letter.
 * Mice
 * Connected to the computer so you can move the pointer around and click on various on screen buttons.
 * Printers
 * Attached to the computer so you can use it to print images and words onto paper.
 * Scanners
 * Attached to the computer so you can get words or pictures from a paper into the system.
 * Cards and Motherboards
 * Every computer has a main circuit board inside it (the motherboard). This is the basic electronci "guts" of the machine. Its job is to coordinate all the various components into one coherent system. Cards are plugged into the motherboard to extend its functionality.
 * Cables
 * Various components inside and outside the computer may need to be connected to each other via cables.
 * Hard Drives
 * Hard drives are devices for storing information even when the computer has been turned off.
 * CD ROM Drives
 * Software or other information to be stored on the computer comes on CD ROMs. A CD ROM drive is used to read this information. They also have the ability to play music.
 * Speakers
 * Like in a stereo system, speakers can be plugged into a computer so it can play music or otherwise make sounds.
 * Anything else
 * There are thousands of devices that can be incorporated into a computer that are not listed here.