Free Geek FAQ

FAQ: Questions you might be asked about Free Geek

While perambulating in the "outside world", you may find yourself called upon to explain this Free Geek thing. If you are at all discomfited by this sudden promotion to FREE GEEK representative, don't be! Here are answers to questions many of us get at work, from friends and associates, in bars and coffeeshops, and on the sidewalk when accosted by strangers. Please keep in mind that occasionally the policies listed in this FAQ change, and although we will try to keep this bit of documentation up-to-date, we're not perfect.

(This information can be found online at http://wiki.freegeek.org/index.php/Free_Geek_FAQ )

How long has FREE GEEK been around, and how did it start?

FREE GEEK got its start as a good idea that was presented at a booth at the Earth Day festivities in 2000. In September, 2000, the facility on 10th Ave was opened as a recycling and re-use dropoff. It's all been a process of evolution springing from the original good idea: using a community service model, get "obsolete", but still usable, systems diverted from the landfill and into the hands of people who need them.

Hours, address, and bus lines

11 am - 7 pm Tuesday through Saturday. 1731 SE 10th Ave, between Market and Mill; that's two blocks south of Hawthorne and near the 10, 14, 4, 6 and 70 buses. Our phone number is 503 232 9350, though we only answer during business hours. This information is also available on the website - many questions can be answered there if the questioner has web access.

What do you take?

We take all kinds of computer and computer-related equipment, working or not. This includes printers, scanners and gaming devices. We accept most stuff for free, but if you have a large amount of gizmos please call ahead to determine if there will be any charges (503-232-9350). We also accept other consumer electronics, such as fax machines, telephones, audio and video equipment.

Do you want the software and documentation that came with this stuff?

Not really, since we install Free Software on the computers we give away, the proprietary software isn't all that useful. You can recycle the paper with your curbside recycling. We will take the old software disks and and old floppy disks and recycle them.

Exceptions:

• Old video game software (original boxes are sweet!).

What don't you take?

We do not accept:

• CRT devices (like TVs and monitors) whose glass is broken
• photocopiers
• microwaves
• refrigerators
• smoke detectors
• fluorescent light bulbs
• batteries
• Styrofoam
• chickens

Well, where do I send that stuff?

Metro (http://www.metro-region.org/ or 503-797-1700) would know where you can recycle or dispose of other materials. Smoke detectors can usually be sent back to the manufacturer (they frequently contain small amounts of radioactive material). There are also a couple of places locally that will take photocopiers and large printers: Google, Metro, or the Yellow Pages can be great resources in this case. Batteries can generally go to Battery Exchange.

What do you do with the stuff that gets donated?

Free Geek strives to reuse as much as possible. Computers and other electronics that are deemed obsolete or broken are demanufactured and separated into their basic components. Free Geek then finds a local industrial recycler to process the materials.

What do you do with hard drives? Is the data on my hard drive safe with Free Geek?

See Data Security for a longer series of responses to these questions.

• At Free Geek we take the utmost care to ensure complete data destruction of all user data that is donated to us. Hard drives that meet our specifications for reuse are removed from their systems and wiped in our hard drive sanitation banks. The process we use complies to DOD (Department of Defense) 5220-22.M standards for data destruction. Every sector of the hard drive is overwritten 3 times using a destructive write which ensures that ALL data on the drive is completely destroyed and totally unrecoverable. Hard drives that are below our specifications for reuse are physically destroyed on site.
• Magnetic media such as floppy disks and backup tapes are disassembled in our recycling area and the plastic components are shredded by our plastics recycling vendor. Optical media such as cd-rw discs are physically destroyed on site.

Can you pick up my donation?

Perhaps! Send an email to <pickups AT freegeek.org> to make arrangements. You will receive a reply within a couple of days with potential dates and an estimate for fees.
In your email, please tell us:

• Organization Name
• Organization Address
• Contact Name
• Contact Phone Number and Email
• Amount and type of equipment to pick up
• If equipment is on a pallet, is there a forklift or loading dock at the pick up site?

What's with the prices for the donating stuff? I'm donating it to you, isn't that enough?

Those numbers are suggested donations you can make along with your donation of equipment in order to help support our educational and other programs, helping us pay rent, utilities, salaries, etc. They are not required, but are certainly appreciated.

If they're curious or need more convincing, you can make examples of our adoption classes, our build program, the grants program (and the many nonprofits that benefits) as elements of Free Geek's mission that donations help support.

Who can volunteer? Do I need to know about computers?

Anyone who wants to volunteer time at Free Geek and can make it to our facility is welcome. No computer experience is required. Our facility is mostly handicapped-accessible, and we are sensitive to and can work with people with different abilities. People under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult who will work alongside him/her.

Is this where you can get a free computer?

Yes, that is our Adoption program; people can donate 24 hours of volunteer time in our reuse and recycling facility to earn a computer. Computers come with a class on how to use it and a year of technical support. To get into our Adoption program, please come by and take a tour (noon and 5pm, Tuesday through Saturday) and we can answer any questions and get signed up for the program.

What kind of computer is it? Can I play games?

It's a FreekBox, built from used equipment that has been donated to the recycling center and running the Ubuntu Linux operating system and other Free and Open Source Software. The current specs of the FreekBox are on our website at http://freegeek.org/freekbox.php Freekboxes come loaded with a bunch of software and because we use all FOSS, you have access to a world of free software. The short answer for playing games is “no, not really,” but if a person has the patience and some degree of computer expertise (and is willing to purchase, on their own, more memory and a better graphics card), there is a way to play certain Windows-specific games on a Freekbox (i.e. World of Warcraft)

Do I get to build my own computer?

If you don't need a computer right away and are interested in learning how to build computers, you may want to join the Build Program. Otherwise, it is and faster for you to go through the Adoption Program. The computers are all built to the same specifications, so you're not missing out, equipment-wise.

How do I sign up?

There are volunteer orientation tours everyday we are open (Tues. - Sat.) at noon and 5pm. There is no appointment necessary, just show up a few minutes before the tour and check in at the reception desk. The tour takes between a half-hour to 45 minutes and will show you how our different programs work. At the end of the tour you will have an opportunity to sign-up for one of our programs and schedule your first volunteer shift.

What do volunteers do at Free Geek?

• Adoption Program:

• Receiving: helping donors unload, sorting through boxes of stuff, dispersing donated stuff throughout the building
• Recycling: disassembling computers, printers, and other electronics bound for raw material recycling
• Other: Cleaning, Data Entry, Monitor Testing (heavy lifting)

• Build Program: Free Geek can teach you how to build computers. If you agree to complete six computers, we will teach you the process, including hardware identification, system evaluation, troubleshooting, and assembly. You can keep the sixth computer you complete for your own personal use.

I don't have time to volunteer; can I just buy a computer?

Sure! The Thrift Store frequently has a variety of computers you could purchase.

Can we put our hours together in order to earn our computer faster?

Yes, you may combine your hours, but it's important for the person/people to take the FreekBox Adoption class. Please keep in mind that it's one computer per person, so if you have three people adding their hours together, they may earn up to three computers.

I notice that you guys keep upgrading the specs of your Freek Boxen. Can I trade mine in for a newer one?

Not exactly. Our policy is that a Free Geek volunteer may earn one FreekBox per person per year, either in exchange for 24 hours of service in the Adoption Program, or as their 6th computer in the Build Program.

Does Free Geek accommodate handicapped volunteers?

Our facility is mostly handicapped-accessible, and we are sensitive to and can work with people with different abilities.

How about volunteers who don't speak English?

While there are some folks on staff who speak other languages, they are not always around to translate. Unfortunately, we don't have the resources yet to accommodate non-English speakers (or people who have significant difficulty understanding or speaking English) without translators. Volunteers are welcome, though, if they can bring a translator with them when they volunteer and when they take the class or call for tech support.

Can I earn another computer for my neighbor/mother/cult leader/top-secret laboratory?

Sure, a year after the last one you earned. We only give out one computer a year to each volunteer.

How can I get a computer (or other hardware) for my church/non-profit/revolutionary sewing circle?

Through our Hardware Grants program Free Geek donates many computers and peripherals to local non-profits and community organizations. Please visit our website to submit a request: www.freegeek.org/grants - We do not grant hardware to individuals.

Can kids volunteer?

Kids can earn a computer from Free Geek just like anyone else - it's just that they have to have an adult with them while volunteering if they are under 16.

Do I get a printer with the FreekBox?

Unfortunately, we can't refurbish enough good, working printers to be able to give one away with each FreekBox. However, if you're a current volunteer, you may buy a printer from our Thrift Store at a 20% discount.

I've never used Linux before and I hear it's hard to use.

While this is a common misconception and Linux can be very easy to use, with the Adoption Program, Free Geek offers a basic class on how to use and personalize the computer you earn. Free Geek also offers a series of in-depth classes about each OpenOffice program (Word Processor, Spreadsheet, Presentation) AND a class which allows you to find out a little more about how to do what you want to do with your computer (“Super Adopter” class”). Additionally, as an incentive to keep using Linux, Free Geek offers a year of free tech support for all volunteers who keep Linux on their Freekboxes.

Can I buy other stuff?

Why, yes you can. Our Thrift Store has computers, monitors, printers, networking equipment, stereos and VCRs. We also stock all the computer parts you'll need to work on your computers -- or build one from scratch!

Can I buy X other item?

Ask in the store. Sales do not happen elsewhere in Free Geek. It is not ok to pick up an item from the non-store section of Free Geek and carry it over to the store. The stock in the store is variable, as it depends on our donation stream, so we can't guarantee that we have any given thing (though some are more consistently stocked than others).

Can I trade my computer/VCR/stereo for some other gizmo?

There is no trading of equipment at hardware. Other than the computer and its peripherals which a volunteer earns, everything else Free Geek has for sale is in the Thrift Store only.

Can I get a laptop or other special request?

While we are not able to give these items away through any of our volunteer programs, we occasionally have these items for sale in the store.

I'm going to install Windows on my FreekBox, do I need to take the class?

No, you don't have to take the class, but it's a good idea to give our Operating System a try, because installing a different one will make you ineligible for tech support. We cannot support Windows computers.

I live in Eastern Oregon/Missouri/Liberia, and I can't come in to earn a computer. How can I get one?

The bad news: we're not there (yet.) The good news: we DO have affiliates in numerous other places, including Vancouver BC, Chicago, Columbus, and Indiana. Check our website for other locations. If there's no Free Geek in your area, try using http://www.google.com/ and searching for the name of your town and "free computer". You also might want to search for "Linux Users Group" as many Linux users like to help people set stuff up cheaply.

I can't volunteer my time but I'd like to help Free Geek What can I do?

Spread the word about Free Geek and Open Source Software. If you're not in the area, find out if there's a nascent Free Geek in your area via the startup list. We will always accept donations - perhaps your employer will make a matching donation!

Are you hiring?

If we are hiring, it will be posted on our website at http://freegeek.org/jobs. We don't take unsolicited resumes.

How do you make your money?

We primarily earn money from cash donations, recycling income, and sales in the Thrift Store. Unlike most non-profits, Free Geek is financially self-sufficient and only seeks out grant money for extra projects.

Can we get someone to make a presentation on FREE GEEK at our fair/organization?

It's certainly possible! Send an email to <press@freegeek.org> and we'll see what we can do.

Do you have Linux classes?

Not exactly. You can get started on the technical end of learning Linux via the Build program, where you'll learn basic command line and some about how the operating system interacts with the hardware. FreekBox adopters get an introduction to user-end Linux (everyday, GUI-based use) in their Adoption class. But we don't yet have a general-purpose Linux intro.

Where can I learn to program?

Local community colleges generally have introductory programming classes. If you already have some programming background, you may be able to pick up one of our commonly used languages by collaborating with our coders group.