response 1 of 77:

Nov 13 13:21 UTC 1993

How would you picture this working, Rane?  Would Grex buy systems
for resale?  Be available as consultants to someone needing
a used system but unfamiliar with how to navigate PD?  Would
we be doing this as a community service to support our 501(c)3 
application or would we be looking for a little profit margin?
If a system we assisted with didn't run for more than a few days
would Grex be exposed to any liability?

Actually, the idea sounds interesting.  I'd just hope we wouldn't
in any way further tax our technical gurus.  We are already pushing
them too hard and this is proving to be a bottleneck. 

response 3 of 77:

Nov 13 19:13 UTC 1993

In partial response to Mary's questions:
  
"Warranty": grex would not be exposed to any more responsibility than it
has when it sells things "as is" at the JCC Computer fairs. It could
choose to give a 30 day warranty, or some such, or not. The computers
should be sold as exactly what they are: used computers made operable by
volunteers from grex. 
  
"Profit": grex would have to have a state sales tax license, and collect
the 4% (6%?) tax (or include it in the price). However profit is
allowable. That is, profit that goes to serve the purposes of grex. This
is the same as church bake sales, Tappan Middle School magazine sales, etc.
It would be desirable for grex to have its 501(c)3 tax exemption, as that
might encourage the donation of old computers, but it is not necessary.
This activity would, however, support the 501(c)3 exemption application.
  
"Taxing our Gurus": well, we are taling about *obsolete* computers - our
gurus concern themselves with the "cutting edge of computer technology".
There are probably a number of grex members that fiddle with / repair /
restore, the "crumbling edge" technology (I have noticed a few on grex),
who would volunteer some time. We *would* need at least an obsolete guru
who knows the older systems well, and is willing to provide guidance
to the volunteers. (I'd volunteer some time, and have some knowledge of
XTs, but would prefer to work under the guidance of someone more experienced.)
  
"Equipment": gosh, I've never used a scope on  'puter - might even learn
something here. I think a number of grex members, both hams and not, have
electronic tools and instruments. A location - with tables or work
benches - would have to be found. One where stuff can be left lying around.
  
Dan, I would suggest that we let this gestate just a little longer, and
see what other interest comes forward - and I get over a terrible cold
that I have now. I would then suggest a "grexpedition" to UM Property
Disposal, which is open every weekday 12-4, to look over the prospects,
by a group that knows lots about hardware - even bring along some cables
and system disks, to check things out. Some afternoon during the week
after Thanksgiving would be my preference. 

response 5 of 77:

Nov 13 22:09 UTC 1993

I have some crumbling-edge stuff that needs some work, which I need for *me*.
<sigh>

A lot of *really* *good* stuff comes through Properties, but there are quite
a few people who make a living by being in there 4 hours a day, each and
every day.  (Your tax dollars at work.)  For people who only go occasionally,
it's either luck (always possible) or stuff that looks marginal but is good.
I think there's a lot of that, but a lot of it probably *is* marginal, and
you have to buy it to find out.

I definitely have some interest in this, but in no way whatsoever meet the
"group that knows lots about hardware" qualification.

response 7 of 77:

Nov 15 03:08 UTC 1993

We might, but it would then help if we were doing this primarily for
schools or non-profits, rather than for open resale. They would not 
recognize grex as a non-profit charitable, but would some better known
groups. There was a suggestion in a UM conference where I opened this
subject (where Karl Zinn suggested that maybe a computer club would
be interested - hence this item), that it would be possible to get
equipment directly from departments with UM PD's blessing. Something to
look into.

response 9 of 77:

Nov 16 04:46 UTC 1993

I'm proposing that all those computers that UM PD is junking be rescued
for good causes. I'm sure that there will be several suggestions for
good causes. Whether the good cause is someone not being able to afford
more, or a worthwhile charitable non-profit with little money, would
depend on the circumstances. If good causes are lacking, then they could
be resold to help the grex good cause. 

response 11 of 77:

Nov 16 13:50 UTC 1993

Probably. However, I understand that they do agree to some direct department
to department, and in some cases, department to others, sales. I don't
know how this works yet. 

response 13 of 77:

Nov 16 23:37 UTC 1993

I think this idea has some potential and I'd be happy to help
out some where I was able.

response 15 of 77:

Nov 17 04:26 UTC 1993

I'd be willing to help with it.  I may not be "guru," but I've taken apart
and put back together my  computers and the computers at school several
times and they've always come out working better aftwerward than before
(due to whatever part I've installed).  I don't know too much about the
intracies of circuit boards, but as long as things are working reasonably
well I could do assembly.

response 17 of 77:

Nov 17 10:54 UTC 1993

If you get hard disks there some of them are going to have DOS (and who
knows what else) installed already.

response 19 of 77:

Nov 17 23:40 UTC 1993

Add shoestrings to the requisite tools and accessories.

response 21 of 77:

Nov 18 10:46 UTC 1993

Good idea - as of a couple of years ago (& probably still) their in-house
machine, for accounting, word-processing, & anything else, was an
Apple ][.  I suspect that just having an alternative would be useful.

response 23 of 77:

Nov 19 02:45 UTC 1993

Their office is in the Ypsi District Library bldg, phone 482-0565.  Whoops,
the phone book also lists them at 1100 N. Main (the NEW Center, I think)
at 769-0099.  The director is (if I remember right) Donna De Butts.