PCs -- refresh or refurb?

[DMuse]

If you get a chance, check out Pat's Fusco's article "Refresh or Refurb."
http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/biztools/article.php/2235731
It touches on a question facing most companies -- What do you do with aging PCs. It seems that most small businesses have a hodgepodge of older PCs, running outdated OSes (according to Microsoft's support policies) as well as maybe a few newer ones.
Is it time for SBs to bite the bullet and move to XP-based systems across the board? Even if it is time, can small businesses afford to in today's economy?
-Dan

[FlyingDude]

Read the article. Here's my concern with the firm I am working for.

Personally, I dislike XP, the major reason is the graphic interface XP introduced. It can be switched back to the 9X lookalike, but I can just tell the differences. Another reason I do not vote for XP becuase the OS itself tried to make almost everything automatic and fool proof as much as possible. This drives up one question, if all is going to be so easy, what if something does went wrong? Hire a temp IT person? right..... Any ways, just a thought that I rather have windows 2000 platform across the network.

Back to the bigger picture. What to do with the computers that are about to be retired? It doesn't really tell us what we can do with the old computers. I found this rather difficult. Some people won't even take donations.

As for replacing them. I am not sure on most of the SB's. But the one I am with is fairly stingy. For example, when I first start here this april, they have a leased fractional T1, and Adtran "MOUNTED" on the wall with all the phonewires sort of organized. A 16Port hub to distribution the bandwidth. All stations are public IPed. Was a chaos. First suggestion I made is they need at least a firewall/router in between, and better have a switch. I was ignored, untill some really creepy thing happened, then they "asked" a friend of theirs in the IT field, said the same thing, then a linksys router/firewall (78 dollars), a linksys 16 port switch (199 Dollars), for anything else, I just can't find my mastercard!

[DMuse]

I agree about XP.

About getting rid of old computers, you make a good point. However, more and more hardware companies are offering ways to dispose of used equipment (if not, they will be forced to anyway).

Dell, for example, allows you to have it take away up to three items (of any make) for just 99 cents each. I think Dell is trying to help its image after a few bad PR moves regarding recycling.

You can get more info on Dell's program here:

http://www.dell.com/us/en/dhs/topics/segtopic_dell_recycling.htm

[theITguy]

I disagree with your views on XP, if nothing else, the system restore makes it all worthwhile.

But enough on that, on to old pcs.

I've found selling them to employees for $50 has been a success. It has many benefits:
- It generates a SMALL source of revenue
- its becoming more and more difficult to donate pcs (and as they should, charities are beginning to ask for software and licensing too)
- with the onslaught of home networks employees can use them as a server or an additional computer for the kids
- but above all else, it fosters a sense of community and cooperation within the company. The employees love it.