this post was submitted on 21 Aug 2023
534 points (95.7% liked)
Linux
48765 readers
1293 users here now
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
Rules
- Posts must be relevant to operating systems running the Linux kernel. GNU/Linux or otherwise.
- No misinformation
- No NSFW content
- No hate speech, bigotry, etc
Related Communities
Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0
founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Cause thinkpads are cheap and easy to come by
Source: i work in ewaste
Exactly this. Second hand thinkpads are stupidly cheap -- I'm currently typing on my $180AUD laptop. I never buy new.
Out of curiosity, do you ever rescue laptops from your work and use or resell them?
yes. Companies goal is to essentially take in e-waste and used stuff, sort through it and pull out decent laptops/desktops wipe(or destroy) hard drive based on instructions, and resell. The company that gives us the goods gets a cutback of what's being sold. everything else that is junk is then sorted and recycled to their respective correct facilities. Gotta use the second R in the 3 R's and the third for whatever is considered old. What's considered old goods is still very desirable to another company, especially companies outside of the U.S where computers may be more expensive, especially when you're trying to get them in bulk.
the work laptop I use is definitely used goods, in fact relevant to thread as it is a 8th gen Thinkpad T490.
How much product do you move? I know there are enthusiasts buying old thinkpads, but I eidnt imagine it’s enough that a whole company can sell a bunch of them with ease
i cant give specific numbers of course, but in the hundreds/low thousands typically per order.
With everything I hear about good stuff going to waste, I highly enjoyed reading that.
Keep doing what you do, your workplace is cool
On what marketplace Are they sold? And can I buy a quantity of 1?
very rarely sell in quantities of one, but usually some of the end clients are resellers. If you're ever like on Amazon and find refurbished dell desktops, or any laptop in general (including apple products), there's a decent chance it came from an e-waste organization first before being bought by a reseller in bulk. There are some companies who "bling" old desktops and resell them in the market place.
Yes, exactly this. The alternatives would cost close to $1k as starter.