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Free Geek

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Free Geek is a Wikipedia:non-profit organization started in Wikipedia:Portland, Oregon in the year Wikipedia:2000. The largely Wikipedia:volunteer-run organization specializes in Wikipedia:recycling and reusing used Wikipedia:computer equipment. The computers they build are given to other non-profit organizations or to participants in Free Geek's adoption program in which volunteers receive a free computer upon completion of 24 hours of service.

Free Geek during Geek Fair

Programs

The standard computer built at Free Geek is the FreekBox. Built from donated parts, they can be earned by any individual in exchange for 24 hours of volunteer work at the Community Technology Center (the Free Geek building in Portland). Alternatively, volunteers who agree to complete six computers can learn to build FreekBoxes. Build volunteers can keep the sixth computer they complete for personal use.

This article contains content from Wikipedia. Current versions of the GNU FDL article Free Geek on WP may contain information useful to the improvement of this article WP

Free Geek also runs a Wikipedia:thrift store where the general public can purchase reconditioned equipment. Volunteers get a 50% discount.

The FreekBox

FreekBoxes are built to be as similar as possible to each other. This is what goes into a Freekbox (specifications expressed as ranges may fall anywhere within that range):

Free Geek penguin mascot and banner at Free Geek Vancouver
Processor
Wikipedia:Pentium III 700 - 866mHz
RAM
256 MB
Storage
Hard drive: 11 - 19.0 GB
Wikipedia:CD-ROM: 40X-52X
Wikipedia:Floppy disk: 3 1/2" 1.44 MB floppy
Networking
Wikipedia:Ethernet: PCI 10/100 Bt
Wikipedia:Modem: 56k internal
Wikipedia:Output
Monitor: 17" CRT
Wikipedia:Video card: AGP capable of 1024x768
Wikipedia:Speakers: external
Sound: Onboard or PCI
Wikipedia:Input
Keyboard: 104 key standard
Mouse: 3 button scroll

The other important characteristic of the FreekBox is the Wikipedia:software. FreekBoxes run Ubuntu Wikipedia:GNU/Linux and other Free and Wikipedia:Open Source Software.

When someone gets a FreekBox, they are entitled to a class where they may learn basic computer use. Free Geek also offers phone and drop-in Wikipedia:technical support to people who have earned a computer and taken the class.

Other Free Geek locations

Portland Free Geek's computer build training lab

In addition to Portland, a number of other cities have started their own Free Geek organizations.

See also

External links