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Free Geek
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.
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.
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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):
- 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
In addition to Portland, a number of other cities have started their own Free Geek organizations.
- Wikipedia:Olympia, WA - http://www.fgoly.org
- Chicago, IL - http://www.freegeekchicago.org
- Wikipedia:Missoula, MT - http://www.freegeekmissoula.org
- Wikipedia:Columbus, OH - http://freegeekcolumbus.org
