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16,000 Linux computers delivered - for free

Posted by wjl on · 7 comments
LXer Linux News; By wjl 		Mail this story
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James Burgett is a great guy. He is collecting old computers from companies and individuals, checks and in some cases repairs them, and then gives them away to those who cannot afford to buy. He does it since 12 years, and each system is delivered with a free OS.

A few days ago, I was checking and reporting in private about the state of Linux on laptops in Germany. It's a sad one, to sum it up here. Later, my search took me to a very interesting interview with Cathy Malmrose, CEO of a company called ZaReason, who have a new kind of business model. And further communication with Cathy (I reported about them on thedebianuser.org as well) led me to James and his site.

With his non-profit organization called Alameda County Computer Resource Center, he built up a volunteer organization, collects donated stuff from the companies who provide them, strips any proprietary OS and software off the drives, re-installs everything with Linux and free applications, and then gives them to schools or other not-for-profit organizations or individuals without too much cash.

A great man with a great mission. CNN called him a hero already.

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Comments (7)

james burgett is awesome

AskTheAdmiN ·
We were just reading your article on James Burgett and his awesome charitable work. We would love to help come stop by AskTheAdmiN.Com and drop us some comments.
Blue2U ·
You want to know how cool James Burgett really is? I worked for him at ACCRC and even though it's been a couple of years since I left, I enthusiastically promote his organization probably once a week- to people who need a computer and to people who need to dispose of theirs. There are a lot of people and organizations who do good things in the course of making money or advancing their cause. James is one of the few people I know who has the integrity to just do the right thing because it's right, and to keep doing it. A lot of volunteers and profiteers have tried to "enlighten" him with their ideas on how to make more money instead of making more free computers, not recognizing that he is keenly aware of how that works. If he was motivated to make a lot of money or fame, trust me, he'd be rich and famous.

Most of us have learned to be skeptical about 'something for nothing', but I guarantee that this place is thoroughly above-board. Anything you can do to spread the word about A.C.C.R.C. will literally make our world a better place.

Briana T.

free linux computers

fedorachick ·
I would like to know how to contact james burgettes organization.
wjl Story submitter ·
Hi fedorachick,

the mail address and even the phone number are on his home page on http://www.accrc.org/ - and that resource was mentioned in the article...

kind regards, wjl
sibelle ·
how will i get a free lap top??
Sander_Marechal ·
You should really contact the ACCRC about that. See the link wjl posted above.
wjl Story submitter ·
Please note that the ACCRC was/is having some troubles with bureaucracy lately - so anyone living in the Cisco Bay area could possibly go and offer their help.

See http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/92782/index.html for more information about this.

Thanks.

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