Location(s)

 The first Wednesday of every month is...

WINDOWSLESS WEDNESDAY!!

 Join us for a DROP IN night of skill-sharing, problem-solving & education

7:00-9:30pm at Free Geek (back door)

• Getting help: all are welcome, beginners and up
  
• Helping others: we always need helpers with skills, please consider dropping by to help others
  
• Free or by donation. 
• Note: we help with free & open source software/hardware issues only.

Want to try free & open source software? Find out how to install GNU/Linux on your computer? Or have a more complex question...? These evenings are first come, first serve. Drop in & write your name/question on the whiteboard; someone will come find you and lend a hand.

Linux Clinics are where we assist folks who have GNU/Linux issues, hardware problems, or who are just plain curious. If you want to see what free and open source is all about, or try the Ubuntu operating system, you're welcome to drop by!

If you are already running a distribution of GNU/Linux, you might consider bringing your box down, so we can work together to solve your difficulties.

**CAN YOU HELP? We're always in need of extra helpers with skills and patience! Particular areas in demand: GNU/Linux & wireless, Ubuntu installs, hardware issues. Feel free to drop by and let us know you're here to help.

Check back here for updates, or join our announcement mailing list to stay posted about upcoming events!

Please note: Entry via back door. Indoor bike parking. Unfortunately our new location is not wheelchair accessible yet. We appreciate your patience while we work to change this; call us with concerns: 604-879-4335.

Location(s)

This week's topic: Open (General Clinic): Join us for a night of skill-sharing, problem-solving and education.

All are welcome! Beginners ok & skilled volunteers welcome! Free or by donation. We address free & open source software/hardware issues only.

Please note: Entry via back door. Indoor bike parking. Unfortunately our new locationis not wheelchair accessible yet. Weappreciate your patience while we work to change this; call us with concerns: 604-879-4335.

Want to try free & open source software? Find out how to install Linux on your computer? Or have a more complex question...?These evenings are first come, first serve. Drop in & write yourname/question on the whiteboard; someone will come find you and lend ahand.

Linux Clinics are where we assist folks who have Linux issues, hardwareproblems, or who are just plain curious. If you want to see what Linux is all about, or try the Ubuntu operating system, you're welcome to drop by!

If you are already running a distribution of Linux, you might considerbringing your box down, so we can work together to solve yourdifficulties.

**CAN YOU HELP? We're always in need of extra helpers with skillsand patience! Particular areas in demand: Linux & wireless, Ubuntuinstalls, hardware issues. Feel free to drop by and let us know you'rehere to help.

Free and open source software offers community-oriented, nutritious and delicious alternatives. Join us for Windowsless Wednesdays & learn how to set your computer free!

Check back here for updates, or join our announcement mailing list to stay posted about upcoming events!

Location(s)

This week's topic: Open (General Clinic): Join us for a night of skill-sharing, problem-solving and education.

All are welcome! Beginners ok & skilled volunteers welcome! Free or by donation. We address free & open source software/hardware issues only.

Please note: Entry via back door. Indoor bike parking. Unfortunately our new locationis not wheelchair accessible yet. Weappreciate your patience while we work to change this; call us with concerns: 604-879-4335.

Want to try free & open source software? Find out how to install Linux on your computer? Or have a more complex question...?These evenings are first come, first serve. Drop in & write yourname/question on the whiteboard; someone will come find you and lend ahand.

Linux Clinics are where we assist folks who have Linux issues, hardwareproblems, or who are just plain curious. If you want to see what Linux is all about, or try the Ubuntu operating system, you're welcome to drop by!

If you are already running a distribution of Linux, you might considerbringing your box down, so we can work together to solve yourdifficulties.

**CAN YOU HELP? We're always in need of extra helpers with skillsand patience! Particular areas in demand: Linux & wireless, Ubuntuinstalls, hardware issues. Feel free to drop by and let us know you'rehere to help.

Free and open source software offers community-oriented, nutritious and delicious alternatives. Join us for Windowsless Wednesdays & learn how to set your computer free!

Check back here for updates, or join our announcement mailing list to stay posted about upcoming events!

Basic System - $40 - in stock

Pentium 3 1Ghz

512MB RAM

10 - 30GB Hard Drive

Latest Version of Ubuntu(Linux) and full Office and Photo Editing Packages

High End and Custom Systems - $100 - $250 - In Stock

Intel P4, Core Duo and Celeron, AMD Atholon, Sempron, 64bit,  1Ghz - 3Ghz

512MB RAM

60GB Hard Drive and up

Latest Version of Ubuntu(Linux) and full Office and Photo Editing Packages

For the gamer in all of us, these fast systems will take care of those demanding task that need lots of power.

Free Geek receives donated used computers and refurbishes them with care. They are then "adopted out" to volunteers in exchange for 24 hours of service in our recycling facility. We call this the Computer Adoption Program, and anyone willing to come down and work is eligible to join us and adopt a machine. The computer systems we create, called GeekBoxes, are loaded with the GNU/Linux operating system, called Ubuntu, and other Free Software.

Our use of GNU/Linux enables our computers to run at speeds comparable with newer machines. GeekBox computers come with a wide range of software installed but are primarily designed for word processing and internet use. The GeekBox also comes with a basic class on how to use it. This is a very popular program.

 For more information about joining the Adoption Program, VISIT THIS PAGE.

Often, well intentioned folks leave out older monitors and computer hardware in the alley, in the hopes that someone will pick it up and find a new home for it.

Unfortunately a lot of these items are smashed and stripped for copper and other metals. While walking to a friend's house recently, I noticed a pile of smashed computers monitors and four TVs. All had been smashed for their copper yokes. [see picture]

Not only is this a waste, but it releases toxins into the environment. It can also hurt people who are probably not aware of the toxins inside CRT monitors and other equipment. Old computers may attract curious children.

Please don't leave your old hardware outside. Recycle your computer equipment responsibly by bringing it to a reputable re-use/recycling centre. We would love to find a new owner for your old hardware!

CURRENT HOT ITEMS WE HAVE

P4 3Ghz systems - $180 - $190

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CURRENT CISCO GEAR

7200

7200 VRX

1004 - missing pwr supply

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Smartbits NetCom Systems SMB-1000 $250 empty

16 x SX7405 cards for chassis $100 per card

$1000 for whole unit

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3Com Cellplex 3C3700A

comes with 2 4 ATM port modules

$200

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Compaq ProLiant DL360 1U Servers

Dual P3 1 to 1.2Ghz, 1GB of RAM, comes with two drives.

Starting at $100 and up.

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128MB AGP Video Cards

Various brands, some with DVI output

Free Geek receives more donated parts than it can refurbish into working computers. When we have excess parts, we will make them available for sale. P4 systems, laptops, printers network gear and laptop RAM, we have it all. We also re-purpose items. Old motherboard batteries(round disc ones) make fine batteries for bike lights! Looking for cables? No problem! We have many types including USB, Firewire, audio, video, serial and SCSI, . We cannot guarantee the availability of anything (except maybe floppy drives and keyboards!). All used computer parts are sold as is, with no warranty. ALL proceeds go toward Free Geek operational costs.

Check out our computers for sale.

Our thrift store is attached to the rest of our Vancouver facility at 1820 Pandora St. Here's some directions, just in case.

Check out the HOT ITEMS for sale page!

Check out our Legacy Hardware for sale page!

The Free Geek Thrift Store has gone virtual! Have a peek at our Ebay store!

MOVIE PROP/SET DECORATION RENTALS

We also rent older systems for props. If you are in the Film Industry and are looking for that 1985 XT system, we probably have something. Please visit our Computer Prop/Set Decoration Rentals page for more information.

ESOTERICA

Looking for a very unique, hard-to-find cable? Looking for a small plastic processor stabilizer that a single motherboard manufacturer included for only two years on a single model? All sorts of older equipment comes through our doors, so even though it's not in our thrift store, we may still have it. Since we're dedicated to reuse, and want to make our hobbyist customers happy, we created a Wishlist form. Fill out the form, and we'll let you know if we have the esoteric item you want.

We also carry used Mac parts in our thrift store. Keyboards to Systems we have a little bit of everything. Looking for that Asante MacCon RJ45 Ethernet Card for your SE/30? We might have one. Feel free to use our Wishlist form to have us keep an eye out for your sought after legacy Mac part!

This spring, the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) knew where
to turn to get legacy hardware.

Pictured above is Griffen, a GVRD employee, showing off an oldschool
5.25 inch floppy disk, and Ryan, a Free Geek volunteer, holding the disk
drive Free Geek provided. Floppy disks hold between 180-1200 KB of data.

The GVRD has hundreds of archived floppy disks dating back to the 1960s,
containing data such as annual precipitation levels. Due to recent
concerns of flooding from the Fraser River, this data has developed new
importance. They wanted to retrieve this information and transfer it to
a different format. Unfortunately, just like most folks these days, they
lacked a computer with a 5.25 inch floppy drive.

While Free Geek does computer recycling, our top priority is computer
reuse. We had the necessary floppy drive on hand, and were tickled to be
able to help out.