It turns out I might have a good use for it.

I've found a guy who suffers from Borderline Personality Disorder. He can't leave the house, has issues with space and touching, and has attempted suicide at least once. I visited him at his house (there are several other people living there, usually with one problem or another) and he's a fairly bright guy; just can't interact socially.

Someone broke in and trashed his computer, which he needs for email, form-filling and other interactions with various governmental agencies, and sometimes a little gaming. Naturally he has no money to buy another one.

I told him the computer would probably not be suitable for gaming (I don't waste my time with that, either, so I don't have any powerhouse 'puters laying around) but we could handle the rest OK.

So, I'll be beavering away this weekend getting it all up to snuff, loading software, and so on. Probably install it next week. He has super high speed wireless available (G? N?) so things should zip right along.

Now that I think of it, something like that is a very good use of older computers. The dirty little secret of computer manufacturers is that hardware sold several years ago is still fine for running most business applications, so replacement has slowed down a lot.

Of course, if businesses were willing to pay for their employees playing first person shooter games, streaming videos, and other general folderol, the market would still be robust. I suppose.

Suggestion: If you have an older computer or two laying around, it wouldn't hurt to find some non-profit who would be more than willing to take it off your hands and get it someone where it would do a world of good. Think of it as time off for good behavior in Purgatory.