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The Eve Project

This site is about a project to reuse unwanted computers and make them available for free to anyone who would like to have a computer. It is intended to be used by people who live within an easy car drive of the village of Wrentham in Suffolk. This is because computers that are being donated must be delivered to me and computers being passed on to a new owner must be collected. There is no option to have them sent by courier.

How it Works

This is how the project works: people who have an unwanted laptop computer get in touch with me. Currently this is done using the 'NextDoor' app. If the laptop is suitable for the project I arrange for them to deliver the laptop to me. The laptops are donated free of charge to the project. I then replace the Windows software on the laptop with Linux. Please note that an early step in this process completely erases everything that was previously on the laptop's hard drive. That this is done is an understandable concern and I deal with it thoroughly and carefully. I then put a page about the laptop on this site. When someone wants the laptop they get in touch with me, using NextDoor. When they come to collect the computer I set it up for them and give them an introduction to using it. It is then theirs, free of charge.

Eve for Children

There is an alternative to the software which I can use to replace Windows. It is called CloudReady. This is a very simple system and can be used if the laptop is going to be used by a child. There is not so much software available compared with Linux but CloudReady is a simple and secure system which is easy to use. It is similar to the software on a Google Chromebook running, basically, the same applications. CloudReady has now been purchased by Google so we can expect it to continue to be developed and supported for the forseeable future. Many schools are familiar with Google's applications and can help children to do their homework using them.

Restoring Your Computer for You

A variation of this process is that I am perfectly happy to install Linux on a computer for someone who wants to have it back afterwards. This enables people to get many more years of service out of a computer than would otherwise be the case.

Unfortunately I cannot take in any more desktop computers because I don't have enough space to store them while a new owner is found. However, if you have a desktop computer and you would like me to install Linux or CloudReady on it and then return it to you, that is fine. I am very happy to do this and will do it for free.

Is Your Laptop Suitable for the Project?

I started the project because I wanted to save useful laptops from going to landfill but some laptops are just too old to reuse. There are some things you can do to check if your laptop will be suitable for the project:

• It has a UK keyboard (Look for a £ sign above the number 3 in the top row)
• You have the correct mains cable / adapter
• The laptop starts when plugged in and switched on. (It doesn't matter if all you get is an error message or if Windows loads but is unusably old or slow. It also doesn't matter if there was a password but you have lost it.)
• If possible, check that it can connect to your Wi-Fi
• If possible, check that it has working internal speakers
• Please ensure that the laptop is in a condition that is good enough to pass on to someone else.
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If all of the above are okay then the easiest way to find out if your laptop is suitable is to tell me (using NextDoor, email or text)

• the manufacturer
• the model name
• the model or product number

These details can usually be found on a sticker on the underside of the laptop. I will use this information to check that the computer is suitable for the project.

For Experts...

This bit is for those of you who are familiar with computer specifications. This are the minimum requirements to run Linux or CloudReady:

• A cpu speed of 2.0 GHz or more
• At least 2gB of RAM
• At least 25gB of disk space

Most laptops have a webcam built in. This is sometimes useful but is not essential. A webcam is cheap to buy and easy to add to the laptop if needed.

Summary

If you have a laptop you are willing to donate please check the list above and if all is well please get in touch with me using NextDoor.

If you would like to own one of the restored computers, please look at the ones we have available under the 'Computers' menu. Then get in touch. If there isn't currently a computer you would like please contact me anyway with what you are looking for and I will keep your details and get back to you if a suitable computer is donated.

I would be happy to have help, perhaps with re-installing software on the donated computers, with finding people who would like to have them, or any other way in which you could help. If you would like to help, please do get in touch.