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Where do internet cafes go to die?

Discussion in 'Expat Section' started by TheDude, Jun 7, 2014.

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  1. TheDude

    TheDude DI Forum Patron Highly Rated Poster

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    I was thinking about maybe picking up some cheap desktop computers for the kids. I was thinking maybe just pick up some mini boards like a Raspberry Pi, except a bit beefier. But there must be a ton of internet cafes which start up, get hit with reality and then close shop. What happens to all these computers? I'm imagining some sort of huge internet cafe depot where all these things get shipped to. Anyone have any ideas?

    I suppose I could probably just pick up a cheap system from one of the local shops. I don't need much. Just a board (with the bare basics) and an ugly metal rack to mount the board on. I don't even need an O.S. since I run Linux. I'm certainly not interested in the decked out appliances with printer, coffee maker + that the shops in the mall has available which cost around 1K.
     
    TheDude, Jun 7, 2014
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  2. Rye83

    Rye83 with pastrami Admin Secured Account Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Army

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    Lol They probably get sent to various grandmother's/mother's/sibling's/cousin's houses to inevitably overheat/have insane amounts of viruses downloaded on them and die. Then they are likely pawned to the nearest friendly pawnshop or parted out for centavos on the peso. I would go to the local pawnshop and find out when and where the next auction will be. That be my bet on where to find some REALLY cheap computers......might have to buy 5 to scrap together one half @ss working Frankenstein of a computer though.
     
    Rye83, Jun 8, 2014
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  3. Rye83

    Rye83 with pastrami Admin Secured Account Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Army

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    BTW: I have yet to buy a computer from a local that was even remotely usable. They really like their porn and "scandal" videos.....which tend to be hosted by less than trustworthy sources. Ask a local what antivirus software they use and watch the blank stares. Or you get this:

    Me: After waiting 5 minutes for the computer to boot up I ask, "So what anti-virus software do you use?"
    Local: "Yes."
    Me: "Roger that! I'll give you 2k pesos for it."
    Local: "But I paid 20k pesos for it......and my names not Roger."
    Me: "Roger means......ugh, never mind. When you paid 20k pesos and you turned it on did it work?"
    Local: "Yes."
    Me: "Well it doesn't now and your 'Yes' antivirus software hasn't done anything to protect your computer from your surfing habits. 2k pesos, take it or leave it."
    Local: "Take it."
     
    Rye83, Jun 8, 2014
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  4. robert k

    robert k DI Forum Patron Highly Rated Poster Veteran Army

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    Reformat? This reply was too short to post.
     
    robert k, Jun 8, 2014
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  5. Rye83

    Rye83 with pastrami Admin Secured Account Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Army

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    Reformat what? There are viruses out there that can erase the BIOS. Some can cause the CPU to run at 100 percent all the time.....and being in the Philippines, it will overheat extremely fast and damage hardware. The local can either figure out how to get it working properly (EXTREMELY unlikely) or take my price.
     
    Rye83, Jun 8, 2014
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  6. OP
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    TheDude

    TheDude DI Forum Patron Highly Rated Poster

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    I was thinking more along the lines of maybe these things would pick up sets of computers on a payment plan and then just quit paying them when the internet cafe doesn't work out. Then maybe the computer place picks up the computers and sells them off cheap.

    Otherwise I wouldn't want to buy a used computer from anyone here. I like your examples. If they paid 20K for them then they will ask 18K. :wink: But even at half that it's not worth it. I think I will just drop by Ace Logic and the other places and see what they can assemble on the low end.
     
    TheDude, Jun 8, 2014
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  7. Jack Peterson

    Jack Peterson DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Air Force

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    Temperature

    Guys, just as side question here, What is an Acceptable/Safe temperature for a PC? (desk top)
     
    Jack Peterson, Jun 8, 2014
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  8. Rye83

    Rye83 with pastrami Admin Secured Account Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Army

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    Depends on the manufacturer. Just do a google search for whatever brand name you have. Different hardware within the PC will have different tolerances. The manufacturer should give you a general idea on what is an overall safe temperature. I wouldn't think a desktop would have much of a problem with overheating, even in the Philippines.....unless you are doing some serious gaming. There's lots of space in there and the fans aren't restricted by batteries.
     
    Rye83, Jun 8, 2014
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  9. Jack Peterson

    Jack Peterson DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Air Force

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    OK Thank You. Wyre, seems we are running OK. Put an extra Fan in Last Month and according to the data, we are running safe! well as safe as we can be.:p


    JP
     
    Jack Peterson, Jun 8, 2014
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  10. OP
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    TheDude

    TheDude DI Forum Patron Highly Rated Poster

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    Right, you generally shouldn't have an issue with overheating in normal circumastances as long as you haven't gone out of your way to screw things up.

    What I have found to be an issue in the Philippines in regards to overheating is dust and debris clogging the fans and vents. If you have your computer setup in an area where it doesn't get much of this, then you may not have to worry about it. If you are like me and you keep the house pretty well open and the computer is hidden in a corner in which dust bunnies get collected, then you might have to open the case occasionally and blow stuff out. The worst areas are the vents going into the case, the vents going into the power supply, the fan on the power supply and any fans on the motherboard. I even have to unscrew the fan on the processor sometimes to clean out dust from the heat dispersion "thing" which the fan sits on.

    The effects of overheating is usually serious slowing down of the computer, freezing and crashing. If you get these problems out of the blue and you haven't physically checked the tower in a while, then take some time to do that.
     
    TheDude, Jun 8, 2014
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