Dear Colleagues - I do not believe that there is such a thing as a "useless computer" however old it is and even if it does not boot. There are scores of commercial computer training colleges in urgent search for such equipment. I have reproduced an email from one Nicholas Kitavi (nikokit2001@yahoo.com) below who I recently helped to get discarded equipment for his students in Limuru. They disassemble it and use it for their classes. How are we going to get capacity for an assembly industry if there are no old computers to tinker with? These machines are to future technicians like cadavers to anatomy students. Nicholas will BUY these old machines from you to use for something worthwhile. I do not mind decisions being taken to dissuade the importation of anything but it is important to INVOLVE stakeholders. In the case of used computers people like Nicholas and Evans Ikua (whose business is selling them) are examples of those who should be consulted. There needed to be a discussion like the one on this list with people for and against bringing their different view-points and consensus reached. There are instances in the past when IT has been messed up by Government through non-consultation on issues. One classic example - albeit not not by the current Government - was when when it was decided unilaterally in the 1990s that computers take away jobs and a 150% import duty penalty was imposed, pulling IT development back a number of years. By way of facts, 90% of Commercial Colleges and 80% of Cyber Cafes use the so-called "dumped" computers. Consult these people. Overall 73% of the computers in use in the country are the so-called "dumped". Consult these people. Vendors who sell computers in Nairobi - visit any shop - know that "dumped" keyboards, for example, last longer than most "new" ones. That is why the indicative price for new is 250/= and for "dumped" Compaq, HP, etc. is 500/=. Consult these people. As for the environmental fears, I think (with respect to Prof) that is hyperbole like Y2K. These are just my private views anyway like everyone is entitled to theirs. To get a better position, involve all stakeholders and: CONSULT, CONSULT, CONSULT. See Nicholas email below any help him and others: "dear sirs, allow me to introduce myself for bussiness purposes only.we are a college located in limuru which trains students computer hardware,maintainance&electronics. we thus do buy computers and computer parts that in most cases are not working ie mother boards,casings,hard disks,floppy drives, monitors,power supply copiers,printers etc. we therefore wish to declare our interest on those items incase you have any that you would like to dispose please do not hesitate to contact us.thanking you in advance. n.m.kitavi distinction one computer college p.o.box 48211,00100 nairobi tel;254-020-3593363 cell;0720824479/0751824479 nb;please forward this to mail to any of your contacts that could be of help. rgds"