OSGUI.com

Linux Computer Recyclers (OSGUI division - upgrade from been just a community site to serve dual roles)

The idea is to obtain free obsolete computers and breath new life into them by fixing them up hardware wise and loading Linux onto them for the software. Then they can be sold very cheaply to people who don't have computers or want to buy a cheap computer with Linux on it to learn Linux for example... Also for this site to promote this idea that every Linux guru around the would should also do to help bring Linux into the mainstream wile also providing a community service and helping better the world we live in.

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The following is a list of my idea's, they may not all be possible or a good idea;

• Obtain free or extremely cheap desktop, laptop, server computers and parts.
  
  • Drive the car around to places where I might find old computers thrown out on the street or in bins and pick them up.
  • Drive to other Computer Recyclers to see if there is free stuff.
  • Ask friends & family for their unused computers.
  • Advertise free computer recycling pick-up service to consumers in Melbourne Australia.
• Collect the best parts only - ATX minimum Standard cases - may need to take rubbish from people as good will and dispose of for them as long as there is something which is useful.
• Minimum specs to keep - Pentium 3/Athlon/Sampron/Duron - 128B RAM - 5GB HDD or better - hardware only needs to be able to run Ubuntu or other light-weight Linux Distro like Xubuntu.
• Cleanup and upgrade computers with available free parts - strip parts and collect them to build up decent computers.
• Format hard drives and install a user-friendly Linux OS, like: Linux Mint with Wine or Xubuntu... Always fine tune the OS to be more user-friendly, and include things like Links to this site in the browser. Make an offical list of apps and settings to change in a SOE document.
• Create website to adversities the services. [make it part of OSGUI.com ] (make facebook group/pages to promote it too)
• Could Sell the computers on eBay &/or Trading Post &/or other sites then link that into OSGUI site. (Keep them cheap, low profits)
• Offer general PC repair Services with fixed rates comparable to those of CPL to consumers in Melbourne Victoria.
• Offer Trade-in's of old PC's to consumers in Melbourne Victoria.
• Offer Free old PC pickup service to consumers in Melbourne Victoria.
• Offer Linux installation and Training services to consumers in Melbourne Victoria.
• Sell CD's/DVD's with Linux OS's & Software both Online (probably through a 3rd Party) and directly in person/shop.
• Keep costs to a minimum - initially do not spend any money at all so all old hardware has to be free..
• Obtain business partnerships with other Computer Recyclers and Linux companies and organisations.
• Create and Print Business Cards and Flyers to advertise OSGUI site and these services
• Create and print stickers to go on the items that may be sold which says support can be found on OSGUI.com and has the logo.

Website Idea's:

• OSGUI.com will be upgraded and expanded to focus on everything to do with promoting Linux
• The site will service as Customer Service to the Customers who buy computers from me.
• The site will allow all users to trade their Linux computers and services, so as well as advertising my own Linux related services, like PC recycling with Linux as the only OS, registered users will also be able to sell their Linux stuff.
• OSGUI to have expended tutorials on Linux/Ubuntu.
• OSGUI to focus on the OS's that are supported by the business side of advertising services.
• Perhaps junk/unrelated/ripped/unoriginal content should be removed or made less visible and altered to be original and of more usefulness.
• Extra features must be added to the site:
  
  • Downloads - Ubuntu apps & OS's section
    
  • Classified Advertisements / Store / Marketplace - to allow me to advertise my products and services and also allowing other registered users to do the same. (There would have to be some rules for the users that should be put into a document on the site for them to agree to when using this feature of the site
  • Jam-pack the site with useful things to enhance the Linux experience like nice Desktop Wallpapers.
  • Re-design site look to be much more unique, attractive, effective, optiomised for speed.
  • Make more use of Module Blocks for each component put its good modules o the front page and maybe other places too.

When Business grows to have own office can offer more products and services, like;

• New computers pre-loaded with Linux and always running AMD CPU's
• No Intel or Microsoft inside any products or used in the company.
• In-house Linux Training
• Demonstration computers running versions of Linux supported.

Scale back other unused website projects that are costing money due to domain names, like PanicIndustry.com might be dropped.

Question to self: How will OSGUI.com have both Google Advertising and provide advertising for it's own services? I will have to either not have any Google Ads on the pages related to advertising the services/products or edit the Adsence account so that it does not show ads related to the same services on any part of the site.... Needs investigation...

Anyhow. please provide feedback if you can think of any ideas or want to help...?

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