What about a “ThinkPads for Health” donation program?

[baertracks]

I am a long time ThinkPad user (since the 700c), and currently a T43 user.

Professionally I travel to Africa (DR Congo) three or four times a year to work with the Ministry of Health and church groups in developing rural health care systems (500 rural hospitals and health zones serving a population of 60,000,000). Some of those remote areas now have their own laptops (and even satellite Internet connections). The demand is huge.

We have tried obtaining free desktops and laptops from existing donation programs, but the results have not been very encouraging. We ended up with a motley assortment of computer models, broken/un-repairable computers, and barely useable 468s and PIIs.

Recently I have begun purchasing used ThinkPads (T23s and T30s) for resale to health workers, mostly to doctors, at cost. There has been a great response to this initiative. However, even the cost of those laptops is more than what most health workers can afford.

Given the durability of ThinkPad Ts and the large number that are now being retired and sold on eBay, I am wondering about creating a “ThinkPads for Health” donation program. I am working with a nonprofit organization (http://interchurch.org) that could issue tax receipts for donated laptops.

However, before beginning such an initiative, I would appreciate your advice as to whether this program is worth pursuing. Please note, I am NOT asking for donations of laptops. I am simply seeking your input as ThinkPad experts and loyal ThinkPad T users for the following questions:

1) Are you aware of any existing ThinkPad (or laptop) donation programs of this nature? If so, please point me in their direction.

2) Do you think there are sufficient numbers of used ThinkPads and potential donors to justify creating a “ThinkPads for Health” donation program?

3) If so, what model(s) ThinkPads would you recommend? I would want to limit this program to two (perhaps three) ThinkPad models in order to simplify parts swapping.

Thanks for your advice.

FRANK
Baertracks