Technological Obsolescence

[ffutures]

A few years ago I paid £100 or so for my first DVD player. Now I have a DVD recorder on the main TV, a DVD player built into my portable TV, and three computers with DVD writers, and the original player just isn't being used.

It isn't worth the hassle of trying to sell it, with better specifications on offer for £20, and I can't even give it away. Seriously - everyone in my family has one, so do all my friends, and charities don't want electrical goods because of the hassle of safety testing. At work all of the labs now have computers with good DVD players so we don't really need it there. I'm thinking of taking it in to work and hooking it up to the TV we use for cueing up videos, it might be nice to play a film or two during the holidays, but that isn't going to do a lot for my efficiency. Other than that I'm seriously at a loss - I suppose I could take it to Cash Converters and get a fiver for it, or shove it into the Freecycle thing, but I can't think of anything else.

Any suggestions?

Later: Remembered a charity shop that does take electrical stuff, I'll give it to them.

Comments

[akicif.livejournal.com]

I'd go for freecycle - it beats binning it.

[It's interesting that VCRs never plummeted in quite the same way]

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Binning it isn't on the agenda, if all else fails the worse that'll happen is that I wrap it up and keep it for use in the unlikely event that I ever get a TV in the bedroom or something.

[rathgild.livejournal.com]

Some charities that provide cheap goods for rehousing the homeless and those in hostels/refuges might take it. In Edinburgh Bethany Trust took a fair amount of electrical goods from us, and Barnardos took the freezer. In both cases they said that they would do the electrical testing.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Don't think we have anything like that around here, but I'll check.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Both of the above suggestions make far more sense than mine. Which was to build it a miniature longboat, and send it off to Valhalla.

I feel rather shallow now.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

It does have a certain surreal charm, but the long boat would cost considerably more than the DVD player.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

One could be fashioned relatively cheaply out of a nearby skip and some cardboard.

I really need to stop thinking about this.

[heliograph.livejournal.com]

Decorate it and use it in the charity auction at a convention. "Own Marcus Rowland's FIRST DVD player!"

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

It's rather a big one - can't see anyone carrying a load of game books wanting to take that too.

[lillian13.livejournal.com]

If you haven't already taken it off to the charity shop, I'd suggest checking around and seeing if any local womens' shelters, youth hostels, etc. can use one. Maybe a day care center?