Комментарии •

  • @JeffGeerling
    @JeffGeerling 3 месяца назад +147

    I love that place. Got a nice old Mac keyboard and mouse in great condition from them so my old G4 Mac could be more complete. The folks there are great, just hope they keep the place going a long while!

    • @Buzzygirl63
      @Buzzygirl63 3 месяца назад +7

      They are always busy - there's tons of stuff coming and going every day, and some things donated are rare and/or unique. They completely redid the inside of their thrift store within the past couple of years too. I think they'll be here for awhile, thankfully (if not for my wallet LOL).

    • @saveitforparts
      @saveitforparts 3 месяца назад +9

      They've got all kinds of great stuff! It's probably both bad and good I didn't find them sooner, I would have way more retro computers in my basement!

    • @AddieDirectsTV
      @AddieDirectsTV 3 месяца назад +2

      Oh I have WAY too much from FGTC in my apartment from volunteering in the retro room. Lol.

  • @infered5365
    @infered5365 3 месяца назад +94

    FGTC is a great organization. When I worked in the IT department of a local furniture retailer, I talked my boss into letting me donate 100 old PCs that were getting ewasted due to age. FG were very happy with it, and I was happy to have saved them all. Love me the folk at FGTC!

    • @currentfaves65
      @currentfaves65 3 месяца назад +1

      Go Linux !

    • @qqq12qz
      @qqq12qz 2 месяца назад

      yeah I'd be happy too if people gave me free cpus to melt down into gold

    • @PigeonLaughter01
      @PigeonLaughter01 2 месяца назад

      ​@@qqq12qzbetter than it just hitting landfil in a poor country to be "recycled" in a way that creates an ecological nightmare.

  • @derekarnold
    @derekarnold 3 месяца назад +96

    Haha, I was the volunteer that worked on the IMSAI 8080. The comment on the music might confuse people, because it doesn’t have a speaker or music hardware. The program actually generates RF interference that is audible with an AM radio, and is not exactly tuned to any particular temperament but does resemble music.

    • @saveitforparts
      @saveitforparts 3 месяца назад +11

      Interesting! I had no idea how those worked.

    • @AddieDirectsTV
      @AddieDirectsTV 3 месяца назад +9

      …and I’m the volunteer who supplied the AM radio to play the music. Lol.
      Edit: I uploaded the video as a short to my RUclips

    • @paulsengupta971
      @paulsengupta971 3 месяца назад +3

      We used to do something similar with the ZX81 back in the day.

    • @archloy
      @archloy 3 месяца назад

      Can we find that somewhere on youtube or other plateform ? I'm curious about the result (and the tech of course)

    • @AddieDirectsTV
      @AddieDirectsTV 3 месяца назад +2

      @@archloy it should be in my shorts

  • @Buzzygirl63
    @Buzzygirl63 3 месяца назад +49

    Ah yes - Free Geek is my OTHER candy store (the other one is Microcenter in SLP)! I can't recall how many things I've donated and bought from them. SUCH a great organization and so glad to have it nearby. Between Free Geek and Microcenter, us Twin Cities nerds have it made!

    • @seejjordan
      @seejjordan 3 месяца назад +2

      Ah, you meant to say Axeman, you're forgiven (smiles)

    • @NerudoP-Clowes
      @NerudoP-Clowes 3 месяца назад +2

      I've spent half a day in both places with a smile on my face, and I loathe shopping. We really are lucky, Microcenter certainly doesn't exist everywhere.

    • @jilbertb
      @jilbertb 3 месяца назад +1

      ​@@NerudoP-Clowes
      I drive over an hour just to go there. So Fun!!!

    • @natewilson111
      @natewilson111 3 месяца назад

      ​@@seejjordan All of the Axeman locations are great. The Axemen

    • @DSToNe19and83
      @DSToNe19and83 2 месяца назад +1

      Axeman and micro center are awesome!
      I still have a five inch navel canon shell I got when I was a kid from axeman.

  • @unity-gain
    @unity-gain 3 месяца назад +33

    What an awesome project. Thanks for sharing it with us!

  • @t4terr
    @t4terr 3 месяца назад +12

    My workplace was trying to throw away tons of old computer stuff, i told them i will take it all, and i donated it all to these guys. Very easy and nice people.

  • @therandomdot2563
    @therandomdot2563 Месяц назад +2

    "structural support pile of computers". I lol'ed... "don't touch that! It's a load-bearing pile of computers!"

  • @mbilden
    @mbilden 3 месяца назад +12

    Thanks for giving this vital local organization some free publicity. No longer live in the Twin Cities, but will definitely stop by on my next trip. Wish every metro (or even medium sized cities) had a local organization dedicated to the cause of recycling this tech. 👍

  • @christophercharles9645
    @christophercharles9645 2 месяца назад +5

    My sister in law and her whole family volunteer at FreeGeek Twin Cities but I never realized the scope of the operation and all they do. What a great mission to both reduce tech waste; find useful purposes for a large chunk of the "waste"; as well trying to help folks get their hands on tech they may otherwise not have access to. Thanks for this video - it really puts a much-deserved spotlight on a worthy organization. Very cool!

  • @SunkenCanoeArcade
    @SunkenCanoeArcade 3 месяца назад +16

    Amanda at Free Geek is awesome. She's super knowledgeable and has gone out of her way to help me in the past. Great shop and great cause. Still kicking myself for not picking up that Atari 1040 they had there.

    • @brianwasner6222
      @brianwasner6222 3 месяца назад +1

      Do you mean the Atari TT030 they had? I bought it ;)

  • @Oldbugssy
    @Oldbugssy 2 месяца назад +7

    Oh cool! I used to work in that building back in '89 when it was a photo processing lab called Slide Services. 35mm slides and power point presentations used to be big! Oddly enough, this was where I began collecting computers and parts as they became outdated.

  • @PU7MZD
    @PU7MZD 3 месяца назад +14

    What a great initiative. All the staff and volunteers seems to share an amazing spirit of work and love for this stuff. I wish we have something like that here where I live. If someday I visit the US I would definetly check FreeGeek out.

  • @AndrewWestaway
    @AndrewWestaway 3 месяца назад +12

    Thank for taking the time to do this. I would volunteer at a place like this, hands down! Compared to my frustrating and stressful time working at a national repair depot for a big name computer company, this seems like the kinda of stress I would enjoy 😁

  • @userscott
    @userscott 3 месяца назад +7

    What an excellent video! Well done Gabe! Thank you for taking me to FreeGeek, too, I loved it!

  • @jonlangford7622
    @jonlangford7622 3 месяца назад +7

    That was cool. Thanks for all of the interviews. A little different content never hurt anybody.

  • @lordofelectrons4513
    @lordofelectrons4513 3 месяца назад +6

    Two thumbs up for FreeGeek. I have been building and using computers since the the late 1970s
    and never purchased a new prebuilt computer. The local FreeGeek has been a valued resource for
    many years now I would not go anywhere else.

  • @hi_desert_rat
    @hi_desert_rat 2 месяца назад +3

    We need these all over the country!

  • @ranchorelaxo2287
    @ranchorelaxo2287 3 месяца назад +4

    Having volunteered at the Portland OR location, it warms my heart to see Free Geek is still doing the good work. If you need some bits, stop in.

  • @x_CrossHair_x
    @x_CrossHair_x 3 месяца назад +4

    Very Interesting, Thank you for including us in your travels.. Field trip from Home 👍

  • @MontegaB
    @MontegaB 3 месяца назад +2

    Makes me happy that places like this exist

  • @rslr
    @rslr 3 месяца назад +1

    I'm so amazed and happy that this place exists.

  • @cmjx
    @cmjx 3 месяца назад +4

    I'm from Portland where I think Free Geek started out? I volunteered a little bit ~20 years ago. Intel (just a few miles west) would donate lots of hardware to Free Geek, so people without the means could donate a small amount of hours and get a free computer. One of the best things for the community hands down. Thank you for this video!

  • @trektn
    @trektn 3 месяца назад +4

    That place is great, glad you're giving it a shoutout it deserves

  • @lemagreengreen
    @lemagreengreen 3 месяца назад +4

    I wish we had a store like this, really should be a global thing given the scale of e-waste. I absolutely love it, these people are doing a great thing. So many things can be re-used or re-purposed, many people are looking for spare parts etc... it's just something that makes so much sense that it's ludicrous these types of places aren't everywhere.

  • @genossinwaabooz4373
    @genossinwaabooz4373 3 месяца назад +1

    Great to see what's new at Free Geek now. I volunteered back in 2011-2013 and I can't say how genuinely good it all was. For us personally and our projects, and for the whole community. Knowledge I still use, and pass on to others...
    And just used said skills yesterday with my partner, refurbishing some older desktop dell boxes, a few other unwanted devices in our town, we can show this smaller community were in now, it's not too hard at all. (Given the usual criteria, of course)!
    Thanks!
    Thanks to channel too!

  • @terenceokane
    @terenceokane 3 месяца назад +3

    This video was awesome! I live in LA and try to get everything I can into someone's hands rather than a landfill. I'm definitely going to look for this kind of recycler in my area! The community - the classes - the resources - the parts... this place seems like a GEM! Really great video!

  • @greathornedowl3644
    @greathornedowl3644 2 месяца назад +2

    BRAVO - commendable service. Both for businesses and people to recycle electronics and for those unable to purchase NEW to put together a usable machine

  • @JDM89HONDACRXSi
    @JDM89HONDACRXSi 3 месяца назад +1

    As a collector, I am currently in the process of starting my preservation efforts of old gaming consoles and games. Thanks for giving these items a second chance. It's nice seeing others start to do the same.

  • @SanthiratanMandyam
    @SanthiratanMandyam 3 месяца назад +3

    I have volunteered in Good will and salvation army stores.., Its great to see a store specifically for electronics and its recycle and reuse. You are doing gods work!

  • @andybungert
    @andybungert 2 месяца назад +2

    randomly came up on my YT feed. I'm just north of the cities and cannot wait to donate and visit.

  • @thomrieck
    @thomrieck 3 месяца назад +3

    Cool! I had no idea they existed!! thanks for sharing!

  • @BonoboPK
    @BonoboPK 2 месяца назад +1

    This warms my heart, so much in the background brings back memories.

  • @cartermelon
    @cartermelon 2 месяца назад +1

    I’ve only been here once, mostly because I don’t like driving in Minneapolis, or really anywhere too close to it lol! But when I went, it was so awesome! I was able to get a motherboard and some ram to fix up my fiancées computer. Such a wonderful store, I’ve been itching to go again soon, so i might have to! Thanks for posting this video, it’s amazing to see other creators from Minnesota! I hope this also brings a bunch of new customers to their store, they deserve it!

  • @ExoTheWicker
    @ExoTheWicker 3 месяца назад +6

    I was jumping out of my chair at then end just going "WHAT IS THAT!?" 10/10 Video as always

  • @moormoor4281
    @moormoor4281 3 месяца назад +6

    Wish you all the Best God bless you all from England

  • @SpartanONegative
    @SpartanONegative 3 месяца назад +3

    Thanks for sharing with us. I will have to check this place out

  • @hplebar
    @hplebar 2 месяца назад +1

    Really cool video! I love that something like Free Geek exists!

  • @nicktatters7523
    @nicktatters7523 3 месяца назад +4

    Lovely business model, we could learn a lesson or two here in the UK, it’s too easy to buy the latest tech and just dump the legacy tech, brilliant video 👍👍👍

  • @xenia5101
    @xenia5101 3 месяца назад +2

    Great tour and a great place. It would be great to see this concept multiply to other places for the benefit of everyone.

  • @MakeDoAndMend1
    @MakeDoAndMend1 2 месяца назад +1

    Really good video. I purchased a Yaesu FRG7 Short Wave receiver to fix from ebay. With the intention to repair and give to my neighbour to use as he isn't very well. However the radio is a total wreck. So you are so lucky to have such a tech store like this. Best wishes from George (Michael) G1BKI in the UK 🇬🇧

  • @crypticcollie
    @crypticcollie 3 месяца назад +2

    I've been to this exact place a few times over the years. It's been a great experience every time I've visited and donated. It's too bad I live a ways away, or I'd visit more often.

  • @polarbub
    @polarbub 3 месяца назад +4

    I love free geek! The one near me didn't make it through covid though so whenever I get to a city with one I love to look through them

  • @L2.Lagrange
    @L2.Lagrange 3 месяца назад +3

    Interesting. I have thought about volunteering here before. Really happy you made this video so I can learn more about it

  • @c00gr
    @c00gr 3 месяца назад +6

    Need more places like this!

  • @csflmich2239
    @csflmich2239 2 месяца назад

    Glad to hear about this place. What an incredible oasis.

  • @dean5263
    @dean5263 3 месяца назад +6

    I'll say this about you,
    you sure know some good people.

  • @clownearound5751
    @clownearound5751 3 месяца назад +6

    Really love their ‘mission aims’ and it’s great seeing people that are passionate and want to help others in turn.
    I was born in ‘81 and remember my first computer being a Commodore 64, we used to buy the C64 magazines that sometimes came with a free cassette game, if I remember it took a few minutes for the game to load too! Real fond memories of gaming on wet and miserable weather days.
    Thank you to all the staff and volunteers and thank you Gabe for sharing this amazing video with everyone. Best wishes to you and the family

  • @TheSmokie55
    @TheSmokie55 3 месяца назад +1

    Your channel and its content excite my mind. but The more I watch. the more I want to visit the wonderful twin cities. Thank you for sharing positive content to the world.

  • @alwaysfallingshort
    @alwaysfallingshort 2 месяца назад

    Oh man, I couldn't have possibly found this video at a better time. I've got a whole box of tech I'm about to donate and I live 10 min away. Great video.

  • @Fix3rJ0e
    @Fix3rJ0e 3 месяца назад +1

    I checked this place out last year. Definitely a place worth visiting. I had a lot of fun checking it out.

  • @seanplace8192
    @seanplace8192 3 месяца назад +3

    Sounds like my kind of heaven; Getting to work with and restore old tech. Meeting some fellow nerds would be nice too! 😁 Unfortunately I live about 500 miles away from both the Fayetteville and Twin Cities Free Geek locations.

  • @RetroPC
    @RetroPC 2 месяца назад

    I absolutely love this place and I go there every time I visit the twin cities. I just picked up a complete Compaq Presario 5170 desktop there! Thank you Free Geek!

  • @Glenintheden
    @Glenintheden 3 месяца назад +4

    I had no idea this place existed and I've lived in the Twin Cities most of my life. I'll have to check it out sometime and maybe even volunteer.

  • @adamcaswell1924
    @adamcaswell1924 3 месяца назад +1

    Awesome, I love Free Geek Twin Cities! I go there several times a year.

  • @KlenDool
    @KlenDool 3 месяца назад +3

    That place looks like heaven to me lol

  • @rarbiart
    @rarbiart 3 месяца назад +6

    11:07 "Structural support pile of computers". I need a sticker with that!

  • @zoomosis
    @zoomosis 3 месяца назад +3

    Awesome. I wish we had something like this in Melbourne, Australia.

  • @negativeview
    @negativeview 3 месяца назад +1

    This is the first video of yours I've seen. Will be definitely checking out Free Geek, and have subbed based on just this video. It's rare to see someone willing to promote another place and make the video ABOUT THEM. You weren't on screen stealing focus the entire time and I appreciate that. You let Free Geek speak for themselves.

    • @saveitforparts
      @saveitforparts 3 месяца назад

      They were great! I don't do a lot of interview / tour videos, but I have a few on here. Not everyone wants to be on camera, but the FreeGeek folks were really cool with it!

  • @ozmond
    @ozmond 25 дней назад +1

    Oh wow I’m so glad this video came into my recommended. I’ll have to check this place out !

  • @TheRealDanBell
    @TheRealDanBell 3 месяца назад +2

    I live in MN and didn't know about this place. I am glad I know about it now.

    • @TheRealDanBell
      @TheRealDanBell 3 месяца назад

      Forgot to say, thank you for making the video!

  • @VioletLantz
    @VioletLantz 2 месяца назад +1

    I just moved to Minneapolis and i've been so excited to go visit since before the move!!!!! I'm so hyped!!!

  • @lordgreylock
    @lordgreylock 3 месяца назад +3

    Wow, what a really awesome place! I hope to visit someday! I could spend so much time there.

  • @josiahsomers2508
    @josiahsomers2508 2 месяца назад

    I volunteered there in late middleschool and the things that I learned while doing that, I still using in my job today!

  • @scoon2117
    @scoon2117 3 месяца назад +3

    You guys should open up a charity for all the men women and kids that work in landfills all over earth taking apart electronic scrap for a dollar a day. Cool channel.

  • @user-tm8jt2py3d
    @user-tm8jt2py3d 3 месяца назад +1

    great video, im in the metro and have been searching for this exact kind of store. I don't know how I missed it, but now I'm so happy for this video

  • @ReubenHanson2809
    @ReubenHanson2809 3 месяца назад +1

    It's been over 8 years since I was a member of the FG community. There were some great people running it.

  • @AtomGee
    @AtomGee 3 месяца назад +2

    Free Geek needs a youtube ch!

  • @jtraveny
    @jtraveny 3 месяца назад +1

    i love working on stuff like this. i love saving computers, (laptops and desktops) and giving them or selling at a cheap price to people that need them

  • @MasterSirman
    @MasterSirman 3 месяца назад +3

    I would love to have places like this around here! Awesome

  • @jonathanhoward7669
    @jonathanhoward7669 2 месяца назад +1

    I love this with my whole heart MN!

  • @pedxing
    @pedxing 3 месяца назад +1

    what a great video! love these folks. thanks for sharing.

  • @bainslayer
    @bainslayer 2 месяца назад

    I'd never heard of this place before, so I'm super thankful you made this video about them. I've worked in e-recycling before and have been hoping to find a place like this. I'm definitely going to try and find time this weekend to go check them out and I look forward to volunteering there in the future.

  • @timfischer
    @timfischer 2 месяца назад +1

    I had that //gs PC card. It was called the PC Transporter by Applied Engineering. It helped me extend the life of my //gs into the early 90s. I still have the //gs (it's been in storage for a long time) but I sold off that card years ago on eBay.

  • @brownranger1797
    @brownranger1797 3 месяца назад +2

    No way, I live in St. Paul and can't wait to check them out!

  • @cbhlde
    @cbhlde 3 месяца назад +1

    What a great explanation and presentation by this nice girl in the first minutes! Thumbs up!

  • @crankytank
    @crankytank 2 месяца назад +1

    Thanks for this video! I've been meaning to go into that place to see what it's about. Now I'm definitely going to visit!

    • @saveitforparts
      @saveitforparts 2 месяца назад

      It's a great spot! Definitely check it out when you get a chance :-)

  • @mannhimself
    @mannhimself 3 месяца назад +1

    Excellent choice of the clear storage totes. Hopefully, when I visit the Twin Cities in the next year I can check this place out along with the usual visits like my Brothers, some friend's, Electric Fetus and White Castle.

  • @arjovenzia
    @arjovenzia 3 месяца назад +2

    amazing the scrap value covers the rent and most of the staff. I suppose if your set up for volume and a quick process... The closest thing I have to that is the E-waste skip at my local rural tip. they have a recycling shop, but cant sell any electrical stuff without it getting tested, which costs them. working at the landfill, they are pretty keen on recycling. there is a guy that takes all the mowers, line trimmers etc, fixes them up and donates them , another guy that does bikes, another that does actual wooden furniture. so your not technically supposed to, but they look the other way when your digging through. Ive got a couple of good laptops, a force feedback flight stick, and you can never have enough 12v plugpacks.

  • @jonnojamwood
    @jonnojamwood 3 месяца назад +2

    Great episode friends!
    Free Geek are in the new world i want to be part of. Lets beat the corporations.
    Cheers mates🇦🇺

  • @lambo_drives
    @lambo_drives 2 месяца назад +1

    Omg… I totally forgot about these guys (and jinkies they are in my neighborhood!!) been years since been there on school tour with the kid’s school.
    Thanks for the reminder!

  • @0hN0es203
    @0hN0es203 3 месяца назад +2

    Man I wish there was one of those close to me. I love retro tech, as evidenced by the amount of old computer junk in my office and garage lol.

  • @PoodlePuncher
    @PoodlePuncher 3 месяца назад +2

    i lived in the twin cities for 20 years, and never knew that place existed.

  • @heatherryan9820
    @heatherryan9820 3 месяца назад +2

    I use to volunteer at Free Geek PDX a while ago, and would love to get back into it. It was a lot of fun.

  • @ItsKingMyles
    @ItsKingMyles 3 месяца назад +2

    much love for free geek

  • @arasin.staubly
    @arasin.staubly 2 месяца назад +1

    The earliest computer I remember in our household was a Timex-Sinclair with cassette tape drive.
    The first computer that was mine was an Apple II-GS with a UK-spec word-processor.

    • @saveitforparts
      @saveitforparts 2 месяца назад

      I had a IIgs when I was a kid, Arkanoid II was the best! I might have a Timex Sinclair in a box somewhere, the keyboard is painfully bad!

  • @alisharifian535
    @alisharifian535 3 месяца назад +3

    In the country that i live in there are few little companies that refurbish and sell old game consoles (game shops usually refurbish and sell stuff though) but computers that are not able to run windows 7 or higher usually go to recycling and finding old hardware has became difficult because they have been either smelted to copper and iron bars or sellers offer astronomical prices for them because they are antique. Crt TVs that accept AV input are still in use because some people think they are good enough for them but older ones have the same fate of old computers.

  • @UncleBildo
    @UncleBildo 3 месяца назад +2

    What a cool place to have nearby. One of the big negatives about living super rural, there's not much of anything. 25 mile round trip for milk and bread here, 50 for medical stuff, 150 to find actual city stuff.

    • @drunkonacid
      @drunkonacid 3 месяца назад

      That must SUCK! I hate the fact that my kettle and fridge are about 30 feet away from me. Give me rural life over city life any day

  • @mattparker9726
    @mattparker9726 3 месяца назад +1

    15:33 That Liberty City map, takes me back. Can't tell you how many hours I scoured that map, lost as heck.

  • @moormoor4281
    @moormoor4281 3 месяца назад +2

    You guy's have a good heart ❤️💟

  • @markrix
    @markrix 3 месяца назад +2

    This is awesome, wish we had a place like this in Detroit

  • @zedbear1
    @zedbear1 3 месяца назад +2

    Very cool place with knowledgeable people, wish we had a place like this in Va.
    At 14:50, I think the big tv is a Sanyo. I played PS1 games on one for weeks healing from an operation. Still have the PS1, I miss the Sanyo. Great field trip!

  • @_blasfemy
    @_blasfemy 3 месяца назад +1

    truly amazing. i wish i was in the area. i would DEFINITELY spend like.. half my time there

  • @sparknut5338
    @sparknut5338 2 месяца назад

    Nice find. Thanks for posting.

  • @russellzauner
    @russellzauner 3 месяца назад

    NOICE - we have one in Portland, OR - it's nice to have a place that will actually take literally everything that has a cord on it, at least they do here. CRT requests a donation but since most places will charge much more for disposal or they'll be in the middle of nowhere, it's appreciated that they're close in and will accept a small fee to get EVERYTHING out of my van. :-)
    Thanks for doing a video on them! That's awesome - the power of the platform!

  • @Mike_Mandigo
    @Mike_Mandigo 2 месяца назад +1

    Looks like a great place to work & shop!

  • @kindalikechicken2299
    @kindalikechicken2299 3 месяца назад +2

    Nice. I still have my Apple IIe, GS, and a II VX I bought new, the first Mac with a CD drive. Still love the old Apple keyboard.

  • @xooziekingdom
    @xooziekingdom 3 месяца назад +1

    AWESOME!!!! Austin, TX needs a FREE GEEK branch

  • @mjb2kmn
    @mjb2kmn 2 месяца назад +1

    Just across the river from Repowered! How have I never known of this place??
    Will definitely be checking them out.

  • @hannibalranadal1839
    @hannibalranadal1839 2 месяца назад +1

    I definitely need to go back next time I'm in the twin cities. I went in January 2020 to check it out and got a friend a decent laptop for an amazing price! I also got an unused PC case for a build I was doing for my brother, saved me enough money to get him more ram

  • @devopswannabe1704
    @devopswannabe1704 3 месяца назад +1

    Great Idea for old tech! As a homelabber, this place would be a gold mine for those old connectors. I wonder if they also take in old enterprise gear? .. either way very cool thanks for sharing