Eagle Project/Senior Project

deadly-app

Hey everyone, just thought I would put this up to see if you guys have any advice or anything, also as a sort of public call out for Xoxide to see if you are interested.

Well if anyone knows anything about boy scouts, im sure a few of you are still in it, or were, theres a bunch of ranks, top being Eagle, im one below Eagle currently and now working towards Eagle. I wasnt very enthused and was finding it hard to get any inspiration, but my mom let me know the other day that if I finish it she will help me buy a decent car, so now i have a reason to finish :)

Ok my current plan that I have all worked out involves getting together components for 10 different computer systems, each a little different hopefully on the outside, but the hardware will be pretty alike. I'm working on getting 10 from AMD or intel, or 5 from each for a little variety. Keep in mind these arent powerhouses, im hoping for some celerons or semprons. Im hoping for decent quality video cards, might jump back to the FX or 9*** series' for decent gameplay but cheap cost, preferably 512mb ram per computer thats value, and other miscellaneous things. Each system will have a different case, and each system will be slightly modified with lighting, rounded cables, sleeving, wire management, and other minor things that arent too structural. Now lets move on.

I will get together 10 different teens, junior high to high school age, each with an interest in technology and each coming from a fairly low income household. They will join me in bi-weekly classes to last an hour to two hours for a month(total 8 classes for those who didnt pass 1st grade math), where they will put together their own computer, learn the in's and outs of the hardware and software side of things, and help in modifying the system to their liking. At the end of the month of classes they will be allowed to take home their systems, complete with monitors(probably 17" crt's), keyboards, and mice. Also might try to root out some speakers for them.

Everything I am expecting to be donated. I sent letters to AMD and Intel today and will be giving a follow up call early next week to hopefully seal the deal.

Does this sound logical to you guys? Xoxide staff, if you see this, could you ask your marketing person, or looking into it yourself, to see if its possible to get some modding supplies donated? Everyone who donates will get a huge amount of recognition as this will be written up on my website, posted on other websites, and will most likely get recognition from my local boy scout district and the local newspapers.

Thanks. This also will be coinciding with my senior project :) how perfect.

Also, if anyone wants to help out, I would greatly appreciate anyone who pulls out information on motherboard, ram, and video card manufacturer's with their address's for mailing and a phone number. Thanks a lot guys.

Dugoth

Interesting project...when I first read it the thought of donating the systems to a sick childrens ward of a hospital popped into my head for some reason, go figure. I'd say you'll probably want a few spare parts as well, don't just buy 10 of each thing and expect them not only all to work properly, but also all not to get damaged or shorted out during installation ;) You might also want to look at getting basic toolkits for the students since some may not have the necessary tools themselves, depending on just what you plan on teaching. Don't forget OS and OS liscences as well :) Good luck!

deadly-app

Yes, I would be getting together pretty comprehensive toolkits with pretty much everything they would need
OS's shouldnt be much of a problem, Microsoft is fairly community friendly :)

sui_winbolo

Oh, I need a new computer, make that 11 and send one to me. :) I'd be happy to take anything, lol. Sounds like a good idea, GL with it.

deadly-app

roar, move to puyallup for a few days :)

I thought you couldnt get anything for free anyways!

sui_winbolo

Well nothing big, I think it's more of something of a greater value, like entering a contest for $500. I think a computer would be fine :) lol, I would move if I could, but that's a big neg. :(

deadly-app

cuz computers are ohhhh so cheap lol. Most are a lil above 500 :)

trevor_m

how old are you??

MaxPayne3476

^ ... he's a senior nubz lol

I think this is a great idea. I just got hired as a lifeguard for the summer at a local camp and I'm going to check to see if I would be able to teach a class on building computers!

sui_winbolo

Hey, I just need a cpu, motherboard and hdd, and I'm set. :) I'll cover the rest on my own. I don't think there interested in items, but more if I were receiving free money.

jojasary

congrats on being a life scout, i am a fellow eagle scout (no need to hide it to a buncha online kids i dont know). My eagle project was much easier, building swings and chairs for a retirement home.

One idea for your project is to maybe go to local computer stores or a retail store such as Compusa and Bestbuy or something. I know they only have a maximum they are allowed to acrually donate, they may have some parts that are not selling or someting.

deadly-app

Yeah, thats my second choice at this point in time. I will be trying out manufacturers first, depending on their response i will move on to retail and online stores. I think I have a good chance of recieving some sort of donations from newegg, tigerdirect, and zipzoomfly, as they are fairly large and could benefit from good PR.

Trevor, I'm currently 16 yrs old and a junior. I can start on my senior project this month up until march 06.

SacredTbag

i hate you. for my eagle project i repainted the school mascot logo on the commentator's tower at the football field at our podunk redneck school. yeah yeah, i'm an eagle scout too, got the card in my wallet right now. my mother was the Assistant District Commissioner for the West Tennessee Council-Shiloh District. i'm also an Order of the Arrow member. i usually surprise the hell out of people when i show em my card, lol.

umm, here's something you may want to watch out for. (this is coming from my recent experience, staying 2.5 weeks at my brother's new house with 3 children) now, i'm sure you know how kids are, most are pretty competitive and they're gonna fight for what they want. what i'm saying is, it might be wise to go with identical hardware for all the systems, that way you don't have kids running around "I WANTED THAT ONE! HIS IS FASTER THAN MINE! BUT I DON'T LIKE THAT COLOR!" you know how kids are.

and i'm SURE plenty of people here have some old games and stuff they would donate. i've got a few myself that are a bit old to trade in that i'd gladly donate for the cause.

deadly-app

Thats what im planning on is identical hardware for the systems themselves. I'll probably set up somethign with a company for cases and mod supplies, and during the first meeting will have them choose what they want as in cases.

Edit: OA woot!! Lol remember the *secret* word?

SacredTbag

lmao, actually i don't, that was a long time ago. but i do still have my whittlin and totin chits :D for those of you who don't know, when you pick up eagle scout, you're an eagle scout for life. and it actually helps in a lot of things. it got me promoted automatically when i went in the navy ;)

but i still hate you, this is a kickass project. mine blew. oh, wtf, i'll still rep ya for it. HAHA, i can't, haven't spread enuff lovin yet!

deadly-app

Rofls. Whittlin chip woot.'

almost blew myself up one time when we took apart a long lighter and lit it. the gas wouldnt stop coming out and it finall blew up lol.

edit: omg i just noticed your sig, Rofls awesome, i love that movie.

SacredTbag

lol, we used to do some STUPID stuff on our campouts! i don't know how many acres we burned in my many scouting years (i went from tiger scout all the way up to eagle).

o, this is just my temp sig. i've got a new sig/avy set worked up, just gotta wait till this weekend when i can get online with my comp. and yeah, it is a kickass movie

edit: i would say for you to email xoxide and ask them, but you'd never hear back from them. i think this would actually be a good move for them. if they were to help on this, and put on their home page that they donated to the BSA, they would probably get a lot more sales. i know that a lot of parents are slow to buy "computer modding supplies" for their kids, but if they were to go to the site and see the BSA logo on there, those parents would be like "sure, pick whatever you want!" well, maybe not, but it could happen!

Silverstrand

Deadly, just remember that you can't do all the work, you'll need to have others take part in this, your just the leader of the project.

kewldude606

For the tools and stuff, contact Belkin. They have a pretty complete 50 tool toolkit thingy with molex removers, soldering iron, etc. My mom got one at work, it's pretty neat.

I also wouldn't suggest going into the software side to deep...

jojasary

since i was an eagle scout, i got hired out of like 10 choices and got a higher starting pay than anyone at my work. When i had an eagle court of honor i got 950 bucks, enough to build the computer im using plus some other stuff now. I guess I could say it has its perks