Retro Tech Galore At FreeGeek Twin Cities

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  • Опубліковано 28 жов 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 363

  • @JeffGeerling
    @JeffGeerling 3 місяці тому +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 місяці тому +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 місяці тому +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 місяці тому +2

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

  • @derekarnold
    @derekarnold 3 місяці тому +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 місяці тому +11

      Interesting! I had no idea how those worked.

    • @AddieDirectsTV
      @AddieDirectsTV 3 місяці тому +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 UA-cam

    • @paulsengupta971
      @paulsengupta971 3 місяці тому +3

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

    • @archloy
      @archloy 3 місяці тому

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

    • @AddieDirectsTV
      @AddieDirectsTV 3 місяці тому +2

      @@archloy it should be in my shorts

  • @infered5365
    @infered5365 3 місяці тому +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 місяці тому +1

      Go Linux !

    • @qqq12qz
      @qqq12qz 3 місяці тому

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

    • @PigeonLaughter01
      @PigeonLaughter01 2 місяці тому

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

  • @Buzzygirl63
    @Buzzygirl63 3 місяці тому +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 місяці тому +2

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

    • @NerudoP-Clowes
      @NerudoP-Clowes 3 місяці тому +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 місяці тому +1

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

    • @natewilson111
      @natewilson111 3 місяці тому

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

    • @DSToNe19and83
      @DSToNe19and83 2 місяці тому +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.

  • @t4terr
    @t4terr 3 місяці тому +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.

  • @unity-gain
    @unity-gain 3 місяці тому +33

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

  • @Oldbugssy
    @Oldbugssy 3 місяці тому +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.

  • @SunkenCanoeArcade
    @SunkenCanoeArcade 3 місяці тому +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 місяці тому +1

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

  • @mbilden
    @mbilden 3 місяці тому +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 3 місяці тому +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!

  • @PU7MZD
    @PU7MZD 3 місяці тому +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 місяці тому +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 😁

  • @lordofelectrons4513
    @lordofelectrons4513 3 місяці тому +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.

  • @lemagreengreen
    @lemagreengreen 3 місяці тому +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.

  • @hi_desert_rat
    @hi_desert_rat 3 місяці тому +3

    We need these all over the country!

  • @userscott
    @userscott 3 місяці тому +7

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

  • @jonlangford7622
    @jonlangford7622 3 місяці тому +7

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

  • @ranchorelaxo2287
    @ranchorelaxo2287 3 місяці тому +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.

  • @andybungert
    @andybungert 3 місяці тому +2

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

  • @nicktatters7523
    @nicktatters7523 3 місяці тому +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 👍👍👍

  • @greathornedowl3644
    @greathornedowl3644 3 місяці тому +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

  • @cmjx
    @cmjx 3 місяці тому +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!

  • @cartermelon
    @cartermelon 2 місяці тому +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!

  • @terenceokane
    @terenceokane 3 місяці тому +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!

  • @therandomdot2563
    @therandomdot2563 2 місяці тому +2

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

  • @SanthiratanMandyam
    @SanthiratanMandyam 3 місяці тому +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!

  • @genossinwaabooz4373
    @genossinwaabooz4373 3 місяці тому +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!

  • @x_CrossHair_x
    @x_CrossHair_x 3 місяці тому +4

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

  • @thomrieck
    @thomrieck 3 місяці тому +3

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

  • @MontegaB
    @MontegaB 3 місяці тому +2

    Makes me happy that places like this exist

  • @Glenintheden
    @Glenintheden 3 місяці тому +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.

  • @moormoor4281
    @moormoor4281 3 місяці тому +6

    Wish you all the Best God bless you all from England

  • @seanplace8192
    @seanplace8192 3 місяці тому +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.

  • @L2.Lagrange
    @L2.Lagrange 3 місяці тому +3

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

  • @trektn
    @trektn 3 місяці тому +4

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

  • @xenia5101
    @xenia5101 3 місяці тому +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 місяці тому +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 🇬🇧

  • @polarbub
    @polarbub 3 місяці тому +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

  • @JDM89HONDACRXSi
    @JDM89HONDACRXSi 3 місяці тому +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.

  • @rslr
    @rslr 3 місяці тому +1

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

  • @SpartanONegative
    @SpartanONegative 3 місяці тому +3

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

  • @c00gr
    @c00gr 3 місяці тому +6

    Need more places like this!

  • @BonoboPK
    @BonoboPK 3 місяці тому +1

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

  • @crypticcollie
    @crypticcollie 3 місяці тому +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.

  • @AtomGee
    @AtomGee 3 місяці тому +2

    Free Geek needs a youtube ch!

  • @zoomosis
    @zoomosis 3 місяці тому +3

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

  • @hplebar
    @hplebar 2 місяці тому +1

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

  • @ozmond
    @ozmond Місяць тому +1

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

  • @Fix3rJ0e
    @Fix3rJ0e 3 місяці тому +1

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

  • @TheSmokie55
    @TheSmokie55 3 місяці тому +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.

  • @KlenDool
    @KlenDool 3 місяці тому +3

    That place looks like heaven to me lol

  • @dean5263
    @dean5263 3 місяці тому +6

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

  • @VioletLantz
    @VioletLantz 3 місяці тому +1

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

  • @TheRealDanBell
    @TheRealDanBell 3 місяці тому +2

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

    • @TheRealDanBell
      @TheRealDanBell 3 місяці тому

      Forgot to say, thank you for making the video!

  • @ExoTheWicker
    @ExoTheWicker 3 місяці тому +6

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

  • @csflmich2239
    @csflmich2239 3 місяці тому

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

  • @MasterSirman
    @MasterSirman 3 місяці тому +3

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

  • @lordgreylock
    @lordgreylock 3 місяці тому +3

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

  • @jonathanhoward7669
    @jonathanhoward7669 3 місяці тому +1

    I love this with my whole heart MN!

  • @adamcaswell1924
    @adamcaswell1924 3 місяці тому +1

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

  • @brownranger1797
    @brownranger1797 3 місяці тому +2

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

  • @user-tm8jt2py3d
    @user-tm8jt2py3d 3 місяці тому +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

  • @alwaysfallingshort
    @alwaysfallingshort 3 місяці тому

    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.

  • @RetroPC
    @RetroPC 3 місяці тому

    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!

  • @josiahsomers2508
    @josiahsomers2508 3 місяці тому

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

  • @rarbiart
    @rarbiart 3 місяці тому +6

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

  • @timfischer
    @timfischer 3 місяці тому +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.

  • @Mike_Mandigo
    @Mike_Mandigo 3 місяці тому +1

    Looks like a great place to work & shop!

  • @bainslayer
    @bainslayer 3 місяці тому

    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.

  • @lambo_drives
    @lambo_drives 3 місяці тому +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!

  • @ItsKingMyles
    @ItsKingMyles 3 місяці тому +2

    much love for free geek

  • @crankytank
    @crankytank 2 місяці тому +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 місяці тому

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

  • @arjovenzia
    @arjovenzia 3 місяці тому +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.

  • @negativeview
    @negativeview 3 місяці тому +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 місяці тому

      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!

  • @heatherryan9820
    @heatherryan9820 3 місяці тому +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.

  • @jtraveny
    @jtraveny 3 місяці тому +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

  • @alisharifian535
    @alisharifian535 3 місяці тому +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.

  • @mannhimself
    @mannhimself 3 місяці тому +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.

  • @ReubenHanson2809
    @ReubenHanson2809 3 місяці тому +1

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

  • @scoon2117
    @scoon2117 3 місяці тому +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.

  • @0hN0es203
    @0hN0es203 3 місяці тому +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.

  • @sparknut5338
    @sparknut5338 3 місяці тому

    Nice find. Thanks for posting.

  • @kindalikechicken2299
    @kindalikechicken2299 3 місяці тому +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.

  • @pedxing
    @pedxing 3 місяці тому +1

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

  • @moormoor4281
    @moormoor4281 3 місяці тому +2

    You guy's have a good heart ❤️💟

  • @cbhlde
    @cbhlde 3 місяці тому +1

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

  • @arasin.staubly
    @arasin.staubly 3 місяці тому +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  3 місяці тому

      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!

  • @hannibalranadal1839
    @hannibalranadal1839 3 місяці тому +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

  • @UncleBildo
    @UncleBildo 3 місяці тому +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 місяці тому

      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

  • @markrix
    @markrix 3 місяці тому +2

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

  • @imyourinnerfear
    @imyourinnerfear 3 місяці тому +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

  • @_blasfemy
    @_blasfemy 3 місяці тому +1

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

  • @mjb2kmn
    @mjb2kmn 2 місяці тому +1

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

  • @trevorhaddox6884
    @trevorhaddox6884 3 місяці тому +4

    I spy what appears to be at least the face plate of a late 1910s/20s reciever up on the top of that shelf.

  • @u0000-u2x
    @u0000-u2x 3 місяці тому +1

    Very cool work. Thanks for sharing

  • @michaellichter4091
    @michaellichter4091 3 місяці тому +2

    A very nice store, I hope they stay in business for a long time.

  • @michaelhyde9971
    @michaelhyde9971 3 місяці тому +2

    What a fantastic place I wish we had something like it here in the UK

  • @mattparker9726
    @mattparker9726 3 місяці тому +1

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

  • @zedbear1
    @zedbear1 3 місяці тому +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!

  • @andrewsmith1204
    @andrewsmith1204 3 місяці тому +2

    Beige is beautiful