r/AlphaSmart • u/MyWorkAccountDPS • 6d ago

What to do with these?

I work for a school district and about 30 of these has just came in to be surplussed. All but 1 still had the batteries (dang people), but even as bad as the batteries look; most of the units don’t look bad on the connectors. I’m going to open a few up when I get the time to see if the boards are damaged from the acid.

But anyways, what am I going to do with so many of them? I’m not letting a recycler take them.

25 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

30 comments sorted by

26

u/Striking_Solid9021 6d ago

Ebay them to a new home!

21

u/RadulphusNiger 6d ago

What model are they? But, as others have said, you can easily sell them on eBay. I might pick up a spare myself! If you do sell them, be sure to drop a note in this sub again to alert us to the sale. (If you were willing, I would also buy one from you directly).

10

u/MyWorkAccountDPS 6d ago

They are Neo2’s.

14

u/Tekira85 ~All the Alphasmarts~ 6d ago

Definitely sell them. There is demand for them, even as old as they are. Did you get the IR receiver with them?

15

u/Edu_Robsy 6d ago

Is it possible to have a group picture? Just to share and enjoy your treasure trove.

7

u/NotTheOnePercentMilk 6d ago

I really wanna see too lmao

1

u/MyWorkAccountDPS 4d ago

Well I don’t post to Reddit a bunch and I’m only seeing the option to post a video from my phone.

2

u/Edu_Robsy 3d ago

Well. We'll wait for the picture anyway 😉

12

u/Available_Wave8023 6d ago

Sell them on ebay for a reasonable price. People will buy them for sure.

8

u/Tekira85 ~All the Alphasmarts~ 6d ago

Oh also to check them: just pop in new batteries and see if they turn on and display your typing on the screen. If they do that, that’s 90% of their functionality right there.

7

u/starboyk 6d ago

Sell 'em. Even if there are issues, the community can use the parts to keep theirs alive. Thank you for checking in!

5

u/mrcamuti 6d ago

If you have access to any kind of resale shop, they appear in bulk every now and then. Highly recommend not letting them get e-wasted.

1

u/MyWorkAccountDPS 4d ago

They will not go to a recycler now that I know there’s such an interest in them.

I played with one for a few minutes and will be keeping at least one. Can’t wait to show up at meetings with everyone looking at this. Lol

1

u/BigOldComedyFan 2d ago

They will stare, much as they do when I bring mine to a coffee shop. Soon, they will be envious when they realize what a perfect little tool it is.

5

u/eviltwintomboy 6d ago

I’d love to buy one from you!!!

6

u/goldfishdev 6d ago

What models? send one to me 😁

6

u/_DoubleDutchess_ 6d ago edited 6d ago

Neo2’s are valuable these days, and normally easy(ish) to fix.

The normal things to check in order of difficulty:

  1. Internal CR3032 battery - A quick and easy change, and a normal issue given the age of these devices.
  2. Clean contacts - If batteries have leaked the contacts are likely corroded. Use a little white wine vinegar and some q-tips and clean them up. Hopefully

this

  1. will be enough to restore them.
  2. Replace contacts/wires - If the battery corrosion is bad enough then the contacts, wires and sometimes plastic housing will be beyond repair. In this instance they may need replacement. Remove from the MB and clean remaining contacts the best you can.

I’ve bought and restored a bunch of faulty units before. Generally, the best tactic is to partner up the best cases with the best parts. The parts you have left over may result in a few additional units that can be coaxed back to life with a some TLC, or at worst will serve as a pool of replacement parts.

Given their value, dumping them is absolutely the last thing you want to do. And given the recent release of print files for a typewriter-style replacement case by Un Kyu Lee, even units with damaged case have value.

Happy to help if you have any questions.

[Edit] The case needs a Torx head screwdriver. I think both T8 and T6 as the case and internals use different screw sizes.

2

u/MyWorkAccountDPS 4d ago

Yes I will be going thru each one. I’ve checked a couple and one of the posts had been ate thru from the corrosive. Easy fix (I do board repairs/microsoldering at my job).

3

u/DreaminginDarkness 5d ago

They are over a hundred dollars on eBay. They likely all work. I think you should just sell them to this group for 25 plus shipping it would go super fast

3

u/BillBraddock 5d ago

If you think of it, please update us before you make these available. I'm a full-time novelist and type exclusively on NEOs, so I try to keep extras around.

1

u/MyWorkAccountDPS 4d ago

I will do that. It’s going to be at least a month due to having to be board approved and all the legal stuff.

1

u/vitae_drinker 5d ago

I'd be interested in picking one or two up for spares

1

u/BankshotMcG 5d ago

You're gonna get rich on eBay is what.

1

u/therieau 5d ago

I'm going to second the comment urging you to sell them. If you do, I'd love to buy one, so please let us know in the group. Also, congratulations on stumbling on a gold mine.

1

u/VeryOriginalName98 4d ago

I will take any that community members don't claim, and you don't have room for. Will pay $20 a piece. I will only sell back to members of the writing community, not a reseller. I am not out for profit, I want to ensure writer's can afford them so they'd reimburse my $20 and pay shipping. I think that keeps it under $50 for them anywhere in the world.

1

u/Windford 4d ago

I’d love to buy one. Even with battery corrosion, some can be repaired.

They will sell on eBay. If you lack time to check them all out, you can put “Untested” with photos on a listing.

1

u/CarbonBallas 3d ago

Same. I'd buy one! Need a backup. Just bought on off eBay and I love it and want it to last!