Penguinisto posted at 4:40PM Wed, 06 May 2020 - #4388345

Heh - my very first (non-company-funded) home computer was built from spare parts scrounged from local geek shops. Wouldn't call it a waste of time if you learn along the way (or you get into homebrew)

I also know people who routinely visit the school and state surplus store, buying up as cheaply as possible whatever kind of computers they have there. Then they will sometimes cannibalize some of those computers for parts, using them to fix some, and upgrade others. I did it myself, until the state stopped selling directly to the public and went online auction. You could pick up some nice deals back then, so no, I don't consider it a waste of time at all.