How Do You Organize Your Gear? 645
truffle writes "Like many geeks, I have acquired a large amount of items and gear over time, including miscellaneous hardware, cables, and such. I have books, papers, Lego, and more. I generally store most things in roughly sorted cardboard boxes, which is neither efficient nor attractive. For the non-messy geeks out there, how do you organize and store your geek stuff? Is it possible to have a clean organized grown-up home, without throwing everything away?"
Tupperware... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Tupperware... NOOOOOOOO (Score:5, Insightful)
Resistors, Capacitors, Hardware, etc. (Score:5, Informative)
BE very careful of static with plastic tupperware. YOu could very easily fry your gear.
For sure!
I use a similar no-no for non-CMOS electronic components. I have a huge stockpile of passive components - resistors, capacitors, etc - and things like tubes, bipolar transistors, etc. Over 20,000 vacuum tubes alone, according to my last inventory.
What I use is 4x8" generic ZipLock-ish baggies which I buy at the local head shop. The guy must think I'm a mega-dealer, because every few weeks I go in wearing a shirt and tie and buy 100 (or more) 4x8" baggies for $6.
I drop a piece of cardboard with a label into each baggie, then I stuff it with components. Then I put the baggie into a 4" wide cardboard parts tray (Bankers Box # 7353). The trays are then stored in cheap metal shelving units with 9" space between shelves. I have 6 shelves for vacuum tubes alone.
Unlike doing this with other methods (small drawers), I can simply insert a weird resistor value between standard values. I can drop a bag of #6-32x0.75" screws between the #6-32x0.5" and #6-32x1" screws. If I fill a baggie with 1k 1/4W resistors, I just add another baggie. Suddenly find a 12AX7A? Stick it in a new bag behind the 10 or so full of 12AX7s. I can take a group out, throw them into my toolbox and take them with me, not worrying that I'm going to spill them. It's very handy.
For static sensitive stuff, I use 4x8" antistat baggies which I purchase from Newark or DigiKey.
I can't claim that I invented or discovered this method - I first saw it while I was working for Litton, and I loved it.
Doesn't work for big stuff like transformers, stepper motors, complete assemblies. For that, I still have to use TupperWare (or the disposable resealable containers.)
Having an inventory of parts is useless if you can't find what you need when you need it. But it's even worse if you *can* find it but it doesn't work. Remember to think about static.
20,000 vaccuum tubes ?! ... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Tupperware... (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Tupperware... (Score:5, Funny)
Heeeeeeeeeeeere fishy fishy fishy fishy....
Re:Tupperware... (Score:5, Funny)
Then where does it all go? Filing cabinet, rubbermaid bin, and my personal favorite- the excess space inside the rack cabinet. It all blends in with the existing cablemess anyway.
When everyone leaves, it comes right back out into floor piles. How else am I supposed to find anything??
Re:Tupperware... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Tupperware... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Tupperware... (Score:4, Funny)
Now I can pile stuff up till it falls on the floor without worry.
If it's falling onto the floor, you're not using enough floor space to begin with.
Re:Tupperware... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Tupperware... (Score:5, Informative)
These bins are solid and have nice locking handle. They are slightly tinted so stuff doesn't stand out, but you can still see stuff. Then inside i have stuff in smaller bins. Down to pill jars of screws. The main reason for it all is for moving. All the crap just goes with no issue.
I think the other thing for most people is as time goes on they realize they are just hanging on a lot of crap. If you need something just buy it for a few bucks instead of storing it for years and having it be outdated when you need it. I had a bunch of computers, now i'm working towards one. There is more important things then bunches of computers. I think thats how the more adult bit comes into play, once your out of college and get married and stuff you tend to just use a computer as a computer, not mess with it all the time, hense you get rid of all the crap. Unless you got a good place for it.
Re:Tupperware... (Score:5, Funny)
The "adult bit"...is that used to mark files as pr0n?
Re:Tupperware... (Score:5, Interesting)
Those of us who have been married for 19 years simply have 19 more years worth of extra sh!t laying around in the basement.
Earlier this month, we (my wife) got fed up with the mess, so we (I) started cleaning out as much of the old crap as I could bear to part with. Old hard drives (anything smaller than 1GB -- gone) an old never-supported parallel port scanner, old computers (Pentium class or older,) an old cassette tape deck, old cordless phones, several dozen ISO-8 bit and ISO-16 bit PC cards, and literally fifty pounds of RS-232 cables. Basically, if it didn't currently work, or was older than about 1995, it went on the rubbish heap.
Recycle
I then started pulling the NiCd batteries out of the old cordless phones, and realized I had a lot more than just batteries that needed recycling. I got two garbage cans: a large one for plastics and metals, and a smaller one for circuit boards or anything with solder. I then spent a few hours with a screwdriver, prybar, hammer, wire cutters, etc., and segregated out the electronic boards, soldered connectors, etc. Anything with lead still on it went in the circuit board bin. The batteries went in a separate battery pail. All the rest of the metals and plastics went in the other bin.
Our recycling center charges for electronics by the pound. (I think it was about $0.60/lb. An old 13" TV set cost me $12.00 to dispose of last month.) I haven't taken the circuit board bin it to the recycling center yet, but I ended up with only about 15 pounds of circutry in it. Much less than the aggregate total of the hardware, cases and frames that had been piled up down there. The rest went with the ordinary recycling or trash. I also haven't gotten rid of the old cabling yet, I am assuming they'll take copper wire at no charge.
Finally, that which I had decided to save went into clear Rubbermaid bins. I kind of groupd them into "internal computer components", "external computer components", "other electronic components", "other electronic gear (telephones, etc.)", "computer cabling", "110 VAC house wiring", and "low voltage house wiring" bins. I also found a surprisingly large number of drill bits, screwdrivers, and other assorted tools piled in with my junk. My toolbox is now full again!
I'm not as "thrilled" as I'd like to be with the new organization of my stuff, but it's a lot better than it was. And I'd like to be able to tell you I found a way to tell my currently-obsolete-but-still-hanging-onto-it stuff from my I-should-save-this-because-I-will-really-use-it-in -the-future stuff. But I didn't find that magic formula.
Re:Tupperware... (Score:5, Insightful)
Does anyone remember when recycling companies actually bought the fucking scrap?
As I recall, that sort of thing usually served as an incentive to recycle!
Re:Tupperware... (Score:3, Interesting)
I kept the 333MHz machines and the 166MHz machines. They're powered off in the basement, but I kept them all, just in case I want a dumb little server for something.
Anyway, no, the rest of the stuff was not useful. I'm sure someone could have claimed a 66MHz 486-SX would have been worth something to someone, but I'm seriously not interested in wastin
Re:Tupperware... (Score:3, Funny)
I, for one, welcome our new Goa'uld overlords. Although I'd rather not be stuck in one of their bins.
Ikea (Score:5, Informative)
this was actually given to me and has solved so many problems since I got it. it's cheap, but it's been a great solution.
Re:Ikea (Score:3, Interesting)
Me too, except I went with this stuff [ikea-usa.com]. It's a little more "office-like" than "bedroom-like", and it matches my Ikea desk, too. That is the setup I have, the bottom is a file hanging file drawer, middle is 3 5-6" deep drawers (perfect for hard drives, properly tied up cables, etc), and an addition to the top which is just a couple doors in which I can put random crap. I plan to get another one of those three-drawer units to have more drawer space.
Overall it works out well, it's neat, clean, and everythin
Re:Ikea (Score:3, Interesting)
I think the plastic-tub-and-shelf method is good because you can basically see everything in front of you... there's no drawers or pirate's chests full of stuff so you have to go hunting through t
Re:Ikea (Score:3, Funny)
On the floor in appropriate piles (Score:2, Funny)
Then each pile goes into a box, which is kept in the basement until they leave.
Re:On the floor in appropriate piles (Score:3, Funny)
We have noticed that you are infringing on our patented Piles Technology [macrumors.com]. Please cease and desist immediately.
Apple Computers
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Here's a way..and a helpful solution... (Score:5, Insightful)
Turns out a charity in my area had several old machines donated to them from another charity and they could use the 4 speed CD burners and old memory I had.
So store your stuff, give it a reasonable amount of time and if you don't use it, donate it. Get some good karma generated in the process.
Re:Here's a way..and a helpful solution... (Score:2, Informative)
These containers work, and are pretty cheap...
Re: tax deductions (Score:5, Informative)
Stuff it where the sun don't shine (Score:5, Funny)
Rubbermaid! (Score:5, Insightful)
If you want great ideas, tune into TLC channel and watch a show called "Clean Sweep" were extremely cluttered people learn how to organize and redesign rooms to bring their life back in order.
That brand name (Score:2, Funny)
Re:That brand name (Score:5, Funny)
No, you are not.
Best part of it is, I work st Home Depot now, and the "Rubbermaid Girls" (our product vendors) have this thing for wearing vinyl.
I think they know what we think, and are certainly using it to thier advantage.
No, I'm not kidding.
Re:Rubbermaid! (Score:3, Insightful)
Even better (IMO) are stackable sets of plastic drawers that you can get at any home-goods store, and even some hardware and grocery(!) stores. I bought a bunch of these last spring and eliminated 90% of the clutter in my life.
As an added bonus, they make moving very easy. Just tape the drawers shut with packing tape to keep them from sp
PC carcases everywhere (Score:2, Funny)
Cheap drawers (Score:2, Insightful)
I got married... (Score:5, Funny)
Added benefit of this organization technique is that it comes with a free "relationship" thrown in. Did I say "free"? Whoops.
John.
Re:I got married... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I got married... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:I got married... (Score:3, Funny)
Wife swapping, how quaintly 1970s
Re:I got married... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:However... (Score:5, Funny)
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!
Now, I have all my terrabyte or so of pr0n on DVD, with full backups stored in a secured location.
Live and learn...
Re:I got married... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I got married... (Score:5, Funny)
toybox (Score:2)
Well, my kids have a toy box that was made for them by their grandfather.
It's shaped like a truck and everything. They just need to take their Bionicles apart before they put them away.
The best way to store your stuff... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:The best way to store your stuff... (Score:5, Interesting)
Lego Storage (Score:2, Interesting)
I don't own anything else.
Re:Lego Storage (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Lego Storage (Score:5, Funny)
good in the car, kinda messy at home (Score:2)
the neatest arrangement i have is with my ipod. i had RCA plugs installed in the car, with a switch (all flush mounted in the dash, looks factory installed) to change between the cd changer and the ipod. add that to a good subwoofer in the trunk, and you have yourself one beautiful car stereo.
avoid my bookshelves though
Bin it (Score:3, Informative)
SA on organization (Score:2)
Conclusion: A colony of ants has set up shop in my filing cabinet, accepting damp cigarette butts in exchange for crafted rodent accessories. Their queen enjoys writing words alphabetically. At some point i
Two things (Score:5, Informative)
Sterilite storage bins [sterilite.com], and WireTech wire shelving [focuspg.com].
For the storage bins, I make heavy use of the clear storage drawers [sterilite.com] and bins [sterilite.com]. See this page [sterilite.com] for all storage options. Quite a few places [sterilite.com] sell Sterilite.
The other huge thing is WireTech shelving. It's very heavy-duty coated steel wire shelving in chrome, white, or black, that looks great and is very strong - each shelf can support 300 pounds. It can also be organized in nearly an unlimited number of ways. Take a look at Sensible Storage's site [focuspg.com], click "Products", and then see Shelving Kits [focuspg.com], Custom Shelving [focuspg.com], and Accessories [focuspg.com]. I strongly recommend checking it out. WireTech is the only type that I have found that is like this. They work great for everything from equipment rack type setups, entertainment center towers, making really complex shelving setups, or just plain old storage.
There are a bunch of different places that sell WireTech, but there is one, and as far I can tell only one, place that sells everything online: Great Ace WireTech shelving [greatace.com]. It's actually an Ace hardware store in Chicago, but I've ordered various WireTech things from them a couple times before and I've been happy with the results.
You'd be surprised how much the right tools help with the job, even for things like storage. Good luck.
I use a similar setup (Score:4, Insightful)
Unfortunately, the 18qt containers are just a shade too large to fit 3 wide on a 36" shelf. [it's a press fit, and the middle one goes in last]. As for the Wire Tech shelves, I use the same, and have consolidated multiple sets to get better shelf density. [I've been collecting them at Target when there are sales...although they don't tend to have the 24x48 ones anymore]
Anyway, one of the important things to consider is what the size of the items you're looking to store, and the bulkiness. To put things into perspective, the 18qt containers fit the parts for a rebel blocade runner with room to spare, and it's a damned tight fit for the imperial star destroyer.
But I find that with too large of containers, I'm in no better situation then when I started for computer parts -- using the 18qts, I have one each for scsi cables, power cables, audio/visual, mice and peripherals, internal drives, internal cables, misc. cards, etc. I have 24 bins crammed into 18"x36" shelving [8 shelves], and I have another set of shelves for random computers and larger stuff.
I've also gone to the trouble of labelling the bins, so there's no confusion -- I highly suggest Brother P-Touch, especially the 3/4" TZ tapes, as you get the most color choices [I use bright yellow]. Although the computer printer one lets you print the most varied stuff, for organization, you just want to be able to grab it and get a label, and the ones with the built in keyboard do better for that. I've also labeled power bricks, so I have some clue what they're for [both stored, and when I need to pull something to free up a plug on the power strip, so the ones in use, as well]
Oh, and for some reason, all of my home improvement projects seem to involve security [replacing doors], or adding shelving. I've also adapted the crawl space that's accessed from my basement so I have an extra 16' x 4' of storage that takes the long term storage, which I keep in the 70qt containers [stacked two high, and two deep, so I could fit lots more, if need be, but I need to better organize, so I don't have to pull out 5+ of 'em next year when I'm searching for halloween stuff again]
Spread technique (Score:2, Funny)
tip: just make sure you leave a small walking path, so you don't step on your things!
The Container Store (Score:3, Informative)
Clean Sweep (Score:3, Informative)
BAGGIES (Score:5, Funny)
If I leave the stuff lying around for long... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:If I leave the stuff lying around for long... (Score:3, Funny)
I have your mom. In fact, I had her last night.
Random, Indexed Storing (Score:5, Informative)
The trick is to enter into a simple text file the location of each piece of item, taking care to fill in enough detail to search for it in the text file. Each of the containers is numbered.
If I take something out of the container, it doesn't have to go back into the same one, I just move its description from one location into another.
This saves me from the heartache of trying to sort stuff. Sure, I keep cables and stuff like that sorted, because I have so many of them. But... for those odds and sods, it makes more sense to just put them in any old box, and keep track of them with a text file.
Must be prepared (Score:5, Funny)
Neatness? What's that? (Score:2, Funny)
No. No, it is not. Just ask my wife about the morse code transceiver in the bathroom linen closet.
Advice (Score:5, Interesting)
Get Married (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Get Married (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Get Married (Score:5, Funny)
You're not really married, then, are you?
Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)
What do boats and kids have in common? (Score:3, Insightful)
A: They're the most fun when they belong to someone else
Re:Get Married (Score:3, Interesting)
Seriously though, for the little computer parts, go to an arts & crafts store (like JoAnn's), and get a small art box with multiple storage sections--I have 1 for screws, 4 for different adapters, 1 for cables, 1
Plastic Bins and cable ties (Score:2)
I seperated everything into functional groups (networking cables and hardware, audio cables, etc, misc. gadgets, etc..) We went to staples or similar and got shallow see through bins. The bins are only about 6 inches deep. I also got a bunch of cable ties and neatly tied all the wires. that was the biggest help. Now we have an overhead area in the hall closet where I have my 4 bins stacked. For most common things like pat
Wire storage (Score:2)
If you only have a wall, place some _big_ nails on it, and wrap the cables around it. It is way easier to find the cable you are looking for this way.
There's another option (Score:5, Insightful)
I highly recommend a paper shredder BTW, less because I'm worried about the security of my trash and more for processing mail I don't need so that you don't end up with those piles of envelopes that are 99% credit card apps and that one bill you actually need.
The hardest part for me was getting rid of books, I've never done that in my life. When going through them though I found a suprising number that not only had I only read once, I didn't even really like them. Got a few books I really wanted instead of 50 I hated from my local used bookstore.
For things that I actually do need to store I use white plastic crates with hinged lids. They stack well, keep dust out and you can label them with a dry-erase marker.
Re:There's another option (Score:3, Funny)
Call it a destructive read process.
Mom (Score:5, Funny)
Workshop (Score:3, Informative)
You could get a bunch of Rubermaid containers, or some of those plastic shelving systems.
If all else fails, get yourself a bunch of identical boxes, like banker's boxes, and label them.
Whatever you do, if the containment system can be kept neat, the collections won't appear to be junk.Tackle Boxes and Discipline (Score:5, Interesting)
Maximum PC had a two page dealy on getting a tackle box for your PC needs. It's been working great for me. At the office and at home, I tend to be a bit of a maniac when it comes having things in their place, so here is what I can pass on:
1. Don't loose items sitting out. Just put them away in a place that makes sense. Categorize and place-- even if it means the broadest category ever. At least you'll remember where you put it ("Oh yeah, I put that with the other unrelated
thing because I figured...").
2. Don't let other people touch your stuff. Plain and simple. Get pissed and let them know it's your territory. You didn't spend all of that time organizing to have someone else crap it all up.
3. Buy a couple of cheap plastic file cabinets. The ones that you see at Target are great for this stuff. Use them for parts, parts and more parts!
4. Keep stuff. I use the spindles that CD-R's come on and label them according to their category (OS, UTIL, GAMES).
5. Visit your hardware store. Any gearhead will find a ton of great ways to organize tools, screws, etc. I personally love the vitamin organizer jobbies that you can keep smaller screws, shunts, etc. in.
IKEA (Score:3, Funny)
Three words... (Score:3, Insightful)
1) Think before getting new junk. Yeah, that old Mac SE might look tempting for $10 at a garage sale, but really, after you boot it up once or twice, what are you going to use it for? This applies to new things, too...
2) Refactor, Refactor, Refactor... in this case, be relentless in getting rid of stuff you don't use. And don't sweat getting rid of something you *might* need someday... the value of a clutter free life is much greater than the misc. computer cable you might need to buy again.
3) For the stuff you do need, organize it just like your file system. Large plastic containers (computer cables) can hold smaller plastic containers (categories of cables)...
4) This is something that seems to come naturally for the ladies, but if you don't use something very often but can't bear to get rid of it, get it out of your normal workspace. Find some storage in the basement or closet and keep your day to day workspace as clutter free as possible.
I organise mine into the bin (Score:3, Insightful)
You think you might need it next week, or next month, or maybe next year? You may think it's worth something... Believe me, it isn't and you won't. It's just shit that'll just clutter up your life.
RFID's are your friend (Score:5, Funny)
I recently attached RFID tags to everything I own. I took a digital photograph, and entered each item into an object oriented database.
Now, I look up my stuff in the database, download the RFID ID into the reader, and wander aimlessly around the house until my RFID reader starts beeping.
No really, I am not kidding, I swear...
Consider the Replacement Cost (Score:3, Insightful)
Second, no storage solution by itself will succeed in the long run; retained junk will increase to fill any available storage space. It's like hard drives, except that you don't have the option of swapping out your old basement/garage and putting in a bigger one.
Third, storing old stuff is not really 'free'. There are costs in terms of messiness, increased difficulty of finding what you want, and lost storage space for stuff that might matter more than your 10-year-old computer power supply.
Fourth, seriously consider the replacement cost of any item you intend to store. I've seen fully operational pentium PCs selling for under $50 in used PC stores; when you need an old part, just buy one and cannibalize it to your heart's content.
I do wish I could practice what I preach though
very simple actually (Score:5, Funny)
Next on Slashdot! (Score:5, Funny)
How do I brush my teeth?
How do I dress myself?
What do other Slashdotters use that roll of paper next to every toilet for?
organizational tips (Score:3, Interesting)
1) DEVELOP STORAGE AREAS.
You'll need some place to KEEP the stuff that you want to store. It could be an attic, it could be shelves in the garage, it could be wherever you happen to have room. Here's a couple of quick thoughts - Divide your storage needs into LONG TERM and SHORT TERM useage. LONG TERM gear that needs to be stored can be put in out of the way places, like the attic, garage, under the bed. SHORT TERM usage should be kept close to where you need to work. This is where you'd store crucial stuff - cords, extra batteries for that cordless mouse, whatever.
Once you've identified your STORAGE areas, you'll be better prepared to deal with what kinds of METHODS you'll use to store stuff in those areas. (If you're going to store stuff under your bed, you can't use boxes that are too big to fit!)
2) USE A STAGING AREA.
We see this all the time on Clean Sweep. For those of you who haven't see it, they take all of their stuff that needs to be organized, and RE-PILE it into smaller piles - Keep, Sell, Throw Away. You can do the same kind of thing. Decide what gear goes into LONG term storage, SHORT term storage, whatever.
3) STORAGE METHODS.
Here's where most people jump to - but if they don't consider the first two options of WHERE to store stuff, and WHAT to store, they'll end up wasting a lot of time.
CHEAP options (so you can spend more money on gear):
- if you're going to use cardboard boxes, go to your local grocery store, and get some BANANA boxes. They're large, they're sturdy, they're free, they have handles, and they're all the same size. They're excellent for storing bigger items. You could probably fit an mid-range sized server in one of them!
- if you are looking for good ways to store small items for free in a small space - go to BURGER KING. Ask if you can have a bunch of their PICKLE BUCKETS. Burger King uses 5 gallon plastic buckets to ship their pickles. Get 5 of them. (they shouldn't charge you a cent if you ask nicely) Next, cut off the BOTTOM 4 or 5 inches of 4 of the buckets... and then use some cardboard to make subdivisions inside of each one (like the inside of a wine box). Then, those bucket bottoms will STACK INSIDE of the fifth bucket - and you'll be amazed how much STUFF you can store. Perfect for Legos.
A suggestion: wash those pickle buckets REALLY WELL with bleach - and if you can, let them sit in the sun's UV rays - it will really help get rid of the vinegar smell.
Hope those thoughts help!
Release yourself! (Score:5, Insightful)
It's all out there. Lego, books, etc. Old computers and everything. Fuck your private museum, and the clutter that goes along with it.
I took all my out of date - but still valuable - books to the Library. They were grateful, and who knows how many future geeks will benefit from my old Linux and Cisco admin books?!
All those Apple ]['s, Macs and C 64's ain't worth a hill o' beans. Lose 'em. There's a reason why you are the only one who picked them up - they're useless. NEAT-O, but utterly useless.
Make room within your apartment, and YOURSELF for better, more valuable information and maybe - just MAYBE, you'll set yourself free from whatever it is that's been keeping you from getting a date.
It's a vicious cycle: No date, stay home and eat pizza and fiddle with VIC-20. Get fatter, so chance of date decreases, self-image goes down, fewer dates (fewer reasons to go out of the house period), more pizza, more VIC-20s, fewer dates, more pizza, more Amigas, and so on.
WHY?! Because you're a geek? Get a damned GEEK PRIDE tattoo! Hell, get the Apple I schematic tattooed as a swingin' back-piece! A portrait of a PPC Amiga 4000! A friggin' Data General if it makes you happy.
Just. Let. It. Go!
Re:Release yourself! (Score:3, Funny)
Sounds like you may have to release yourself.
The secret to Clean Sweep (Score:3, Interesting)
Organization is only a small part of the show. The biggest part is that everything in the affected rooms gets taken out and stacked in the driveway. That's furniture, papers, everything.
The homeowners go through the pile with an unbiased third party and sort their stuff into a "Keep" pile, a "Toss" pile and a "Sell" pile. By talking packrats out of stuff they really don't need, they usually end up putting less than 10% of the stuff back in the house. That's the big secret: get rid of crap.
Aside: While we were evacuated during the SoCal fires, my wife and I sat in a motel room, with our photo albums, laptops, hard drives from our desktop and important papers in the car, and realized that we weren't really 'out' anything if the house burned down. The insurance company would buy us new TV's, DVD players, furniture, dishes, etc., but all that stuff in the basement that took a 26' U-Haul and four trips with a longbed pickup to get there didn't mean a thing.
So Thanksgiving is Clean Sweep day. Everything goes onto the patio, and 90% of it goes to the dump or to Salvation Army. We have our Home Depot card ready to get some shelving and clear bins, and we will pare the pile down to what we actually need. Looking forward to it.
Move every couple of years... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Move every couple of years... (Score:3, Funny)
T
Re:Move every couple of years... (Score:3, Funny)
I still feel strange that I haven't moved in the last five years
Dude, I've been in the same place for the last 27 years. I feel like I've been frozen in amber. It just ain't natural...
Cheapskate Method (Score:3, Insightful)
To me, the box type is important. They should be somewhat shallow so you can find stuff without having to dig too deep. Since I moved recently, I had dozens of those standard 1.5 cubic foot book boxes. I cut a bunch of them down from 12 inches to about 7 inches in height (cut the flaps off and turn the extra height into new flaps).
Now, organize all of your stuff into categories. If you're a real packrat, you'll have categories like 9-pin serial cables, LP record cleaning accessories, channel 3/4 video modulators, wall-warts, etc. (You might even have some actually useful categories, too.) Each category should be small enough to comfortably fit in a 1-gallon food storage bag. Fill each bag, tie it up, and put a label on it. Dutifully write down the bag's contents in your notebook.
If you have lots of circuit boards, you probably already have anti-static bags for them. Be sure to keep each circuit board in an antistatic bag, especially if putting them in any kind of normal plastic bag or container.
Organize the bags into larger categories and fill the boxes with bags. Label the boxes and update the notebook with the box contents.
Now you can stack the boxes on the floor or on shelves. I managed to cram an unbelievable amount of junk into about 20 boxes, which all fit neatly in the corner of the basement. And the best part is the whole system only cost me about $20 (mostly food bags and pricey label tape). Fancy bins from a container store have taken up more space and would have cost well over $100.
Life is so much better now that I've invested the time to organize all my stuff. In the past I'd waste countless hours trying to find some adapter or cable in random piles of semi-organized junk. Now I just reference my notebook and grab it in a few seconds.
A Few simple rules (Score:4, Interesting)
1) If it's broke don't fix it. Throw the bugger away. If you haven't found time until to to fix that broken xt you never will. It's just there collecting dust.
2) If you have ten of em, throw nine away. I myself had loads of cool (working) xts but let's fact it people : those are TOTALLY useless. You are NEVER going to use them, even if you could find old arcane network card's to hook em up to your network.
3) If it's not new in box and you have at least 2 other computers that supply the same function THROW THEM AWAY. It's not like you're gonna sit there with 4 386's alle used at the same time as serial terminals. 1 is more than enough.
4) Throw away all those crappy cover cds (winzip 5.x anyone ?)
5) Throw away your old print outs. I used to have literally HUNDREDS of these. I used to print everything I came across over the internet for further reading. After a while you know at least 75% of those papers by heart, at least 80% of them are outdated by six months & at least 20% of them are totally useless to you. Dump em. They're history. If you have to keep them store the originals on your server. It shouldn't be more than a couple of 100 MBs.
Do the above and you'll find you have a lot more closet space that can be nicely filled with your current (useful) hardware/books. I know throwing away things is HARD, especially when they're really cool (my wonderful XTs) or have a special personal relevance to you (O that first motherboard I fried) but you HAVE to. These things only hold you back. You'll feel better when you do, TRUST me.
BTW If you have something really cool in prestine condition then (especially if you have the original box/diskettes/manuals) for the love of god DON'T THROW IT AWAY. Give it away to a computer museum or at least sell it to a retro computing store or over ebay. Then at least someone else can enjoy it as much as you did and you'll have a bit of mullah left over so you can soften your sadness by getting that spanking new laptop you've always wanten
Container Store Clear Plastic Drawers (Score:3, Informative)
For extra extra organization, I have mine categorized and labeled just in case I can't immediately identify the types of cables/connectors/weird stuff from the outside. It's also worth the time to untangle, roll up, and secure the cables with twist ties . That way not only are your cables organized and *useful*, but you also get rid of most of the twist ties that have been collecting in your kitchen drawer for years (the ones that come with garbage bags).
Of course, it helps to get rid of all the completely obsolete stuff you *know* you will never use again too. Here's a good rule: find everything you don't need now, haven't used for three or more years, and don't actually plan to use in the forseeable future, and list it on eBay in lots (SCSI cables, 500MB hard drives, 150W AT power supplies, 286 boards, giant ISA video cards with 2MB ram or less, dot matrix printers, those cables you acquired some years ago and never figured out what they were for, etc). Whatever meets those criteria and doesn't sell on eBay, throw away; it's junk. Trust me, you will not miss it.
My solutions (Score:3, Interesting)
1- Paperwork/Manuals/Warranties: Paperwork all gets filed alphabetically in hanging files in those white cardboard boxes. Rotate old stuff into closets. The best part about filing manuals and warranties is that it means I can throw a box away as soon as I know that the media is not defective.
2- Books: Shelve them or sell them. Be careful with this one, as it is cheaper to buy *nice* bookshelves than it is to replace old books that one sold or trashed. If you have the money, barrister bookshelves (The ones with lift-up glass doors on each shelf.) mitigate the need for frequent dusting.
3- Movies/DVDs: I don't even have a VCR, so all of my videocassettes got trashed. My DVDs are neatly organized in my entertainment center. I only buy a DVD if it is a must-have, otherwise I just use NetFlix so that *they* can store it for me.
4- Old computers: I just give them away now. This gives me more time with the new ones.
5- Cables: Everything is carefully organized and I never leave unused cables laying around. If I have a lot in one place, they are all tied back with velcro, twist-ties, or cable cuffs. I keep a few extras in a box, all of the rest go in the trash. Seriously, how many USB/USB 2.0 cables does one really need to keep now that many devices come with them?
6- CD-ROMs: Software all gets stripped of its box and case and is filed in a CD holder of some sort (Target sells CD pages that go in 3-ring binders!), or on a spindle if I won't need it often. Old video games that aren't "classics" are either traded-in or given away to the children of co-workers. Music CDs are kept on CD storage racks in cast I transport them somewhere, but for the most part I only play my music from the Nomad Zen so that I don't need to use the CDs very often.
If you have more than a few hundred CDs of any one type, just toss the cases, and alphabetize them using zip-loc bags in plastic boxes with cardboard dividers.
Another important thing to remember is to label *every* box. This way you can tell what is in them at a glance once you have fifty of them stuffed into a closet.
12 month rule (Score:3, Interesting)
Put everything in a closet, attic or other storage space. (Boxing everything works too.) Record the date. Twelve months later, get rid of everthing still sitting in storage. If you have not used it for 12 months, you probably never will. Donate books/journals to the library (so you can still access them if you need to), and donate everything else to GoodWill or a domestic violence shelter or a school or something. Donate porn to Slashdot. For cables that you "must keep," buy a cable rack(s) and hang it in the walk-in closet behind the door. Get rid of that old incomplete 386/486/586. If it's not plugged in, you don't need it. Have a garage sale.
get large metal racks (Score:3, Informative)
Real geek men... (Score:3, Insightful)
...take over the house.
First I made the Former Front Bedroom (TM) into my office. When that filled up I set up a PC in the Former Living Room and PC Anywhere'd to the original PC where all the email and files still are. The Former Living Room accumulation spread to the Former Dining Room. The kitchen counter is often the only clear space for working on the innards of computers and disk enclosures. The only places spared have been the master bedroom and the spare bedroom. The laundry area is full of boxes, too.
My Former Dining Room has made a terrific computer room, with two six-foot equipment and work tables, two 5-foot-tall 19" racks, 10KVA of 240V UPSs, a 21-inch Hitachi monitor and 8-port KVM, about a dozen computers of three different types, a parts bin arrangement, a cubbyhole arrangement that can hold many dozens of disk and tape drives, and three six-foot-tall shelf units.
Home Depot sells a storage unit billed as being a "shoe rack." It's made of chipboard, very sturdy (far too sturdy for shoes), is subdivided into 25 cubbyholes and is perfect for storing 5.25" devices when stood on a table or shelf.
The sturdy wire-frame shelf units someone mentioned earlier as being sold at Sam's Club in the wheeled version in chrome are also sold at Home Depot without wheels in chrome or black. The shelves can be substantially improved by cutting fiberboard to fit, either the thin stuff for just making the shelves solid for books and such, or the heavy fiberboard for holding massive items.
In my world, if it's out of sight, it may as well not exist, so I try to arrange things so that as much as possible is visible. Opaque boxes are bad, sometimes necessary, but always labelled. See-through bags and containers are good.
I would love to have affordable RFID tags and some form of designed or de facto homing on desired tag numbers. I use barcoding to tie items back to a 100% complete purchasing and receiving database but often the problem is that I can't find things I know I have.
Re:Cables (Score:2, Insightful)
Get yourself some 1/2" Spiral wrap. Cut off pieces of 1" - 3". Use these to tie bundles of cable together. They're reusable, easy to take off without tools, and hold well enough without binding.
You should be able to get 10' of the stuff for $5 or less, in black or clear.
Re:On another note (Score:3, Interesting)
What about scanning your documents? You would have to keep some originals, but that would easily fit in one of those expanding folder cases (just so those 20 documents stay tidy). Just file your documents as you would if it had come from any
Re:$10 toolboxes, tackle boxes, and a BFD (Score:3, Informative)
This can be overdone, especially because what you own is not what you will own. I bought a vastly overpriced and flimsy desk with shelves for every peripheral I needed.
The PC changed from a minitower to a full tower and then a server cube, neither of which fit in the original opening
The scanner left
The monitor grew from 17 to 19 inches and 21 is looking awfully tempting lately.
I replaced the $19 2.1 speaker set with a $26 stereo system, and thus no longe