Edited by author 04-30-2003 02:05 AM
Because I know someone who works at a different DoE facility, I've heard something that might explain some of this (and bear with me if I've gotten this slightly off -- I'll check my facts later this evening): if a computer needs to be turned in *for whatever reason*, everything is supposed to go to a central facility for surpled computer equipment. Even if you can find a use for it somewhere else in your laboratory. Even if it's perfectly good stuff. It can't be donated or used elsewhere. Must. Store. For. Possible. Future. Use. Except that "future use" almost never happens, because by the time someone friggin' gets around to it, the equipment is completely and utterly out of date, as opposed to usable though not even last year's model.

So occasionally equipment does not go to the Big Warehouse Where the Ark of the Covenant Lives because people just can't stand to see stuff go to waste like that.