I was going to guess that a "tip shop" was like a thrift store, but this sounds a bit different. Are they actually owned by the garbage companies?
As far as Goodwill, if you want some good computer stuff, Apple and non-Apple, come to the Goodwill Computer Works store in Pittsburgh. They have plenty of iMacs, eMacs, G3s, G4s, and even a Cube with a cinema display (although they wanted something like $325 for the entire system). It's also a pretty reliable place to get 800K disks--they often have shrinkwrapped boxes. They do accept computers at this store, and they always have a rack of vintage equipment. I got a Disk II drive there once and have seen stuff as far back as about 1980 (most of it non-Apple). They can sell you a compact Mac, but they unfortunately want a lot of money for them. They also have software (including some Apple, Adobe, and Microsoft titles), peripherals (including Apple keyboards, mice, and monitors), and sometimes a random vintage computer--there was a platinum IIe there last summer in excellent condition. Also, if you're into building your own computer, there are tons of parts lots to look through for exactly that purpose. The salespeople are great too.
This particular Goodwill actually is big into Apple. There is a crew from one of the local user groups that meets there every Friday to refurbish donated Macs, which are then put up for sale (both in the store and for other Goodwill purposes). I've worked with these guys before and they are all top-notch people. Right now the refurb center is connected to the store, but that may be changing sometime this year.
If you're ever in Pittsburgh drop me a message and I'll give you directions--it's the best computer thrift shop I've ever been to.
As far as Goodwill, if you want some good computer stuff, Apple and non-Apple, come to the Goodwill Computer Works store in Pittsburgh. They have plenty of iMacs, eMacs, G3s, G4s, and even a Cube with a cinema display (although they wanted something like $325 for the entire system). It's also a pretty reliable place to get 800K disks--they often have shrinkwrapped boxes. They do accept computers at this store, and they always have a rack of vintage equipment. I got a Disk II drive there once and have seen stuff as far back as about 1980 (most of it non-Apple). They can sell you a compact Mac, but they unfortunately want a lot of money for them. They also have software (including some Apple, Adobe, and Microsoft titles), peripherals (including Apple keyboards, mice, and monitors), and sometimes a random vintage computer--there was a platinum IIe there last summer in excellent condition. Also, if you're into building your own computer, there are tons of parts lots to look through for exactly that purpose. The salespeople are great too.
This particular Goodwill actually is big into Apple. There is a crew from one of the local user groups that meets there every Friday to refurbish donated Macs, which are then put up for sale (both in the store and for other Goodwill purposes). I've worked with these guys before and they are all top-notch people. Right now the refurb center is connected to the store, but that may be changing sometime this year.
If you're ever in Pittsburgh drop me a message and I'll give you directions--it's the best computer thrift shop I've ever been to.