a computer is a computer, whether it be an IBM base, a MAC, a SUN, an SGI MIPS, or a WC Fields. A computer has a BIOS(of some sort)chip, a CPU, some RAM, Video, a HD , and add ins/ons. There is so much more to it, things I don't even know (and Ive been through thousands, never once not having fired it up), but from a handheld to a mainframe, they each have the same basic components, and work in very similar ways. I once got a dozen or so from the Ag Dept, all totally identical, each had 128MB RAM, excepting one, still identical but marked(on tape with a marker) "server", and having a lot more RAM, and possibly a better CPU(can't remember for sure). Your best option with unknown parts is search. Search names, numbers, anything you can find on them, until you have it pegged. Even then, especially with older "unknowns", you might not know. I once posted a single add in card, had no idea what it was, but it was marked(imbedded) as "translator". Not sure all the details, but I listed it on Ebay @ $9.95 (+ shipping), and being unknown I put it on ten day auction. After 5 days or so I had one inquiry, "does it work?". I had no clue but replied with, " To the best of my knowledge this was pulled due to a system upgrade and not due to a unit malfunction". It got a bid here and there, but nothing remarkable, until the final day, it went 40 and 50, 80 and 90, 100, and I'm going hmmm. (the guy that had inquired had written back after my reply and said "it don't matter if it's working, we can fix it ". I was still fairly new to gov't deals, ebay too for that matter, but when it passed a hundred I'm starting to worry, like what's going on here? As it reached 200 near the close, I just got up and walked outside, lol. Came back in after awhile, it had closed at $287. One little unknown add in (finger) card. They even sent me their FedEx number to ship it with, all I did was took it to the FedEx, put it in a fedex box and gave them the shipping info to Vancouver BC.
Computers aren't difficult, but parts you gotta study, and never know until you know. I was generally willing to ship most places overseas too, which garnered a lot of sales (and very little difficulty with customers, had much more of that stateside), the only thing was a bit more paperwork, customs forms etc, which really aren't difficult if your post office personnel are knowledgeable enough to be a help with it
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