While I personally am a fan of the Mac, I'm not opposed to talking about a PC if it is eco-friendly. Dell should be releasing a new, more green PC later this year, and it has a very interesting look.
It is 81 percent smaller than a standard desktop and supposedly uses 70 percent less power. The casing is bamboo, which is a more easily renewable source than plastic and hardwood, taking 3-5 years to regenerate. The PC is also supposed to contain a variety of recycled plastics. At $500-$700, it is definitely worth looking into and doing more research on. What are your opinions? Do you think this is a better alternative to a standard PC?
On another note, if you aren't opposed to spending more on a computer and are interested in Macs, the Macbook Air might be an option for you. It is made of recyclable aluminum, a mercury-free display, and arsenic-free glass. It uses less materials and less energy. Right now, for me, it is a bit pricey for its specs, starting at $1799, but I thought I would mention it.
For those of us not in the market for a new computer, you can reduce the impact of your current computer. For laptops, only leave it plugged in when it needs to charge. Once at 100%, you can unplug and run off the battery until you need to recharge again. Desktops should be turned off overnight, and during the day you can set them to hibernate after a certain period of inactivity. If you no longer want your computer, don't throw it away! Recycle it by giving it to someone who can use it. Check your local schools, or put an ad in the paper. Craigslist is a site where you can list your free (or pay) items, and Freecycle is another site where you can list your free items based on your location. Remember to remove all information from the computer before giving it or selling it to anyone.
It is 81 percent smaller than a standard desktop and supposedly uses 70 percent less power. The casing is bamboo, which is a more easily renewable source than plastic and hardwood, taking 3-5 years to regenerate. The PC is also supposed to contain a variety of recycled plastics. At $500-$700, it is definitely worth looking into and doing more research on. What are your opinions? Do you think this is a better alternative to a standard PC?
On another note, if you aren't opposed to spending more on a computer and are interested in Macs, the Macbook Air might be an option for you. It is made of recyclable aluminum, a mercury-free display, and arsenic-free glass. It uses less materials and less energy. Right now, for me, it is a bit pricey for its specs, starting at $1799, but I thought I would mention it.
For those of us not in the market for a new computer, you can reduce the impact of your current computer. For laptops, only leave it plugged in when it needs to charge. Once at 100%, you can unplug and run off the battery until you need to recharge again. Desktops should be turned off overnight, and during the day you can set them to hibernate after a certain period of inactivity. If you no longer want your computer, don't throw it away! Recycle it by giving it to someone who can use it. Check your local schools, or put an ad in the paper. Craigslist is a site where you can list your free (or pay) items, and Freecycle is another site where you can list your free items based on your location. Remember to remove all information from the computer before giving it or selling it to anyone.
Focus Organic is the main author on Focus Organic.com. Her real name is Stefanie, and she started Focus Organic to learn more about living green and to share what she learns with the site's readers.
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April 26th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
I want that new Dell SO BAD!
Quote This CommentApril 26th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
The new Dell is a cool idea and I like the look of it a lot. If I were to get a desktop, that's one I'd definitely consider.
The new Macbook is a complete waste of money, in my opinion. It only has ONE USB port, no CD/DVD drive, and unless you've got Wi-Fi, you're out of luck when it comes to getting online. You have to pay tons of extra money to get an extra USB hub, an external CD/DVD drive, and a network adapter.
Totally not worth it.
Quote This CommentApril 26th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
This looks very nice, I hope they put a few on the outlet, for us cheap people. I don't think bamboo, however can be "scratched & dented"
Quote This CommentApril 28th, 2008 at 5:22 am
I've had my mind set on switching to Mac for a while now, but this almost makes me want to reconsider. My whole family's been using Dell for years and we've never been disappointed in their products. In fact, I'm typing on a Dell right now! I love their free computer recycle program and actually need to take full advantage... I have two aging Dells at home.
Quote This CommentApril 28th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Ally, I personally won't be purchasing the Macbook Air because of the reasons you said, but my husband likes to point out you are definitely paying for the eco aspects in that case.
Michelle, I'm glad you've had luck with Dell. it looks like if we were to purchase either the Dell or Macbook Air, it would be the Macbook, the hubby isn't a Dell fan...
Quote This CommentMay 5th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Glad to see Dell's getting enviornmentally conscious.
Another great way of going green for PCs is to look into a company called Userful. They can turn one ordinary PC box into ten workstations with their linux created desktop software. See for yourself - http://www.userful.com
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