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Underground > Laboratory >

Sustainable computers?

We're The Great Old Ones Now

11:35 / 30.08.02

Machines are constructed to obsolescence - especially computers. That's about as environmentally friendly as disposable batteries and plastic bags. It's a lunacy.

So where are the computers built to last? The boxes made of something other than plastic, where modular components can be inserted, discarded, or added on as new levels of power become available? Such a system could also be distributed so that you don't have to have the huge ugly box on your desk - or even have a desk at all - you just need a keyboard, a disply, and a disk-reader or similar somewhere you can get to it.

Imagine - you want the new chip? Buy the tablet, slot it in to your wall, carry on as normal after a bit of reconfiguring...less hassle, easier to carry, and no ugly plastic thing to get rid of...

Anyone?

15:02 / 30.08.02

This was going to be the next big thing a while ago and it probably is. Thin clients/dumb terminals with a minimum of hardware which run all applications from a central server rather than locally.

I run a few Citrix machines for this but they seem to be a very niche market at the moment. Centralised updates and maintenance, low rollout cost, complete control over applications. They are a very good proposition for companies that have a fast, reliable network. When home users have that same type of connection it might well catch on.

Some of the ultra-portable notebooks seem to fit this description as well. For instance the IBM X20 or the Compaq N400 series. Ultra-thin machines which are easy to carry and can be set up anywhere but which can also be plugged into a docking station to be immediately upgraded to desktop standard. A lot of the peripherals are standard and can easy be swapped in and out between machines.

Damn expensive though and that is the real issue here. Large desktops may be environmentally unsound but they a thin client option would be prohibitively expensive for most home users...if everyone had access to a fast network then it might be the way to go.

15:20 / 30.08.02

The boxes made of something other than plastic, where modular components can be inserted, discarded, or added on as new levels of power become available?

Well, you can make components out of wood if you want to - I was reading an article in 2600 about someone who made their entire box out of wood. And, to an extent, current boxes are modular, they're just a pig to change the modules on. You could go around just upgrading chips, motherboards, graphics cards etc, and there are people who do, but for most people it's not worth the effort.

I'd like to see computers like hi-fi separates, a stack of boxes that are easily changeable, but let's face it, the commercial considerations are against this idea. If you can get someone to buy a whole new system every couple of years that's far better. The market leaders want to sell you an entire set-up, not bits and pieces.

If you want to save the environment you have to become a hardware geek, right now. (Personally I hate hardware and can barely install a CD drive.)

16:32 / 30.08.02

Rack mounted systems are much more interchangeable and the casing lasts forever. Just swap out the guts. Unfortunately, they're special purpose and set for the high-end of the market. You get what you pay for.

There was (is) an initiative that I heard about where computer makers will have to use recyclable materials in their computers and recycle the heavy metal components that are found in monitors (a few pounds of lead), as well as silicon, aluminum, gold, etc. found in the case, motherboard and components. Due to the high cost of the recycle though, it'll drop about an extra $50 US on each system that'll be passed to consumers. That wouldn't make me shy away from a computer purchase.

There's similar issues with cellphones and other handheld electronics that are constantly being tossed when consumers are flooded with a multitude of options.

16:33 / 30.08.02

if we scrapped the ugly plastic boxes, how would apple spike their sales by making the ugly plastic boxes orange?

23:41 / 30.08.02

Donate your old stuff to someone who'll use it, rather than chucking it.

Plenty of people don't have PCs still, and your old machines will still get shit done....