Sony Vaio VPCW Netbook – The Green Within
matthew | 7:07 pm | August 7, 2010 | Green Laptops, Netbooks
Call it the Captain Planet or Green Lantern, Sony Vaio VPCW11S1E/w netbook is here to save the earth either way.
Launched in 2009, Sony Vaio W series was bound to make an impact, but was received with mixed reviews possibly because of a slightly heavier price tag. As the tech world tradition, a newer version was expected to be launched by the start of 2010. As a matter of fact, all we expected of this edition was a little change in the performance and specification. But what was unleashed, surprised many of us – A 10 inch sugar white netbook, with an angelic translucent green glow. No wonder Sony has finally come up with something to pay a few more quids for.
Although most of the latest laptops and computers do comply with Energy Star 5.0 specifications, the green lovers never seemed to be satisfied. No matter how energy efficient they claimed to be, there was always much to be desired. Eco friendliness of Sony doesn’t only rely on the conventional mercury free LED backlight and PVC free casing. This little iridescent angel has a chassis, 20% of which is composed of recyclable material from CDs and DVDs waste.
This is not where the green revival of Vaio VPCW11S1E ends. The innovative carrying case of this green machine is made up of 100% recycled PET bottles. Another eco-friendly step by Sony is that there is no printed copy of the manual. Strange as it may sound, but you’ll have to turn your system on in order to read the digital manual. Anything for going green!
In terms of performance and processing, there isn’t much of a change in Eco edition. The only change perhaps is the Atom N450 processor instead of N270. The 10.1 inch 1366 x 768 pixel display is good enough to view a whole web page at a time. 1 GB Ram and 259 GB hard drive sounds good enough for a computer of this size. Other features including WI-FI, Bluetooth connectivity, multi format card reader and a battery with 7 hours run time are all decent enough for this generation’s netbook.
Although, Sony Vaio‘s performance is up to the mark, the price might still be a little higher than other equally equipped machines in the market. But with all the green advantages you get with this one – is to date incomparable. Now, if computers are called machines with smart brains, this edition of Sony Vaio W is definitely a one with a clear conscience as well.
Smart Parts offers WEEE recycling for your old laptop parts
oleg | 6:52 pm | July 31, 2010 | Green Laptops, Smart Parts
Along with the pleasure of having your own laptop comes the responsibility to dispose it in a proper, environmentally friendly way. The time when your AC adapter stops working or your laptop battery reaches the end of its life is inevitable and you are faced with the necessity to purchase a new one. That’s why Smart Parts is out there to offer you whether an original item or a generic replacement charger, depending on how much money you are willing to spend. However, what should you do with the old part after receiving the replacement? Should you just toss it out or there is a better alternative? With the stories about global warming and how landfills are filling up faster than the authorities can handle, “going green” sounds like a much better choice. If you own a notebook computer, you should know about the ways in which the old parts can be recycled before you head toward that rubbish bin.
Just before you decide to dispose your laptop spares, consider this list of products with hazardous materials inside:
1. LCD Screen
The screen is one of the most dangerous laptop parts to end up in a landfill. It often has such toxic materials as mercury, cadmium and chromium, all of which are hazardous to the environment. Flame-retardant materials used in the plastic also contain bromide, which in high dosages can cause neurological damage.
2. Power adapters
A recent study by Greenpeace reported that polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was found in 44 percent of all plastic cabling of the AC and car adapters. When incinerated, these release dioxins, which are known to increase the likelihood of cancer. Phthalates, which the EPA has found can cause damage to the liver and testes from long-term exposure, were also found in the cables examined by Greenpeace.
3. Laptop keyboard
A laptop keyboard is typically made of plastic with a little circuit board in it. While these aren’t worth a whole lot to recyclers, they are definitely something that you want to keep out of landfills as they’re nothing but big hunks of plastic and steel.
4. Laptop battery
Many older laptops used rechargeable nickel-cadmium (NiCa) batteries, which contain hazardous cadmium. Newer laptops, fortunately, are relying on newer types of batteries (lithium ion), which are not as hazardous, but nevertheless should be recycled properly.
One of our main goals as a laptop accessories seller and manufacturer is to respond to the challenges raised by climate change, environmental sustainability, and corporate responsibility. We have set up very easy to read information which is accessible from their main website. Starting from July this year Smart Parts has made arrangements for processing waste electronic equipment such as laptop batteries, AC and car adapters, LCD screens and laptop keyboards under the terms of the WEEE Regulations.
You can rest assured that while sending your old electronic appliances to us it will be recycled in accordance with the WEEE Directive. We will make sure that it will be processed in the UK by our carefully selected partners ensuring all hazardous materials are removed and dealt with according to current legislation. It may not seem like doing the right thing with one battery would make a difference. However, you must keep the big picture in mind. If each of our customers, both business and retail, would send their old components back to us, we as a company will be able to recycle thousands of the old units monthly while the only thing you should pay is the postage expenses. This is a great amount considering the ten to fifteen minutes it may take a person to dispose of the batteries in this way. You can even return your waste batteries to us in person or find your local recycling facility at www.recyclenow.com. Now most superstores and shops have collection bins for used batteries while some town halls, libraries and schools may also set up collection points.
You can send your old laptop parts to us to the address below:
WEEE Take-Back Scheme
Smart Parts
72 Farm Lane
London
SW6 1QA
Thank you.
12 concept laptops and PC that will strike your imagination
Alexandra | 10:40 pm | February 12, 2010 | Concept Laptops
Concepts… They are amazing, aren’t they? On the one hand, they inspire us, give us ideas for the future, push forward innovations. On the other hand, concepts disappoint, since we cannot have them right now. The only thing we can do is start saving money, and wait until they become a reality.
1. ARM Tablet
This concept from Sébastien Maleville can be used as a usual laptop or as a portable tablet. You can transform it by separating the keyboard from the monitor.
2. Asus Bookshelf PC
This PC from Asus consists of interchangeable modules, which allows to upgrade or downgrade your computer. You can do it by replacing or adding required modules.
3. B-membrane
This UFO-like computer with a projected keyboard uses a projector instead of a monitor.
4. Canvas
This concept was developed for designers and artists by Kyle Cherry. It was equipped with some built-in digital devices for easy drawing.
5. Horizon
Concept desktop from Japanese designer Mac Funamizu has a flexible OLED monitor, which can change its size!
6. HP LiM (by Jeffrey S. Engelhardt)
HP LiM (it means “Less is More”) consists from a 19” transparent touch screen, a wireless keyboard and a virtual touchpad.
7. Nuno Teixeira MAINGEAR
It’s a powerful gaming machine with improved cooling system.
8. Paper Laptop — eco-computer
This concept (designed by Je Sung Park) was made from recycled paper.
9. Philco PC
Although in the majority of cases concept computers show us the future, Dave Schultze’s creation carries us back.
10. Portable PC Theater
Jinwoo Han, a talented designer from the South Korea, created a concept of portable PC with a special bonus, a built-in projector for entertainment.
11. Prime Gaming Laptop
Prime Gaming Concept Laptop was designed by Kyle Cherry. He tries to solve such problem as limited size of laptop screens. Behold a powerful portable gaming computer!
12. Zafiro
Zafiro PC with transparent screen can be controlled by movements of your hands and body!
The Green That Makes Trees Scream
Christine | 10:05 pm | April 16, 2008 | Green Laptops, Uncategorized
The voices telling us about eco-friendly laptops are getting louder, but so far they sound, to put it mildly, boring and unimaginative. Certainly, with winter temperatures getting closer to summer ones each year it is silly not to consider environment these days. However, it seems that “eco-friendly” developers experience some kind of a creative thinking crisis.
Most of new nature-oriented concepts of laptops or actual products are based on wood (examples include Micro-Star International GX-620, Swedx monitor, Thallbach USB-drive, Asus Eco Book, followed by new WoodShell concept). And it looks as if one designer came up with the idea and herds of others took it up.
These devices scream “I am ecology-friendly!”, but are they really? One wooden laptop born means one tree dead. With so many wooden designs today it’s high time that some other options are considered.
And again, here comes Fujitsu. First they used corn to produce plastic for their laptops, and now they have developed new bio-based plastic for their FMV-BIBLO NX95Y/D. Which is definitely a welcome change for those hungry for new ideas.
8 Ways To Make a Recyclable Laptop Bag
Christine | 3:42 am | January 24, 2008 | Green Laptops, Uncategorized
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Hippies may be accused of libertinism, drug-abuse and sexual perversion, but what they try to teach the world is that the nature is our treasure. Wearing synthetic clothes, eating artificially made food, driving cars with high levels of toxic gases emission we can hardly call ourselves flower children.
However, while hippies’ methods of struggling for nature protection were mostly expressed by boycotting ecology-unfriendly products and promoting biodegradable products, some consumer goods manufacturers take action nowadays and introduce a range of eco-friendly products.
Let’s take laptop bags, for instance. It’s hard to believe how different recyclable materials for making laptop bags can be:
Though the bag may be a bit inconvenient to use as there’s not much space left when a laptop is inside, the bag looks very stylish.
Quite a clumsy one, but seems to be soft and have enough space.
The bag looks as if it was made from durable fabric, besides, it is stain-resistant.
It’s impossible to tell a common laptop bag from one of these recycled ones. And if there’s no difference, why not go for an eco-friendly one.
Teenagers will like it. As well as hippies.
These bags are handmade and thanks to the handmade nature, they are unique since they all vary a bit in size and shape.
This one even allows to access ports without removing the laptop from the bag.
Sails of decommissioned yachts
Sails is probably the last thing that would come to one’s mind when thinking of recyclable materials. Which, however, doesn’t make the bag look less trendy.
The Socket vs The Sun
maksim | 2:53 am | December 9, 2007 | Laptop Accessories
Some rules are made to be broken. Walls are built to be destroyed. Conventions exist to be laughed at. Such as “work”. Times when work meant, at best, an office desk in a crowded city are happily over. All that is left is a bull-headed idea that this is how things should be done. Period.
Well, no. Crushing the walls of the traditional office down is easier than most people imagine. As long as work process is cleverly organised online between team members, they can live and work anywhere. Anywhere on the planet. There are already ways of having a stable and fast internet connection, and now solar panels can provide free and virtually limitless power supply.
Brunton SolarRolls™ are high performance flexible solar panels. They can be rolled into a tube, and the weight of a typical unit is less than 500g, which makes them easily transportable. They are waterproof and extremely durable. Sunlight is a plus, but the panels can also operate in low light conditions. More info via product link below.
