Bamboo Encased Computers: A Help or Hindrance to Greener Electronics?
by Jaymi Heimbuch, Central Coast, California on 10. 7.08
As part of the eco-friendlienss factor that computer manufacturers are implementing in their designs is bamboo and wood-cased computers. Feeling the pressure both from consumers and from each other, the greenness of a computer plays in to the current acceptance level of a manufacturers new products…well, at least in part.
But we are curious about what it means to use a resource like wood for products that have become nearly disposable. Does it help or hinder the lifetime of the product, and the life cycle of forests?
We’ve seen a few bamboo-encased notebooks and computers come out. The Asus is beautiful (but not all that special of a laptop) and the Dell Studio Hybrid, with its many eco-factors, also has a bamboo case as an option.. We’ve also seen Fujitsu use forest-thinned cedar as a case for its notebook.
Looking at these options, it seems like two conclusions can be drawn. One is that using renewably sourced wood - especially bamboo - for casing doesn’t play a huge role in the functionality of a computer. It is still up to the manufacturer to make a high-quality, energy-efficient product that incorporates other eco-friendly elements before we can tout it as really meant for TreeHuggers. Wood vs plastic is not the be-all-end-all of the move towards eco-consciousness.
But, here is the second point – it seems that a wood casing could go far in helping a computer’s life cycle last just a bit longer. Wood has the feel of importance, of quality – it harkens back to when things were made with love, care and craftsmanship. And while this is a bit of a stretch for the above computers with their rather sleek-looking cases, there is the potential of a pull on the heartstrings at the idea of tossing out a beautiful wooden product, rather than the nonchalance consumers have for tossing out the everyday cheap plastic stuff.
So, while we have to think about the earth-friendliness of a computer as the sum of all it’s parts – recyclability, quality, energy efficiency, manufacturer ethics, carbon footprint – we can also appreciate when it is made out of materials that look and feel closer to the Earth. It helps to remind us that yes, indeed, we’re using the Earth’s resources when we flip open our laptops, but maybe we’re that much less of a burden.
More on Bamboo Computer Gear:
Bamboo Computer Monitors
Asus Bamboo Computer Arrives. Verdict: Feh
Bamboo Computer Mouse
For the Green Geek: A Bamboo Keyboard
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Hi,
As mentioned in this blog ICT companies are subject to changing fashions. If this year’s hype is green, they are all suddenly greener than grass. If next year dictates the colour purple, they’ll be that too. I don’t take a company to my (green) heart if they suddenly start to build laptops with a bamboo cover.
Eddy
Help or hinderance is debatable. But beauty is not. Don't you just want to run your fingers over that buttery wood?
Tell me about it. Just imagine one of those bamboo-covered computers with brass finishings curly little detail work. *dreamy sigh*
Thanks to the FCC, the covers still need to be metal, so it is just a skin of bambo.
What will the Panda's Eat?
You want me to think it is "green"? How about a laptop that is modular enough that I can upgrade it for 6-8 years? How about a laptop that I can buy parts for 6-8 years?
I have a cheap, cheap desktop that I bought six years ago. It was behind the tech curve by a little bit. I have upgraded it, switched to Linux with it, and added more memory and hard drive space over the years. I have upgraded the monitor and keyboard. I did all of this graudally as things wore out.
It's far below the store bought spec computer these days but still very useful.
That's a green computer b/c I don't have to throw it all out at once and go again.
FWIW whenever I have upgraded and not replaced a failed part I have a friend that gets another 5 years out of it in a computer they use for e-mail and surfing. Finally his computers get donated to family who are even further down the tech food chain and content with things like Puppy Linux and Windows 95.
I think this all the usual smoke & mirrors, head in the sand hype.
It don't mean a thing other than chasing the 'almighty' buck.
Every thing is GREEN :) even the bottom line.
Give us a break.
On Oct. 14th Apple will announce what "Brick" means, and then this whole discussion will have to be revisted. That is my prediction for the day.
Seriously, word on the street is Apple is about to revolutionize the manufacturing of computer cases (laptop, at least) with easily recycled and recyclable aluminum which will be greener than superfluous (by comparison) bamboo accents.
Imagine the manufacturer taking back the product for a discount on your next laptop.
You get a new laptop, you save, the environment is saved and the manufacturer retains the customer for life! Everyone wins!
Bamboo is cool though. I wonder if people will stain their wood computers for different looks!
http://www.ecoshopper.net