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NEC Launches "PowerMate Eco" Green PC

Posted by michael on from the leave-only-footprints dept.

jdstahl writes "NEC has just released the PowerMate Eco, billed as the world's first environmentally-friendly PC. Based on a 900 MHz Transmeta Crusoe (thanks Linus!), it is ultra-compact, ultra low power, and nearly silent. Its motherboard contains no lead, and the case is made from recycled plastic. Its expandability is limited, so this is probably not a geek-box, but it seems like an appealing choice for Joe Desktop."

12 of 249 comments (clear)

  1. Will Joe Desktop pay $1600? by Lawbeefaroni · · Score: 5, Insightful

    At $1600*, I don't see this being for "Joe Desktop" either. Maybe corporations will buy them for energy and space savings or your average home user will like the "green" aspect, but there a lot of other, cheaper options. Hopefully it does well, but it's the old "too expensive for the non-enthusiast, too limited for the power freak" problem.

    * Price from PCConnection here.

    --
    "When it rains, it pours." --Morton's Salt
  2. Question: by drhairston · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Q:Will an average American pay more money to be environmentally sound?
    A:Rarely. Sales of SUV's greatly outnumber sales of hybrid vehicles.

    This item will experience low sales volume.

    --
    Dr. Joseph Hairston
    Superintendent, CCBC
  3. Thanks Linus! by Altheus · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You engineer software for Transmeta, but what the hell, we'll just give you credit for creating their processors too!

    (Saying thanks Linus is about as absurd as thanking your local mechanic for the sleek body styling on your new BMW.)

  4. "thanks Linus!" ? by Vic · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why are you thanking Linus? Does he actually have anything to do with designing the processor? I thought he was just helping on the OS side of things from Transmeta. There are probably other Transmeta engineers who deserve more thanks for that hardware, eh?

    Not that Linux doesn't deserve help for starting Linux! :)

    Cheers,
    Vic

  5. My contribution by DJ_Goldfingerz · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Instead of spending money on one of these, I prefer spending my spare time collecting old components and making use of them by bringing life back into old i386 and i486 computers. I have a couple of these at home that I just hack around with and constant play around with different OSes (BSD and Linux). Plus I usually learn something.

  6. Re:but how about the manufacturing process? by Otter · · Score: 3, Insightful
    So what about all the nasty chemicals used to build components? what about when the machine reaches end of life?

    Ummm, those are the concerns that make it valuable to eliminate the lead and boron from the manufacturing process (and from the discarded system). It's not because you'll be licking your motherboard.

    As you said, it's a step forward. It's not like angels will come down from heaven to declare "Green!" has been achieved.

    --
    What I'm listening to now on Pandora...
  7. my computer biodegrades, what does yours do? by taxman_10m · · Score: 3, Insightful
    When it comes down to it, even the most crunchy granola eco-friendly environmentalist isn't going to fork over cash for a computer that simply doesn't offer what you can get at Dell for half the price.

    Marketing anything as "eco-friendly" doesn't make it all that more enticing. That's why most "eco-friendly" items that find any wide use at all are there because it is regulated to be that way.

  8. Re:More info: the price by man_ls · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The harmful chemicals are integral to the manufacture process...Unless technology changes, PCB substrate will always be created out of harmful chemicals.

    However, this is a major step in the right direction, to reducing the amount of technological waste in the environmental facilities in addition to conserving power.

  9. Integrated Monitor Environmentally Unfriendly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Given that computer monitors need to be upgraded much less often than the actual computer, it makes no sense to build an environmentally friendly PC with a monitor build in. They're trying to pawn off an overpriced disposable monitor as environmentally friendly.

    What we really need are for the $200 machines to shrink down to a 1/4 size form factor, lose all the moving parts (especially the fans), and use Crusoe amounts of power. It would be extra-spiffy if there were a better small-component specification such that they could still have components upgrated. On the other hand the only thing I upgrade is the video card for better 3D performance.

  10. Re:No fan by BigBir3d · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Depends on where you live. In Arizona, specifically southern parts, it is very dusty. Overheating iMacs were heard of. My old apartment, in CT, had dust-bunnies from hell (yes i cleaned), and they always managed to clog up fans and heat sinks too (those with and without fans).

    IMO, I would feel better, if I were to buy one, if it had a slow, quiet fan.

  11. LCD danger... by zenyu · · Score: 3, Insightful


    mercury in their backlights

    1) LCD's do not need to use fluorescent lamps, they can use LED's. Even with fluorescent lamp it's a step in the right direction.

    2) The power savings of using an LCD is significant.

  12. Barebones!=all-in-one by pcrook345 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    $200 is a little misleading. For that price, you get a system with:

    1. No memory
    2. No hard drive
    3. No optical drive
    4. No display
    5. No keyboard/mouse

    It also has no Windows license. Not that one is necessary, but it's included in the $1600 price of the eco-thing.

    You're also comparing the power draw of a headless box to that of a box & LCD.

    That said, I'd still choose the VIA C3 over the eco-thing. It's cheap (even after you add the above components), configurable, small, and quiet.