NEC Launches "PowerMate Eco" Green PC

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."

Comments

but how about the manufacturing process?

[quinophexx]

Ok so the motherboard is lead free as is the tft boron free. So what about all the nasty chemicals used to build components? what about when the machine reaches end of life? where will it go? Sounds like marketing FUD to me, although hopefully this is a step in the right direction I doubt it really is a "green" pc.

Re:but how about the manufacturing process?

[Gerry Gleason]

It certainly could just be marketing, but the real question is what should a company that really wants to put eco principles into practice. One organization that I have come across that helps businesses improve there processes is The Natural Step. Part of their pitch is that it is also more efficient==cost effective.

Also, we can't get there in one jump, but need to concentrate on the big ones first and keep going until we get a system that is sustainable. That's the only way we and are descendants will get to stay here in the long run.

Re:but how about the manufacturing process?

[Bobb Sledd]

I believe it's correctly termed "green" because the manufacturer has clearly put time, effort, and thought into making the machine as reasonably environmentally friendly as possible with the current technology available.

You could say something like "this nuclear power plant is environmentally friendly." Well, true that it may not harm the environment as *much* as other alternatives, but it isn't totally pollution free either; but there really isn't much manufactured that is.

Point being, I think "green" is a term much deserved by manufacturers who are thinking about the environment when building their products. I think it shows responsibility and even has a tint of higher geekdom to it.

CDRW

[jhines0042]

Does anyone know how to recycle a used and discarded CDRW? Seriously. How many of these get thrown out yearly now and are they just sitting in landfills taking up space or are they recyclable?

Also applies to all those AOL CDs.

Re:CDRW

[Cheeko]

Well as far as the AOL CDs, send them to these guys. Their web design skills aren't great, but they have a cool idea for all those spam CDs. I found the statistics about how much space and weight all those CDs take up to be rather interesting. Would be fun to see the look on the faces of the AOL execs if these guys ever get around to delivering these.

NuCycle Plastic: more info

[L-Train8]

A press release with a lot more details than the product page is here.

From the press release:
In addition, the PowerMate eco is also made of NuCycle(TM) plastic - an NEC patented plastic that is 100% recyclable. NuCycle is made of polycarbonate resin mixed with a special, flame-retardant silicone compound. Other computer plastics have flame retardant brominated coatings applied, which do retard flames, but produce harmful gases in the process. NuCycle's flame retardant is non-toxic and built-in, requiring no toxic coating.

Crusoe is not a desktop processor

[FWMiller]

I've been using a Fujitsu laptop now for about 3 months and I've decided that I will probably not buy another machine with a Crusoe chip in it. The function is fine and the clock speeds are reasonable.

The problem is, it "feels" slow. There's just this little bit of latency, particularly as something starts up for the first time, i.e. as the morphing is doing its bit. The more you are exposed to it the more annoying it becomes.

Its little things like this that are what ruin companies. Transmeta needs to do something about this or they will never make it as a mainstream desktop processor.