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Decoding the Inscrutable Logos On Your Electronics

Posted by samzenpus on from the be-sure-to-drink-your-ovaltine dept.

jfruhlinger writes "If you've bought a piece of electronic equipment — a computer, a printer, even a lowly power supply — you've no doubt noticed a host of inscrutable logos festooned all over it — UL, CE, FCC, TUV, RoHS, ENERGY STAR, and the like. What do they mean? Each of these compliance marks tell a story about your gadget's operation or lifecycle, and knowing what they mean can let you in on the hidden life of the gizmos you buy."

7 of 140 comments (clear)

  1. New section: "Tell Slashdot" by Bongoots · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'll just move on, because I can't see anything here. If I wanted to know this I would've gone to Wikipedia.

    Somehow I thought this was a news site (maybe it says something about that in the tagline?), but I must have been mistaken. Silly me.

    1. Re:New section: "Tell Slashdot" by Ihmhi · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It would have been nice if they had a chart showing the logos and explaining them. Yes, we get it, most of those are there as proof of passing certification... but which ones mean what?

      --
      Random Thoughts From A Diseased Mind (Not For Dummies)
  2. TFA total mess by DragonTHC · · Score: 5, Insightful

    TFA is a convoluted mess of industry jargon and useless information.

    A useful article would involve the icons themselves and what they mean.

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    They're using their grammar skills there.
    1. Re:TFA total mess by E+IS+mC(Square) · · Score: 4, Insightful

      This is why, on /., you read comments and not TFS/TFA. Thank you.

  3. RoHS by Scott+Kevill · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Rodents of Hunusual Size. I don't believe they exist.

    --
    GameRanger - multiplayer gaming service for PC and Mac games
  4. Re:But only if... by Hazel+Bergeron · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If a regulatory standard does not have a publicly accessible database to confirm conformance, it is useless.

    This includes the worst such standard of all: the self-certified. See also Ethernet over powerline, RFI and Ofcom.

  5. Use your decoder ring by itchythebear · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Decoding the Inscrutable Logos On Your Electronics

    Mine says "Don't forget to drink your ovaltine."

    --
    If what I just said sounded like a troll, it was probably just a failed attempt at humor.