Think Green with Refurbished Computers

May 18, 2010 - PRLog -- Refurbished computers can range from machines that were returned to the factory within a three month time frame to older machines that are rebuilt and updated. The newer machines are still on the shelves, at an increased cost, and are easy to compare. Generally the manufacturer has replaced a part under warranty and is looking to sell the computer again, but at a lower price. Often, older machines are off-lease from large corporations that renew their computers at a regular time, regardless of the usability of the computer. These computers have their hard drives cleaned, systems updated to reflect newer software, and occasionally have new RAM or larger hard drives put into them to make them more marketable under current standards.

Unless your needs are very specific, including intensive use of graphic applications or gaming machines, most off-the-shelf computer systems are overkill for the average user. Marketing would have consumers believe that only the newest computer systems will fulfill their needs, but the truth is that these days a computer has at least a 5 year lifespan and will run Microsoft Office, connect you to the internet, allow email applications to run seamlessly, and will run all mainstream applications.

How is this possible? As Gordon Moore, former CEO of Intel, commented, "the power of semiconductor technology doubles every 18 months". Although this statement is true, the work our computers are doing hardly changes over the course of 2-5 years and software manufacturers want their applications to work for the largest market possible, including for the vast majority of customers who do not own the latest and greatest computer system. This all explains why computers that are currently being sold provide resources that are larger than the demand of the customer.

The simple answer is that few computers going to landfills makes for a lower environmental impact, and buying refurbished machines helps to accomplish that goal. A few startling statistics bring the issue into sharper relief:
•   A United Nations study found that 1.8 tons of raw materials are used to manufacture a PC, close to the same requirement for manufacturing a mid-sized car. The same study showed that extending the operational life of a computer through re-use saves more energy than recycling the components.
•   Many U.S. states are implementing legislature to limit the disposal of computer equipment. Soon, old computer parts could become a financial liability. Reuse will increase dramatically.
•   Burning computer parts creates carcinogens, while burying them contaminates water and ground resources. Reusing computers by refurbishing them relieves this environmental strain.
•   In Canada, there were more than 67,000 tons of disposed computers and peripherals in 2005 alone.
While investing in refurbished computers makes an impact on your own bottom line, they are also more than sufficient for the average user’s computing needs and they reduce our overall carbon footprint.

http://www.electrocomputerwarehouse.com

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Electro Computer Warehouse is a Re-Marketer of Grade "A" Refurbished/Off-lease computer systems. We strive to provide our customers with the best quality products at prices not found anywhere else.