CHEAP THRILLS

Last week the green light was given to start production on the $100 Laptop. It's a fascinating non profit project with the aim of enabling learning in developing countries.

It's been a contentious path. The concept came out of MIT's Media Lab and was quickly rubbished by Gates et.al.

The laptop was actively opposed by Intel who came up with their own version. It threatened to get nasty until they kissed and made up earlier this month.

Based on mesh networking and operable on a single internet connection (or none at all), the laptop has been

"[e]xtensively field-tested and validated among some of the poorest and most remote populations on earth... [The] computer uniquely fosters "learning learning" by allowing children to “think about thinking”, in ways that are otherwise impossible. Using the XO as both their window on the world, as well as a highly programmable tool for exploring it, children in emerging nations will be opened to both illimitable knowledge and to their own creative and problem-solving potential."

Bold visions indeed. But how can you run a laptop in the middle of newhere without power?

Apparently the cheap rechargable battery has "four-times the amount of time as a normal laptop battery". Hand crank and solar panel options are available. Nice.

It's a natural "must" for Blackle homepaging. And as this fella explains for the BBC, it uses about 10% of the juice of a standard laptop.

COMPUTER GAMES

Many who peddle electronics have cleaned up their act. Still, many technology companies have been accused of greenwashing.

Saturdays DomPost has a handy green electronics article strangely positioned within the indungence supplement (not online). The article refers to the March review of consumer electronics undertaken by Greenpeace.

Little known Lenovo rank 1 and good old Apple have dug in at last place.

Article recommendations from an energy efficiency perspective include:
:: Use rechargeable batteries
:: Go laptop over desktop
:: LCD beats CRT

On the waste side of things the usual no-brainers apply; avoid excess packaging and use recycled paper. But this little gem snuck in late: "Vodafone recycles the plastics in its phones as orange traffic cones". Nice.

ONES AND ZEROES

Electronic goods are some of the heaviest resource wasters in the consumer market. About time someone gave the industry a slap.

It just so happens that the largest industry player have slapped themselves. From 2008 Wal-Mart "will ask electronics suppliers to fill out a scorecard that will assess the sustainability of their product". Nice work - for US consumers at least.

When the time comes to upgrade your old kit you'll know where to go. Having cornered the US organics market the big boys are to offer the eco pledge of hundreds of electronics companies under one roof. End of life disposal, packaging, durability, upgradability and energy efficiency will all be addressed.

The British National Consumer Council have also hit out at electronics and energy efficiency this week. They propose a system similar to the EnergyStar ratings for washers and fridges. The NCC report advocates better consumer information - it can be downloaded here.