According to U.S. News and World Report:
"Here are some of the green features for the iPad: It's BPR-free, PVC-free, has arsenic-free display glass, a mercury-free LCD display, and a glass and aluminum enclosure that is highly recyclable. That gives the device relatively the same eco-cred as the MacBook Air. The device will also feature a 10-hour battery life, and more than a month of standby battery capacity, meaning it will hold charge after long periods of inactivity."
But is it really green???
Read the entire acticel: Apple iPad Touts Environmental Cred
One of the many definitions Dictionary.com lists for the word “green” is, “environmentally sound or beneficial.” Apple claims that the new “iPad” is very environmentally friendly and if their claims are true, then the iPad is a technological miracle for the environmental world. One thing that Apple claims is that the iPad contains no mercury in its LCD display. Based on the US Geological Survey, high levels of mercury in an environment can lead to birth defects for children and a lack in the creation of protective enzymes for animals. If this is true, then when the iPad becomes outdated (and it will at the growth rate of technology these days) there is less of a danger to the environment when just throwing it away (however, it’s always better to recycle). The same is the case with the arsenic free display glass (since most people are aware arsenic is a deadly toxin).
ReplyDeleteAccording to http://www.triplepundit.com/2010/01/a-greener-apple-ipad-includes-eco-friendly-features/, the iPad is not Apple's first experience in being eco-friendly. In every store, there is a recycling program for iPods, mobile phones, and computers and batteries, regardless of the manufacturer. They also offer a free commuter program for employees which run off of biodiesel. Therefore, it would not be odd for Apple's next challenge to be creating an eco-friendly product. On http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/01/27/how-green-is-apples-ipad/, they conclude that with a 30-day standby battery life, the iPad certainly uses less energy and is BFR-free and PVC-free. Obviously, any type of e-reader saves paper, but this one is highly recyclable. The only complication is getting people to actually recycle it. All in all, I would say the iPad is successfully green. It could be better, yes, but it also could be worse. I think this is another step in achieving a greener America. Now we have to face the problem of getting these steps to be a little less expensive.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article on the Ipad, I have mostly negative thoughts. It may not have helped that the second half of the article was mostly negative. All I could focus in on was that thoughts from Martin LaMonica. She said: New product launches put techies on a Sisyphean quest for the newest gadget, but that means a constant cycle of replacing still-working technology. And what happens to those old netbooks that will be discarded in favor of an iPad? Chances are, they won't be recycled properly, and will sit in a drawer or box somewhere for a decade before ending up in a landfill. I can’t help but think that this is a good point because although it may be eco friendly, it will lead to other devices in a landfill. Also, what happens when some new even more eco friendly “Ipad” is created, and all the current Ipads end up in a landfill? Even though they may be eco friendlier, they still will be bad for the landfills they end up in.
ReplyDeleteThere are a large number of people in the United States that have computers. What do you thing happens to the computers, cell phone, any form of technology really? They end up in the landfill of worse being shipped across the country and being dumped places were the toxic chemicals cause harm to the people. It doesn’t have to be like that anymore as Abby said in her post Apple and many more places have these recycling programs were you can take all your electronics and they recycle them so they don’t end up across the country. There are even some companies like Apple which has ipods that have fewer chemicals and parts that can be recycled can help out our planet in a large scale. So do I think that it is green, yes because being green means that you are helping out the environment in some way even if it is just by recycling.
ReplyDeleteAfter our discussion in class, I believe that after a few months of the first rush of ipads hit the market and all the kinks are worked out, then the ipad will be environmentally friendly. However, the first rush of the product will more than likely end up in a land fill, because of the laziness that is breed into most humans from birth. For a time the ipad can be negative, but if Apple can find a way to get it's customers to recycle their old electronics, then the ipad can truly be a positive effect on the environment.
ReplyDeleteI think the iPad is a remarkable new gadget that will change the way computer manufacturers produce their products. Other electronic companies will follow Apple's lead by making their products green while still being affordable. I applaud the iPad's "green" technology and its invigorating quality and attractive features, but I'm unsure of what the public response will be. The iPad is coming out when the high school class of 2010 is graduating, so we'll be faced with the decision of what to get: a laptop or an iPad? Yes, the iPad has many of the same features as a laptop, but I think the laptop will be more efficient for college-bound students. Most people will realize that as well, so why buy an iPad when a laptop would be a better investment for those planning on going to college? However, for those more interested in leisure instead of business, the iPad is attractive and exciting. I hope the iPad's environmental impact catches on to other products and companies so that everyone interested in buying electronics can decrease their negative impact on the environment.
ReplyDeleteI think in some ways its green, but making new products just leads to getting rid of other ones that end up in landfills. Apple might have made the ipad with envirmentally safe materials but this dosn't get rid of the problem with replacing other products. So the ipad can be considered green, but what its replacing or where it ends up isn't.
ReplyDeleteAll I could focus in on was that thoughts from Martin LaMonica. She said: New product launches put techies on a Sisyphean quest for the newest gadget, but that means a constant cycle of replacing still-working technology. And I believe that the Ipod are eventually going to get out of style and on with the new technology, and the fact of the matter is that, that is going to continue to happen while the is still new technology being invented outthere.
ReplyDeleteIt is cool that apple is starting to go green because it is one of the world largest gadget markets. I think the ipad will not be that big of a hit cause your just better off getting a mac book. All it is is just one big ipod the only thing i like about it is the sensors on the touch screen. But if it last a long time it could be good some you dont have to keep buying new ones
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