| For years self dubbed tree huggers have been | | | | According to Gartner the cost of creating, packaging, |
| publicizing the world’s need to go green in order | | | | shipping, and of maintaining permanent technical |
| to protect the planet from harmful chemicals that | | | | support makes it nearly impossible to achieve the |
| could potentially impact the environment. Now it | | | | goal of offering a laptop for such a low price. In their |
| seems you can’t open a magazine or turn on | | | | announcement analysts also mentioned other |
| the TV without seeing news about how to go | | | | concerns. |
| green. Even celebrities have joined the cause with | | | | Annett Jump on a press release on Gartner’s |
| fundraisers and eco-friendly clothing lines. The go | | | | website stated that, “The economic benefits of |
| green movement has grown to the point that now | | | | IT literacy in emerging markets are currently driving |
| you can go online and find laptops that are safer for | | | | the push for the $100 PC but there are many open |
| the environment. | | | | questions that remain…These include determining |
| The Electronic Product Environmental Assessment | | | | the relevant hardware specifications, power |
| Tool (EPEAT) has rated almost 300 laptops in an | | | | availability, availability and cost of Internet connection, |
| effort to give the public a place to find | | | | as well as providing adequate finance and payment |
| environmentally friendly laptops. EPEAT has a list of | | | | options for emerging markets where funds may well |
| requirements that notebooks must meet in order to | | | | be extremely limited.” |
| receive either their bronze, silver, or gold seal. | | | | With such a great goal, it is of little wonder that the |
| According to their website bronze is awarded to | | | | push for a cheap laptop is the top goal for many |
| laptops that meet all their required criteria, whereas | | | | laptop companies. This goal is one that Gartner |
| silver means a notebook met all their criteria in | | | | doesn’t deny is worthwhile; however, their main |
| addition to half the optional criteria they have for | | | | point is that there are more factors to consider for |
| laptop computers. For gold, the product must meet all | | | | this cheap laptop including what specific curriculum |
| criteria as well as 75% of all their optional criteria for | | | | needs are present in the different countries they will |
| an eco-friendlier product. | | | | service as well as who will train teachers to |
| According to the Environmental News Network (ENN) | | | | incorporate this new technology into their daily |
| among the greener laptops reported through EPEAT, | | | | routine. |
| they favor the Lenovo Thinkpad X300, Toshiba | | | | So, when does Gartner believe the laptop industry |
| Portege R500-S5007V, HP 2710p Tablet Computer, | | | | will achieve this inexpensive laptop? According to their |
| and the Apple MacBook Air. | | | | publication, it’s at least two to three years away. |
| Replacement Laptop Battery For LENOVO ThinkPad | | | | Although hardware has gotten cheaper and will most |
| X300 Series | | | | likely continue to get cheaper, things such as |
| | | | hardware and technical support are likely to stay at |
| Specifications | | | | the same price. Until these additional factors become |
| - Part No: ThinkPad X300 Series | | | | cheaper Gartner believes that $100 is far too low a |
| - Product ID: NLV018 | | | | goal. Currently laptop manufacturers have been able |
| - Battery Type: Li-polymer | | | | to reduce costs to between $150 and $250. |
| - Volt: 11.2 V | | | | What Gartner believes will emerge as a more |
| - Capacity: 2400mAh | | | | lucrative and expanding market is the mini-notebook |
| - Weight: 334.53g | | | | sector. Jump was quoted as stating, “We expect |
| - Dimension: 255.30 x 72.15 x 9.90mm | | | | to see increased product innovation in the PC market |
| - Color: Black | | | | during the next few years…Mini-notebooks will |
| - Org. Price: AU $ 112.04 | | | | create opportunities to reach many buyers across all |
| - Promotion Price: AU $78.35 (inc. GST) | | | | regions, both in mature markets as additional devices, |
| On ENN’s news website they chose these | | | | and in emerging markets as PCs.” |
| laptops for their gold seal from EPEAT as well as for | | | | Maybe $100 for a laptop is just a dream, but it’s |
| the efforts Lenovo, Toshiba, HP, and Apple went | | | | not a dream that won’t come true. This goal |
| through in order to decrease hazardous chemicals in | | | | just needs to be refined a little more before it goes |
| their notebooks. The Lenovo Thinkpad X300 has | | | | from dream/goal to reality. |
| mecury-free LEDs in the monitor, contains an energy | | | | Laptop computers are increasingly becoming more |
| efficient processor, and their packaging materials are | | | | popular. There has even been data supporting the |
| 90% recyclable. These were big pluses for ENN. | | | | idea that laptops will eventually overtake desktops in |
| The Toshiba Portege R500-S5007V among other | | | | sales. With increasing popularity comes a surge in |
| Toshiba notebooks has introduced alternatives to | | | | laptop sales. |
| phthalates and other hazardous chemicals. The HP | | | | In a recent report from DisplaySearch Data, laptop |
| 2710p Tablet Computer is also energy efficient. In | | | | companies displayed growth in sales. According to the |
| addition HP has said they would try to eliminate | | | | report the top 5 laptop manufacturers are HP |
| hazardous chemicals from their laptops including PVC. | | | | (Hewlett-Packard), Dell, Acer, Toshiba, and Lenovo. |
| Finally the Apple MacBook Air contains an LCD screen | | | | These companies have consistently stayed at or |
| that is mercury as well as arsenic-free. The laptop | | | | near the top for years. |
| has an aluminum case that is recyclable and has PVC | | | | Several of these companies showed growth; |
| free components. | | | | however, the most startling growth came from |
| Several other laptop models including some Dell | | | | Apple. Apple notebook sales saw a 61% gain in sales. |
| Latitudes, Toshiba Tecra’s, and HP Elitebook | | | | This gain bumped them up and into the #7 spot for |
| laptop models made the list. | | | | leading laptop manufacturers. |
| It looks like going green has gone beyond media | | | | Although Apple laptop sales are impressive, the big |
| attention and into our electronics. Going green has | | | | question is can they break the top 5? Apple’s |
| moved beyond a trend and is turning into a | | | | sales volume is lower than those in the top 5. |
| lifestyle. | | | | However, if they continue to make significant |
| The goal of many laptop computer companies is to | | | | increases they may be known for more than just |
| create a laptop that costs only $100. The purpose of | | | | the iPod or iPhone. |
| this goal is to offer a less expensive laptop option for | | | | There are many reasons why Apple laptops may be |
| developing countries. Keeping the price at $100 would | | | | gaining popularity. One reason could be the popularity |
| help developing countries expand their school | | | | of the iPod and iPhone. Satisfying consumers with |
| curriculum and offer the opportunity to raise their | | | | one product can convince them to purchase others |
| status in the world. Recently, Gartner, Inc., an analyst | | | | from the same manufacturer. |
| group announced that though this dream of the $100 | | | | Only time will tell whether or not Apple will gain more |
| laptop is nice, it may not happen in the near future. | | | | momentum and reach the #5 spot. |