| Way back in 2004, the United Nations issued a report | | | | for sale through resellers. Whatever you need to |
| that showed the value of refurbished desktop | | | | service your desktop, you can probably find it. |
| computers, at least indirectly, when it highlighted the | | | | Buying Used Desktops Makes Good Eco-Sense |
| problem of e-waste. Now, with the economy slowing, | | | | Back to that UN report. The report urged governments |
| there is one more reason to consider used or | | | | to "slow the growth of high-tech trash". UN |
| refurbished computers - they cost less. | | | | researchers found that: |
| Refurbished Desktop Computers Make Good Financial | | | | "...the average 24 kg desktop computer with monitor |
| Sense | | | | requires at least ten times its weight in fossil fuels and |
| Why pay full price when you can get a refurbished | | | | chemicals to manufacture, much more materials |
| computer that performs just as well (or better) than a | | | | intensive than an automobile or refrigerator, which only |
| new machine? | | | | require 1-2 times their weight in fossil fuels. |
| Refurbished desktop computers come from a variety | | | | Researchers found that manufacturing one desktop |
| of sources - customer returns, cast-offs after an | | | | computer and 17-inch CRT monitor uses at least 240 |
| upgrade, off-lease. When the machines are | | | | kg of fossil fuels, 22 kg of chemicals and 1,500 kg of |
| refurbished, they are thoroughly tested and cleaned to | | | | water - a total of 1.8 tonnes of materials." |
| ensure they perform according to the manufacturer's | | | | Of course most desktops now use LCD monitors, but |
| original specifications. Sometimes the original equipment | | | | the environmental impact of these machines is clear. |
| manufacturer refurbishes the computer, and | | | | The UN also made note of "the rapid rate at which |
| sometimes an authorized reseller does it. Either way, | | | | [desktops] are discarded for newer machines." |
| the computer is usable, suitable to most business | | | | If you buy used equipment, you are making a good |
| applications, and much cheaper than a new one. | | | | environmental choice. Yes, computers are still being |
| Can a refurbished desktop meet your processing | | | | manufactured using chemicals and fossil fuels, but you |
| needs? Yes. Equipment manufacturers will try to tell | | | | will not be contributing to the demand for new |
| you through their advertising that you need the latest | | | | machines when you buy a used or refurbished one. |
| and greatest computer, but that is rarely the case. | | | | Further, you will be keeping a computer and monitor |
| Unless you are in a highly specialized field, like graphic | | | | out of the waste stream. |
| design or CAD applications, you can very likely get buy | | | | Bottom Line: Refurbished Desktop Computers Make |
| with a machine that is 2, 3 or even 5 years old. | | | | Good Business Sense |
| You may also have concerns that a refurbished | | | | Save money, reduce waste and still perform your daily |
| machine will be too old to service; that parts will be | | | | computing tasks. Refurbished computers give you all |
| hard to come by. That is not usually the case. Many | | | | that and the satisfaction of having benefited both your |
| manufacturers, including heavyweights like IBM and | | | | budget and the environment. |
| Lenovo, offer their discontinued parts and accessories | | | | |