Apple Computer Recycling Program

[Photorun]

I rate it SUPER-NEGATIVE BIG TIME BUDDY. This is just another way to keep the poor from ever having access to computers. This makes me very mad. Can't you see that??

Give me a break buddy. First up, if you're poor, get a job and/or there are computers at libraries to use for FREE so use one of those to get a job. Secondly not all poor people WANT to use computers and/or even if you have a computer you still need electricity, you need to pay for that, and the internet, etc. etc.

Additionally many old computers aren't even worth their price. Computers DO die. I have in my basement a completely DOA iMac (original variety), Wallstreet Powerbook with a fried motherboard, and an iBook that my nephew cracked the screen closing something inside of it. I always have a bunch of old peecee in the basement as well that may run Win95 maybe possibly if at all, I've given away parts off them.

You're overreacting thinking "everyone has perfectly GOOD computers and yeah buddy, we're holding them out from the poor" or Apple is only taking perfectly fine computers to destroy. Horse manure! I have some perfectly not WORK computers I can send back to Apple that I can't just take to a dump. Did you think of that?

I donated a bunch of old Macs to a local minority-owned coffee shop so they could have a little internet cafe (in exchange for free coffee when I go in there but they threw that in) so yes, old computers are good for some things but not ALL are good, many aren't good for anything.

Apple sticking it to the poor, wow buddy, you take the cake for over-the-top antics on this one, you're not even being disingenuous... you're being incoherent.

 

[Photorun]

blah blah blah non-logic poor reasoned blah

Give me your address, I'll get a U-Haul and round up as many non-working computers and come dump them on your lawn or in your livingroom. Then you can go about making them all working in your spare time so you can "help" the people you seem so adamant could use broken junk. Heck, poor people would be mad at you for giving them that junk.

 

[MacTruck]

Give me your address, I'll get a U-Haul and round up as many non-working computers and come dump them on your lawn or in your livingroom. Then you can go about making them all working in your spare time so you can "help" the people you seem so adamant could use broken junk. Heck, poor people would be mad at you for giving them that junk.

I grew up with a used black and white TV. No vcr, no cable. We were poor. If somebody gave me a computer that turned on I would have **** myself. I love how people with money think everyone has money too.

 

[Eniregnat]

Rather than respond to any one person's post I'll state this:
One person's garbage can be come another persons/non-profits costly pile of junk.

I work for an NPO that uses a lot of computers. I also volunteer my time, to help those that can't afford computers or support. Honestly, I don't spend much time helping, but I know it makes a diffrence.

Computers are really only good if licensed current licensed software is supplied. Even with volume licensing, and "gifts in kind" os and software support it's pricey and time consuming. Aged computers often fustrate people who end up using dissimular computers, applications and OS. This is often frustrating.

People often attempt to drop off their aged computer (with mechanical problems) and think that they are doing the NPO a favor. It takes time, money, and equipment to ready a computer for use. Mac's are easy, Apple is not too finicky about licensing, but WinTell computers can be a bear to set up. The older the machine, often the more difficult it is. Many places will take donated computer for parts. In the end, think of why it junk to you? It's much like when people donate worn out clothing to non-profit thrift stores. That oil stained hole ridden T-shirt is just going into their trash. At some point most tech products, even if re purposed for decades end up as waste.

If you are going to donate your computer please clean it up, install the OS and software, and transfer the software licences and keys if you can.

Actually, if anybody is really interested in getting computers into the hands for those that can't afford them, look in your local community for a NPO or group that helps refurbish computers for those of need and PROVIDE TRAINING and SUPPORT.

Volunteer Match is a great place to start. Stop wanking about the problem and do something NOW!

 

[Whistleway]

Great. Where's Apple UK's recycling program??

Oh, please. It's a freaking american company. What did u expect?

 

[Dr.Gargoyle]

Give me your address, I'll get a U-Haul and round up as many non-working computers and come dump them on your lawn or in your livingroom. Then you can go about making them all working in your spare time so you can "help" the people you seem so adamant could use broken junk. Heck, poor people would be mad at you for giving them that junk.

Dude, you should seriously consider getting some perspective. Did you even bother reading what I wrote???
People, like yourself, have been shooting of hot air for years about how people in under-privilege countries will be offended by small efforts. The most successful (and cheapest) anti-poverty program so far has been the micro-credit program, providing small loans ($25-$500) to poor people so they can help themselves out of poverty. I am quite sure you would have consider that too as an insult to poor people. An estimated 500 million poor people has been helped by this program so far.
You apparently don't have a clue under what circumstances poor people live under. Make yourself a big favor and try to get yourself informed on the subject.

 

[Dr.Gargoyle]

Rather than respond to any one person's post I'll state this:
One person's garbage can be come another persons/non-profits costly pile of junk.

I work for an NPO that uses a lot of computers. I also volunteer my time, to help those that can't afford computers or support. Honestly, I don't spend much time helping, but I know it makes a diffrence.

Computers are really only good if licensed current licensed software is supplied. Even with volume licensing, and "gifts in kind" os and software support it's pricey and time consuming. Aged computers often fustrate people who end up using dissimular computers, applications and OS. This is often frustrating.

People often attempt to drop off their aged computer (with mechanical problems) and think that they are doing the NPO a favor. It takes time, money, and equipment to ready a computer for use. Mac's are easy, Apple is not too finicky about licensing, but WinTell computers can be a bear to set up. The older the machine, often the more difficult it is. Many places will take donated computer for parts. In the end, think of why it junk to you? It's much like when people donate worn out clothing to non-profit thrift stores. That oil stained hole ridden T-shirt is just going into their trash. At some point most tech products, even if re purposed for decades end up as waste.

If you are going to donate your computer please clean it up, install the OS and software, and transfer the software licences and keys if you can.

Actually, if anybody is really interested in getting computers into the hands for those that can't afford them, look in your local community for a NPO or group that helps refurbish computers for those of need and PROVIDE TRAINING and SUPPORT.

Volunteer Match is a great place to start. Stop wanking about the problem and do something NOW!

Oil stained hole ridden T-shirts doesn't end up in the trash, but are actually gratefully accepted in many poor countries. I think the apparent confusion in this thread stems from just how poor the underprivilege people are. I do realize that it is a problem when people donate things local charities in western societies that can't be used helping people, but rather inflicts a cost to the charity. However, that is (unfortunately) an unique western society problem. Poor people in underprivilege countries like Africa gratefully accept what we call "junk". If you ever get to see the absolute total state of destitution first hand, you realize they are in a desperate need of more or less everything... and they need it NOW. Not tomorrow, but now.

 

[lostngone]

How on earth is "giving" your computer back to Apple a good thing????

Does anyone on this forum actually use their brains?

GIVE YOUR OLD COMPUTER TO A SCHOOL OR OTHER CHARITY for goodness sake, take a tax deduction, and do some good rather than giving it back to the same company who is already making a hefty profit on everything it sells you.

I wonder about you people sometimes.

The schools in my area don't want computers unless they are less then a year old. As far as Charity she isn't talking to me anymore.

 

[yac_moda]

Did something just happen to the Apple's servers

I could not get on for a while ...

... now they are running as fast as normal

 

[yac_moda]

We IS gonna run Windows XP apps NATIVELY

http://www.macnn.com/articles/06/04/21/os.x.to.run.windows.apps/

"OS X to run Windows XP apps natively?

Apple may be planning to implement the Windows API (Application Programming Interfaces) directly in Mac OS X 10.5, which would allow Mac users to run Windows XP applications natively in Mac OS X without rebooting and without the need for virtualization software. Robert Cringely, in his latest column, also reiterated that Apple may migrate Mac OS X to a faster kernel, abandoning the older Mach microkernel presently in use. Apple and Microsoft in 1997 agreed to a five-year patent cross-licensing agreement, which ended in August of 2002 -- 10 months after Windows XP began shipping. The columnist believes Apple may be planning to utilize Microsoft's own Windows API, coupled with a faster kernel under the hood to offer users the ability to run Windows XP applications natively from their Mac OS X desktop, with the optional ability to dual-boot into Windows Vista once it ships in 2007."


I told you before that they could do this, especially if they used the Transitive software to get Windows apps to make Mac OS X calls for interface widgets, then they would LOOK MACish

 

[finalcoolman]

We IS gonna run Windows XP apps NATIVELY

http://www.macnn.com/articles/06/04/21/os.x.to.run.windows.apps/

"OS X to run Windows XP apps natively?

Apple may be planning to implement the Windows API (Application Programming Interfaces) directly in Mac OS X 10.5, which would allow Mac users to run Windows XP applications natively in Mac OS X without rebooting and without the need for virtualization software. Robert Cringely, in his latest column, also reiterated that Apple may migrate Mac OS X to a faster kernel, abandoning the older Mach microkernel presently in use. Apple and Microsoft in 1997 agreed to a five-year patent cross-licensing agreement, which ended in August of 2002 -- 10 months after Windows XP began shipping. The columnist believes Apple may be planning to utilize Microsoft's own Windows API, coupled with a faster kernel under the hood to offer users the ability to run Windows XP applications natively from their Mac OS X desktop, with the optional ability to dual-boot into Windows Vista once it ships in 2007."


I told you before that they could do this, especially if they used the Transitive software to get Windows apps to make Mac OS X calls for interface widgets, then they would LOOK MACish

While cool, what the hell does this have to do with Apple's recycling program?

 

[aarongobo]

eh?!

Well...

I wonder how many people have a computer that wouldn't be worth at least 100 dollars that are buying a brand NEW mac... I don't think that many computers will be sent there way with this program.

 

[sam10685]

COULD THIS BE BECAUSE APPLE IS ABOUT TO ANNOUNCE THE iPods ARE GOING ALL FLASH !!!

Or maybe small flash laptop.

Either way flash is so much faster then hard-dives they could EASILY recycle the flash in older devices and use in a laptop -- there is LOTs of extra room inside laptops these days.

And I suppose ANY flash even 20 pieces to make up a hard-drive would still be smaller then most laptop hard-drives


I TOLD APPLE TO DO THIS ABOUT A YEAR AGO

Well, actually I told them to used OLD outdated flash to replace hard-drives in the laptops, where there is plenty of extra room. And to make a Massive order of flash for iPods at super low prices, this way production can be ramped up easily as needed, and when they end up with left overs in their flash warehouse use the OLD flash for laptops.

There's GOLD in them thar old hardwares !!!

that'd be cool but still pretty spendy these days.

 

[sam10685]

Well...

I wonder how many people have a computer that wouldn't be worth at least 100 dollars that are buying a brand NEW mac... I don't think that many computers will be sent there way with this program.

agreed... my g4 powerbook is still probably worth a few hundred...

 

[Bosunsfate]

Is it really green?

While it is good that Apple is offering this service, what really matters is how Apple recycles what it gets.

If all they do is pack these into a container and ship it off to China, then there is nothing green about this program.

Where do most computers go to die?

This is a real problem that no one has really found a solution.

So, while this might help out your local landfill.....

 

[matticus008]

Hmmm, I tried to avoid a too lengthly cost analyze of the problem. First of all, it cost to recycle. The value you get from a computer that is totaly recycled is less than it cost. Here too you have a cost for transportation, labor, recycling facilities, and so on.

You're missing the difference. With recycling, there aren't any giant warehouses full of computers waiting to be inspected and rebuilt. There's no added money to spend, and there's no time consuming labor, and a MUCH smaller human workforce. A machine dumps the computers into a giant shredder--the only significant cost is shipping to and from the shredder, which already exists. It's nowhere near the same as building a warehouse and spending 7 hours putting together a working computer from a pile of crap computers. It costs MORE to rebuild than it costs to recycle it. Of course the value is less than the cost--BOTH options are a financial loss. The recycling one is less so.

We agree and I am all for recycling, if we are talking about non-reusable trash. However, I sense that your definition of trash differs from mine.
Most people have no idea that the total environmental cost for recycling in many cases is higher if you recycle instead of burning it in industrial furnaces . There is a reason why universities have a enviromental engineers program.

Your definition of "reusable" is bogus, that's the whole problem here. It's not any cheaper to sort and rehabilitate thousands of discarded computers than it is just to recycle them, and it's less effective in helping people than using newer machines. You should also know that computers contain dangerous substances and can't just be chucked in a giant furnace. The health consequences are important. Further, you generally don't attempt to incinerate metals. The per-unit cost of rehabilitating a broken computer ends up being roughly the same as an extremely cheap brand new computer, or the resale value of a working computer that's say, two years old. You'd be giving out old, slow computers for the same cost to you as newer, faster ones while ignoring better sources for secondhand machines that people might actually be able to use.

Bottomline: Saving the planet isn't as easy as one might think it is.

No one said it was easy. But helping people isn't as easy as handing them an old 486 or a broken G3/233. You've yet to come up with any particular use for old computers in the developing world without printers or the Internet.

 

[pacman7331]

Only for those after June???

Why is it that it is only available for those who buy computers after JUNE? I just bought a computer, Why not recycle ALL computers?

So is it only for the models released after June? Or simply for any computer you buy from apple after June? If so...


Why?


duh... what diffrence does it make. eh?

Planet is still in Jepordy... Recycling policies really should not be a novelty by now... should be a very mundane everyday practice!!!

If apple is going to start recycling computers like Dell has been forced into doing, let it be a recycling program of ALL computers! Please lets try not to be so goddamn superficial about the issue, It's beyond apple or dell or intel or moterola or IBM or microsoft. It's beyond the borders of this country, it's the fate of our planet here, peace and livlihood...

One day we have to stop with the egocentric values... and look at the bigger picture.

 

[pacman7331]

The poor

That said...

Poor people will still have plenty of access to outdated and disregarded electronics...

After all who do you think is disassembling those recycled computers? Certianly not white male dominators.

 

[Arcady]

People throw away Macs?

If you don't want your old Mac, mail it to me. I'll pay shipping. (Send me a PM!)

 

[matticus008]

Why is it that it is only available for those who buy computers after JUNE? I just bought a computer, Why not recycle ALL computers?

Because like any program, it takes time to get all the pieces in place. They won't be equipped to send out the boxes and handle the returns until June. You can recycle ANY computer once the program starts. On June 1st when the program starts, any time you buy a Mac, they'll give you a box and prepaid airbills to get rid of your junk computer (if you want to). This one-ups Dell, who pays only for the airbill (not the packaging).

If apple is going to start recycling computers like Dell has been forced into doing, let it be a recycling program of ALL computers!

It is! The program just isn't starting until June.

 

[BlizzardBomb]

Oh, please. It's a freaking american company. What did u expect?

Yet, some people complain about when the BBC doesn't show specific programs in other countries? Right...

 

[eXan]

Why would anyone recycle their old computer? Why not just sell it?

Of course, if it's not working, but any other reason?

 

[matticus008]

If you CAN sell it and you WANT to sell it, by all means go for it. This is for people who just want to get rid of an old computer without any effort. It's not a replacement for resale or donation and it's not depriving anyone of access to anything--without this program, these computers simply continue going to the landfill.

Really, people, it's not that difficult a concept to grasp. This is an environmentally sound replacement for the trash can, nothing more. It doesn't change your ability to sell your used hardware and it doesn't reduce donations to good causes.

 

[Ashapalan]

Oh, please. It's a freaking american company. What did u expect?

yeh, because apple IS only concerned about america.

 

[Confidemus]

International not necessary

A new macs for old policy would be better

You could vote neegative for the lack of an international policy. Us poor forgotten brits

In the EU we already have guidelines for taking back old hardware for free! In addition in Germany we have different rules from state to state for disposing old hardware locally. Here where I live we have four times a year the chance to dispose our old stuff (from computer hardware over old washing mashines up to the old wardrobe) just at our front door and the local waste management takes the stuff and - of course - sells the stuff to recycling plants.

So, please don't vote negative in the US not knowing what is going on somewhere else. As far as I know the whole theme is far better developed in the EU than in the US. So with this initiative Apple is just reaching European niveau.

Best, Fernando