While i like my iOS devices a lot in usage, the EPEAT evaluation has zero value left to me when devices like iPads can come out on top there with the way they are glued together and basically made extremely hard to recycle or even just service by anyone besides Apple and a handful of other companies they work together.
Apple Dominates New EPEAT Tablet Registry After Nearly Withdrawing From Environmental List in 2012
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mrxak
macrumors 68000
Added size and weight, let's remember, also means more cost in energy (most of it fossil fuels) to transport from mines to manufacturing to market to consumer. Apple's thinness cult means they can ship more devices with less cost to the environment. And, as Apple is happy to point out, their devices are far more recyclable than most because they use good quality metals and glass that can be melted down and used again like new.
And as many people are pointing out in this topic, there is a huge market for used Apple products.
rdlink
macrumors 68040
First of all, the first link you sent didn't make any sense. It was a link to an article about iPad rumors. Second, the act of upgrading your flash drive does not void your warranty, unless you damage another component in the laptop while doing it. That's as it should be. Naturally, the flash drive you put into it will not be covered.
As far as the iMac is concerned, the iMac line of computers was designed for consumers, not geeks who like to tear apart their stuff. If someone walks into an Apple Store, looks at an iMac , and buys one expecting to be able to get inside of it later to upgrade it they're just an idiot.
This whole argument is getting rather silly, frankly. Your computer is an appliance. When was the last time you ranted at Maytag because you can't upgrade the compressor on your refrigerator or the heating elements on your stove?
What about just doing your own repairs vs upgrade. You won't hear complaints about refrigerator compressors or heating elements because they are customer serviceable if you know how to do it.
The thread is silly anyway (and misleading) as Apple did withdraw - not "nearly" and further - EPEAT isn't an impartial/3rd party organization anyway.
Quite simple. The gamer nerds that feel a need to swap out new pieces every other week are not exactly the world's best recyclers. When they change a battery or graphics card, they just toss it out. Apple and other mfgrs at least recycle computers when they are replaced.
Oh sure, people come on here and SAY they are better recyclers than the companies, but I think we can safely assume the opposite is actually true.
Oh, and you're welcome MR for me not jumping on the obvious flame bait.
rdlink
macrumors 68040
Customer serviceable and easily repairable are two different things.
Can I buy a new compressor for my refrigerator and install it myself? Yes. Is it easy, and would the vast, vast majority of people who own them ever do it? No. Why? Because they don't have the proper knowledge, training, diagnostic or servicing tools. Plus, the appliance is considered a sealed unit to virtually anyone who would buy it.
Now think about that in context of an iMac, or even a MBA. Can I buy a new internal part for it and install it myself? Yes. Would the vast, vast majority of people who own them consider doing it? No. Why? Because they don't have the proper knowledge, training, diagnostic or servicing tools. Plus, the computer (aka appliance) is considered a sealed unit to virtually anyone who would buy it, small, vocal geek minority excluded.
We are in a transitional phase in computing. We are going from the point in time when computers (including, but not limited to desktops, laptops, phones and tablets) were considered hobbyist devices by many, to a time when almost everyone will view their computing device as just another tool in their lives to get things done. At one point there was an argument for making computers serviceable, because technology was relatively expensive, and the power of available hardware was constantly being challenged by even the most mundane of tasks by even the most basic of user. The ability to upgrade from 16MB to 32MB of RAM, so that your computer wouldn't crash when you tried to open Wordperfect and Lotus 123 at the same time was desirable, and logical.
Now you can buy a computer that will do everything that 99% of users need it to do for the entire realistic life of the computer. Do parts fail prematurely sometimes? Yes. But I don't hear anyone grousing about their KitchenAid blender's motor burning up, and not being able to open it up easily to drop another one in.
10 years from now a new generation will be amazed that there was a time when people opened up their computers to throw new parts into them.
I don't disagree with you for the most part. On the other hand - clearly you aren't visiting the right forums if you believe people people don't complain about any and everything they own not working correctly. Or visiting twitter much
$15 battery? Expect that to explode no doubt. Anyway, you'll have to get glued batteries serviced from Apple. It's $200 to get the rMBP's batteries replaced by Apple.
rdlink
macrumors 68040
I don't disagree with you for the most part. On the other hand - clearly you aren't visiting the right forums if you believe people people don't complain about any and everything they own not working correctly. Or visiting twitter much
Touche'
StyxMaker
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MacSince1985
macrumors 6502
and I will be very sad when that day comes
$15 was for an iPod battery from ifixit. Cheaper ones are available but I didn't trust them. The MacBook battery was $75 from OWC.
rdlink
macrumors 68040
And I will be happy. Because the devices will be so commoditized that the computer appliances will cost 1/2 what they do today, in real dollars.
I actually find it funny that you feel that way, however, given your handle. Apple (more specifically Jobs) has been trying to keep his customers out of the Mac since day one. True, when he left Apple opened it up more. But he reversed direction on that as soon as he got back. If you've had a Mac since 1985 you should have seen this coming a long time ago.
MacSince1985
macrumors 6502
True. That was even more obvious after reading the biography. Woz wanted open systems anyone could hack. Jobs wanted closed systems where he controlled everything (OK, I simplified a bit). It doesn't mean I have to like it.
I'm willing to concede that there are cases where soldering in processors and RAM makes sense, even SSD chips. But I draw the line at batteries. I haven't seen any justification for making wear part almost impossible to replace.
rdlink
macrumors 68040
Well, I think you have to look at that last statement as a matter of personal preference. Take the MBA, for instance. It became an instant hit when it was redesigned in 2010, and has spawned a bunch of attempted copycats. Why? I believe it was snapped up by business people and students who wanted it for the light, small form factor. And they could care less about whether the battery is replaceable. They just know they have the form factor they want in a reasonably powerful computer, with all day battery life.
Could they have built a 5 pound bus that could do the same thing, and had upgradeable parts? Sure. But nobody would have been interested in it. Don't believe me? Ask Dell and HP.