Apple Highlights Environmental Responsibility in 2015 Progress Report

[kwikdeth]

Exactly. And when the RAM and HD is replaceable, it doesn't matter when Apple skimps out with things like 4GB of ram in 2015 as they can be upgraded.

in an increasing number of apple products however that is not the case. 21" imac, mac mini, all macbooks except the legacy 13" model....

and with their obsession with making everything thinner you can expect it to be only a matter of time till the rest, except the Pro, are like that as well.

 

[robeddie]

how about removable batteries and not needlessly soldering components that force people to replace whole computers instead of upgrading parts like ram and harddisks? not to mention all the devices with surfaces that scratch easily and require extra accessories for protection...etc.

THIS ... cannot be emphasized enough. The lack of reparability makes all these 'environmentally friendly' materials irrelevant.

 

[christian_k]

Light bulb burns through: Average American consumer buys a new house.

Apple brings the throw-away society to the next level.

Christian

 

[anomie]

The best things Apple can still do for the environment:
1) Stop soldering RAM
2) User replaceable batteries
3) Don't populate both banks of RAM with 1/2 memory on each
4) No more glue
5) Faster processors (to reduce premature obsolescence)
6) Manufacture in America

1) no problem. Apple can recycle the entire product in case anything breaks
2) not sure about this one. Could lead people to buy additional batteries for their iPhones instead simply charging the one that's built in
3) Guess this one makes sense indeed
4) depends on the glue and as long as Apple is able to recycle their products when broken, it should be fine
5) processor speed is not the limiting factor in most setups these days
6) Depends on where in America that should be. The USA for example have no tradition in waste reduction and environmental care in general, maybe Europe would be the better choice

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how about removable batteries and not needlessly soldering components that force people to replace whole computers instead of upgrading parts like ram and harddisks? not to mention all the devices with surfaces that scratch easily and require extra accessories for protection...etc.

I'd like it even better, if people would simply accept scratches that only affect the design. No need for an unnecessary difficult production, no need for cases etc.
Again, removable batteries and components could lead to people upgrading just because it's cheap and then the old processor and ram becomes waste.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

PR stuff is crap. They look good in the US and trample the rest of the world through its vendors.

And Apple consumes resources. Non-renewable resources like mineral ores and oil.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

What type of solar plant is that? I thought they would be using PV panels.

PV panels are not energy efficient.

 

[koruki]

[/COLOR]

The best things Apple can still do for the environment:

1) Stop soldering RAM <- yes

2) User replaceable batteries <-so a bunch of third parties makes a tone of useless batteries that no one buys? you only change battery once or twice in the lifetime of the product regardless of if its replaceable. You can still get it done by Apple.

3) Don't populate both banks of RAM with 1/2 memory on each <repeating 1

4) No more glue - repeating 2
5) Faster processors (to reduce premature obsolescence) < intel and battery dependent.

6) Manufacture in America <- wtf? cause it would be biodegrable to if it was made in the U.S of A?

 

[Tech198]

hehe... Apple still solders...

 

[christian_k]

Upgrading RAM and hardisks is so '90s. Plan ahead and buy more than you think you'll need when you get a new device.

What is the price for a 500 GB SSD in 2015?
What was the price for a 500 GB SSD in 2010? Was it even available in a normal form factor (2.5'' hard drive replacement)?

If you upgrade a computer from 2010 with a SSD today, it may be well worth it.

Christian

 

[sir1963nz]

how about removable batteries and not needlessly soldering components that force people to replace whole computers instead of upgrading parts like ram and harddisks? not to mention all the devices with surfaces that scratch easily and require extra accessories for protection...etc.

Because, the 99% of people who DONT upgrade their RAM etc all have a socket or two in them at extra costs, extra weight, extra waste, etc etc etc.

I am 100% sure Apple has metrics that show how many people upgrade RAM or HDs.

I am also sure they have metrics which shows the reliability of sockets vs solder.

So,charging the 99% to have components they dont need or want so the 1% can buy a computer unsuitable to their needs and upgrade it seems stupid.

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THIS ... cannot be emphasized enough. The lack of reparability makes all these 'environmentally friendly' materials irrelevant.

Until you figure the extra components add risk of failure. Sockets are a higher failure point than solder.

Truth is, laptops have become so reliable that repairability is no longer a factor to consider.

Extra sockets needing extra space add to the cost of the laptop. At the University where I work we have a 4 year life cycle on laptops and 5 year on desktops. The cost savings and improved reliability means over all we see a $ saving over that period, particularly because we are also able to make a salary savings ( which allows us to buy 20-30 laptops a year from salary savings).

 

[Tech198]

Is that 99% of people true? or what Apple wants you to think ?

At least PC users are having a good laugh at us, where u can still buy an upgradable laptop (if it not an ultabook).

Our Mac are just becoming more and more disposable every year...

It shows because while u can open it (still) the upgradable and/or repair ability is less and less each time. I wouldn't call that a good future any means..

But we all wanted thin, and we got it... didn't we

I always though re-useing is more of an afterthought..... when did the thing as 'chuck it away and buy a new one' fit in?

 

[Dezryth]

Not sure about Apple's environmental responsibility...
All the adapters I had to buy (and later throw away) over the years because they decided to change or drop one of the plugs on their laptops... Mini-DVI, DVI, Firewire, different mag safe plugs – now they even dropped Thunderbolt on the new Macbook...

This is due to advances in technology. If you didn't want to buy a new cable you didn't have to upgrade.

I hope Apple never holds this green stuff as a higher priority than advancing the technology in their products.

 

[oldmacs]

Because, the 99% of people who DONT upgrade their RAM etc all have a socket or two in them at extra costs, extra weight, extra waste, etc etc etc.

I am 100% sure Apple has metrics that show how many people upgrade RAM or HDs.

I am also sure they have metrics which shows the reliability of sockets vs solder.

So,charging the 99% to have components they dont need or want so the 1% can buy a computer unsuitable to their needs and upgrade it seems stupid.

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Until you figure the extra components add risk of failure. Sockets are a higher failure point than solder.

Truth is, laptops have become so reliable that repairability is no longer a factor to consider.

Extra sockets needing extra space add to the cost of the laptop. At the University where I work we have a 4 year life cycle on laptops and 5 year on desktops. The cost savings and improved reliability means over all we see a $ saving over that period, particularly because we are also able to make a salary savings ( which allows us to buy 20-30 laptops a year from salary savings).

More than one percent of Mac users upgrades trust me. There would be no Mac upgrades business ATT all.

Ram and hard drives/ flash drives also die , which means that apple has to replace the whole board in some instances. Soldered ram is really not that much more reliable.

Apple has no freaking idea who upgrades. They don't care as it makes them more money to have people upgrade more often.

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This is due to advances in technology. If you didn't want to buy a new cable you didn't have to upgrade.

I hope Apple never holds this green stuff as a higher priority than advancing the technology in their products.

MagSafe to USB C is a downgrade in almost every respect. Apple changes cables based on a lot of other things besides tech enhnacenr and it causes a lot of waste.

When the earth is not inhabitable due to attitudes like yours, I'll hope you'll be happy.

 

[oldmacs]

And also, no amount of recycling makes up for shorter product lifespans. The production of a new computer + recycling uses a fair bit of energy. Stretching out a computers usable lifespan however does make a big difference.

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in an increasing number of apple products however that is not the case. 21" imac, mac mini, all macbooks except the legacy 13" model....

and with their obsession with making everything thinner you can expect it to be only a matter of time till the rest, except the Pro, are like that as well.

Yes its very sad. I have a legacy 13 inch Macbook pro 2012, and it is absolutely perfect for me. Hopefully they update it in the future so when this machine gets past it I can replace it with something similar.

Luckily because its upgradable, it going to last me a while

 

[AttilaBorbo]

Read something else then. I wasn't aware cycledance's was the only comment on MacRumors.

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I will bet you that Apple could manufacture the iPhone in the US for $30 to $50 extra bucks. And, I would gladly pay that surcharge BECAUSE that money powers our economy.

Only if they employed only undocumented immigrants under constant threat of deportation. Or in your dreams.

 

[uid15]

Hey tin-hatted ones, all these things you're only just considering, Apple has mulled over for years... and knows a LOT more about it than you, ok? You're keyboard critics, they know what they're doing (that's an understatement).

When you become the next Apple, write me a letter.

Ciao.

 

[lowendlinux]

I upgraded my 2009 white unibody MacBook as much as I could. When I finally changed it for the 2014 MBP it had 8GB RAM and 1TB HD, but the old Core 2 Du processor couldn't keep up with my daily tasks. It is now being used by a trainee in my office, a techie who's more than happy to be using it and will still get a lot of mileage out of it, since his daily tasks are not CPU intensive.

So, here's two things that I take from this: a) even upgradeable computers get old and need to be exchanged changed for newer models; b) a 5-yo 2009 MacBook still has a lot of usage right now, in 2015, which I doubt would be the case if it was a Wintel machine.

I still use a 2009 Dell Latitude E6500 daily. My main desktop is a late run HP Z600 which is a 2009 era computer.

 

[rdlink]

Is that 99% of people true? or what Apple wants you to think ?

At least PC users are having a good laugh at us, where u can still buy an upgradable laptop (if it not an ultabook).

Our Mac are just becoming more and more disposable every year...

It shows because while u can open it (still) the upgradable and/or repair ability is less and less each time. I wouldn't call that a good future any means..

But we all wanted thin, and we got it... didn't we

I always though re-useing is more of an afterthought..... when did the thing as 'chuck it away and buy a new one' fit in?

Can you explain to me how my 4 year old MBA is "disposable" when it's running just as well and fast as it was when I bought it new? I can use this computer for the tasks I bought it to do for at least 4 more years.

 

[palmerc]

User Upgradable - You're missing the point

Focusing on individual components misses the point that the most direct reduction in a product's footprint is the resources that go into it. Smaller and lighter directly translate into less stuff to source, process, manufacture, distribute and dispose.

 

[Tech198]

Can you explain to me how my 4 year old MBA is "disposable" when it's running just as well and fast as it was when I bought it new? I can use this computer for the tasks I bought it to do for at least 4 more years.

Its disposable in a sense u cannot replace RAM. Not like the older Mac's.. and plus i'm only talking about newer mac... not previous which were upgradable. and this would exclude the Mac mini, which is the only Mac really left you which ram is socket (user replaceable)

In a sense you can also upgrade the new Mac Pro too

 

[dbassy]

Australian point outlet is upside down in this video...

 

[rdlink]

Its disposable in a sense u cannot replace RAM. Not like the older Mac's.. and plus i'm only talking about newer mac... not previous which were upgradable. and this would exclude the Mac mini, which is the only Mac really left you which ram is socket (user replaceable)

In a sense you can also upgrade the new Mac Pro too

And you're wrong again. First of all, as I said my MBA runs just fine with 4GB of RAM, and will continue to do so for many years to come. If I don't need more memory, why is it obsolete for not having what I don't need?

Second, the 27" iMac continues to have user replaceable RAM.

 

[polterbyte]

I still use a 2009 Dell Latitude E6500 daily. My main desktop is a late run HP Z600 which is a 2009 era computer.

Oh, sure: both were top of the line machines, in terms of processing power, RAM and HD back in their day. The Z600 is a Xeon server, and the E6500 even comes with an Nvidia card. My 2009 Quad-core i7 is still up and running as well, of course. But although that is the case for something close to 80% of the Macs from that time—MBAirs included—, I doubt that anything over 10% of their Wintel counterparts are anything either than landfill these days. And although I believe that the iPhone 4 and 4S percentages would be lower than 80%, I'd say that definitely more than half of them are still up and running. The percentage of still up and running Symbian, Windows Phone, Android and what have you smartphones from 2009 still running? Close to 0%, ow;dn't you say?

 

[TheSlush]

The content of this video is great... but the tone, writing style, and voiceover talent just sounds soooo typical marketing fluff.

"That's why we're using turbines in Oregon..."; "So we're directing our innovation into conservation." This sounds like the exact same cute, aspirational, rhyme-y, run-on-sentence-y, big-picture-y stuff in every single IBM, Chevron, GE, and Dow Chemical commercial you see. Pleasantly bland.

Apple should be capable of a more unique approach to conveying this content.