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if they use recycled materials I expect 25% price cut across whole range. Or else it is just poor marketing and corner cutting at the expense of users. Recycled aluminum vs new aluminum is quite different and has "cheap" feeling all around, I can definitely feel the touch difference
 
I was thinking about my drawer full of ancient DIMMs - mostly removed from older machines in order to upgrade. Especially when the original RAM filled all sockets so upgrading required existing RAM to be removed and individually higher capacity DIMMs installed.

Upgrading feels like a good idea, I want the option. But if I have to chuck out what was originally installed, or keep it in drawers for decades, I'm not sure how much benefit it really is.

You didn't have to keep them in a drawer, gathering dust. Those DIMMs would have had a decent resale value at the time. I always sold the old RAM modules removed when upgrading Macs on eBay etc if I didn't have some other use for them. In some cases you'd get back 30-50% of the cost of the new modules!

Similar story when upgrading hard drives...
 
You didn't have to keep them in a drawer, gathering dust. Those DIMMs would have had a decent resale value at the time. I always sold the old RAM modules removed when upgrading Macs on eBay etc if I didn't have some other use for them. In some cases you'd get back 30-50% of the cost of the new modules!

Similar story when upgrading hard drives...
Always ended up thinking I'd use them somewhere...
 
The most important people of all to any corporation: the investors.

(And others who would prefer the planet not die before they’ve tripled their ROI)
The "planet will die" argument is laughable. This planet will be ok as long as another large object doesn't crash into it - we have no influence over that. What we have an influence over is to not consume like pigs and it's in corporate interest for us to consume even more so that they can beat new records in the "longest yacht built in the last 12 months". And in order for you to feel better they will sell you feel good stories about how you "save the planet" by buying their isht every 12 months, because they have this or that label.
Google "FLA" if you want to see an example of real corporate sustainability that was too inconvenient hence it was killed before it was too late.
 
if they use recycled materials I expect 25% price cut across whole range. Or else it is just poor marketing and corner cutting at the expense of users. Recycled aluminum vs new aluminum is quite different and has "cheap" feeling all around, I can definitely feel the touch difference

No you cannot. Recycled aluminum can be as pure as fresh aluminum, and it's one of the most recycled materials that exist. It's very, very energy intensive to process from raw bauxite ore. Either way, Apple doesn't use pure aluminum recycled or otherwise, they use alloys, which is what you are feeling.

Source: Chemist in my earlier career days and worked for an aluminum smelting company.
 
The "planet will die" argument is laughable. This planet will be ok as long as another large object doesn't crash into it - we have no influence over that. What we have an influence over is to not consume like pigs and it's in corporate interest for us to consume even more so that they can beat new records in the "longest yacht built in the last 12 months". And in order for you to feel better they will sell you feel good stories about how you "save the planet" by buying their isht every 12 months, because they have this or that label.
Google "FLA" if you want to see an example of real corporate sustainability that was too inconvenient hence it was killed before it was too late.
The planet will be just fine, but human habitability is already deteriorating considerably due to climate change.
 
I was thinking about my drawer full of ancient DIMMs - mostly removed from older machines in order to upgrade. Especially when the original RAM filled all sockets so upgrading required existing RAM to be removed and individually higher capacity DIMMs installed.

Upgrading feels like a good idea, I want the option. But if I have to chuck out what was originally installed, or keep it in drawers for decades, I'm not sure how much benefit it really is.

This just made me chuckle a bit thinking about my collection of ram. I don't like keeping older/obsolete and unused computers and tech around, but I've always kept old ram (and socketed processors). I have a shoebox full of it, all the way back to 30-pin SIMMs..

Even have a collection of rambus. No idea why.
 
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The planet will be just fine, but human habitability is already deteriorating considerably due to climate change.
Is it? I don't see too many "save the humankind" slogans. 99% of "how dare you" material is focused on "saving the planet" - which, as we established already, is logically nonsensical.
Another anecdote - when Amazon was caught destroying millions of unsold stock a few years back their excuse was that they are working hard on their carbon neutral initiative. DOES THIS MAKE ANY SENSE?
 
No you cannot. Recycled aluminum can be as pure as fresh aluminum, and it's one of the most recycled materials that exist. It's very, very energy intensive to process from raw bauxite ore. Either way, Apple doesn't use pure aluminum recycled or otherwise, they use alloys, which is what you are feeling.

Source: Chemist in my earlier career days and worked for an aluminum smelting company.
Thank you, quite interesting!
Idk what exact I was feeling but my old iMac 2012 feels sort of “sturdier” than the fresh MacBook Air M1. Same with older iPhones, there is definitely a quality/feel difference between iPhone 5 and iPhone 11, maybe due to different alloys
 
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Thank you, quite interesting!
Idk what exact I was feeling but my old iMac 2012 feels sort of “sturdier” than the fresh MacBook Air M1. Same with older iPhones, there is definitely a quality/feel difference between iPhone 5 and iPhone 11, maybe due to different alloys

Absolutely a different feeling feeling!
 
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Is it? I don't see too many "save the humankind" slogans. 99% of "how dare you" material is focused on "saving the planet" - which, as we established already, is logically nonsensical.
Another anecdote - when Amazon was caught destroying millions of unsold stock a few years back their excuse was that they are working hard on their carbon neutral initiative. DOES THIS MAKE ANY SENSE?
It makes sense to reduce our carbon footprint because we are creating colossal environmental catastrophes which we’re witnessing every year.
 
These things are made in China, how are these made using renewable energy? I don‘t believe one word of it.

I bet Apple is paying for “Carbon credits“ to get the label “Carbon neutral“.
 
It’s going to be hard to save the planet when we have folks so mindlessly buying and wasting

As an example, I have to chuckle at people wanting to “upgrade from an M2 Pro to a base m4”

😂
 
Carbon neutral? Made in China, the biggest producer of carbon emissions in the world! Well at least Apple ticked the woke carbon neutral tick box, so they can rejoice! :rolleyes:
Maybe Chinese manufacturers will learn from this.
The thing is… environmentally sound manufacturing is usually more efficient manufacturing, and more efficient is less expensive.
 
My old Powerbook G4 titanium still runs on burned wood and coal...
Probably not. Technology is improving.
1/3 of Texas’ electricity comes from windmills

Half of Iowa’s electricity comes from wind. Half of Denmark’s. Coal-fired plants are being shuttered because the cost of wind is zero.
 
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It is worth considering who benefits from the 100% recycled aluminium, recycled gold plating in the circuit boards, and 100% recycled rare earth elements used in all the magnets, as well as the source of the 100% renewable electricity powering its manufacturing. While Apple makes these claims, the actual production occurs in factories, many of which are in China. This highlights the distinction between design and production in the tech industry, contributing to China's emergence as a technological leader while other nations fall behind.

The advantages of using 100% recycled materials and energy largely benefit China rather than being distributed globally. Although these materials promote sustainability, the economic gains—such as job creation and technological progress—primarily enrich Chinese manufacturers and their local economy.

As the world's largest alumina producer, China predominantly utilises its own recycled materials, allowing it to control its supply chain and ensure that the aluminium used in production is sourced locally. This strategy not only bolsters China's economy but also aligns with its sustainability objectives, minimising reliance on imports.

As Apple products are manufactured in China, they are essentially homegrown for Chinese consumers, eliminating the need for imports. While some money may still flow out of the country, the primary production and assembly occur locally, benefiting the domestic market. Any product manufactured in a country and then exported is considered an export product, regardless of the company's headquarters being in another country.

For Western consumers, the benefits may largely stem from the perception of supporting environmentally friendly practices, rather than from tangible advantages, as the recycling processes and economic gains are mainly concentrated in China.
 
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I was thinking about my drawer full of ancient DIMMs - mostly removed from older machines in order to upgrade. Especially when the original RAM filled all sockets so upgrading required existing RAM to be removed and individually higher capacity DIMMs installed.

Upgrading feels like a good idea, I want the option. But if I have to chuck out what was originally installed, or keep it in drawers for decades, I'm not sure how much benefit it really is.
The idea is that it is better to throw* out a pair of DIMMs than to throw* out a whole computer.

* Of course, reselling (for use) or recycling them is better than discarding them in the trash.
 
I was thinking about my drawer full of ancient DIMMs - mostly removed from older machines in order to upgrade. Especially when the original RAM filled all sockets so upgrading required existing RAM to be removed and individually higher capacity DIMMs installed.

Upgrading feels like a good idea, I want the option. But if I have to chuck out what was originally installed, or keep it in drawers for decades, I'm not sure how much benefit it really is.
You’re missing the point which is if you can upgrade things you don’t have to buy a while new computer as often

It’s a whole computer vs. some RAM chips. Which do you think wins?
 
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