free ebook reader for windows 10 pc cnet 2015

“A tablet can certainly mark a decrease in the environmental footprint versus traditional printing, but the big question is, what energy is powering these data centers in the cloud?” Harrell said. What’s more, as more and more smartphones and tablets are released, the energy consumption shifts toward data centers to which those gadgets connect. About half of the energy “embedded” in an electronics product comes from the supply chain of companies that supply Apple or other manufacturers, he said. Amazon’s Kindle, for example, uses E Ink technology, which is significantly more power-efficient than an LCD screen, for example.īut looking at how much energy a device consumes when in the hands of the end user isn’t the full story, notes Casey Harrell, a coordinator for Greenpeace’s global electronics campaign. On the other hand, after a few years, many people are likely to buy something new, rather than send in a device to upgrade the batteries, which ultimately creates more e-waste.Įnergy intensity The efficiency of any tablet or e-reader is certainly worth a comparison with laptops and similarly sized devices. Apple says its laptop batteries last longer than others, and it offers a take-back program to replace batteries, so it gets high marks from environmental groups on that score. Batteries will, of course, degrade and need to be replaced after a few years. Presumably, people will be running their Apple tablets off the batteries more than a laptop or desktop PC. In its latest products, Apple has phased out the use of PVC plastic and hazardous brominated flame retardants, so it would be surprising if it didn’t continue this policy with new hardware. Who makes the box? Apple has caught heat from watchdog groups in the past, but its current products are state of the art, when it comes to energy efficiency and materials. As with many environmental questions, the more you ask, the more complicated it becomes.

Free ebook reader for windows 10 pc cnet 2015