Federal bill targets electronic waste. Hoping to wake the country from its "e-waste nightmare," a U.S. congressman takes aim at the increasing volumes of obsolete computers. [CNET News.com]
It seems like Microsoft and Intel have some responsibility here. Their business models are heavily dependent upon the "technology treadmill". They make money by getting users to continually upgrade. Microsoft has no interest at all in computers that work fine, but that happen to be five or more years old. Even an old 486/33 computer could be put to work as a mail server or Internet firewall for one's home. Add a web server that supports web-dav, and you have a simple document management server that could be used as part of a home office or by students. Add a simple web browser -- not javascript, activex, or flash -- and html editor, and students can work on school assignments, including term papers.
Posted by Doug Sauder at July 19, 2002 12:03 PM