City of San Francisco to stop buying Apple computers

[obs20]

I wonder how this will affect Apple's image?
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57...ple-computers/

City officials tell the Wall Street Journal that city money can't be used to buy Apple desktops and laptops. The change comes after Apple withdrew its products from a green-certification registry.

[ScotiaBurrell]

...and sales.

[teh603]

Apple's had issues with green certification for a while now. None of their iOS devices have removable batteries, which means you technically can't get rid of them. Sure you can (illegally) throw them in the trash, but that's about it. Same with the Macbook Air.

That having been said, it does help Apple's business model as a gadget company. Buying a new object when it "breaks" instead of repairing/replacing it makes a lot of sense for their bottom line.

[RainingLemur]

Their stuff will still be purchased in droves.

[MikeOxlittle]

Originally Posted by obs20

I wonder how this will affect Apple's image?

It won't.

[pidgeon92]

San Francisco bought Macs? I guess I won't care tomorrow if I didn't know yesterday.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by teh603

Apple's had issues with green certification for a while now. None of their iOS devices have removable batteries, which means you technically can't get rid of them. Sure you can (illegally) throw them in the trash, but that's about it. Same with the Macbook Air.

I've often wondered how many modern devices are able to be sold in the EU, where it's a legal requirement of EU law that devices have removeable batteries, because batteries have to be separately recycled, due to the nasty poisonous metals they contain. And yet despite this law, we have pretty much all most portable devices, it seems, from Kindles to iPhones, sold with non-removable batteries. There must be some loophole in the law which allows this, but I don't know what it is. Perhaps it only applies to things manufactured in the EU.

[ScotiaBurrell]

I think Apple no longer wants to follow the EPEAT recycling guidelines because they think not following them allows product designs that will be more compelling for consumers and bring more value to Apple than their continued participation in EPEAT.

And I don’t think it matters much. Apple still accepts their own computers for recycling. It’s not unreasonable to ask the people who recycle old computers properly, who I imagine are very few, to bring their Apple computers back to Apple...

http://www.marco.org/2012/07/09/cove...nificant-apple

[ucfgrad93]

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

San Francisco bought Macs? I guess I won't care tomorrow if I didn't know yesterday.

Agreed.

[spellbanisher]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I've often wondered how many modern devices are able to be sold in the EU, where it's a legal requirement of EU law that devices have removeable batteries, because batteries have to be separately recycled, due to the nasty poisonous metals they contain. And yet despite this law, we have pretty much all most portable devices, it seems, from Kindles to iPhones, sold with non-removable batteries. There must be some loophole in the law which allows this, but I don't know what it is. Perhaps it only applies to things manufactured in the EU.

I can't say for all kindle devices, but the touch and the k3 have removable batteries

A Kindle touch



A kindle 3

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by spellbanisher

I can't say for all kindle devices, but the touch and the k3 have removable batteries

But they aren't removable by the consumer. Oh, I know the device can be dismantled, and the battery removed, but the typical purchaser isn't going to do that before throwing the Kindle away.

The K4, as a matter of interest, has a glued-in battery which can't be removed even if the device is dismantled.

[spellbanisher]

Originally Posted by HarryT

But they aren't removable by the consumer. Oh, I know the device can be dismantled, and the battery removed, but the typical purchaser isn't going to do that before throwing the Kindle away.

The K4, as a matter of interest, has a glued-in battery which can't be removed even if the device is dismantled.

The back cover of the K3 pops right off, and then it is just two screws to remove the battery.

[spellbanisher]

Both Apple and Amazon offer free recycling programs. I wonder if this is the loophole that allows them to sell devices without removable batteries.

http://www.apple.com/uk/recycling/na...es/europe.html
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...deId=200197550

[spellbanisher]

Here it is. From Amazon's website

In order to preserve our environment, human health and natural resources the European Union (EU) adopted Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EU WEEE Directive 2002/96/EC). Under this Directive, producers of most electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) have a number of responsibilities, including the financing of collection and recycling of WEEE, meeting labelling requirements, and providing information to end users.

Amazon is registered with WEEE compliance schemes in various countries.
End-of life products can often be disposed of free of charge at local municipal collection points. For more information about where you can drop off your waste equipment for recycling, please contact your local city office, waste authority, approved WEEE scheme, or your household waste disposal service.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The K4, as a matter of interest, has a glued-in battery which can't be removed even if the device is dismantled.

K4 battery removal tool