The kind folks at shopombligo.com wanted me to test drive one of their products and tell everyone that their used and recycled laptops can help save energy and environment.

I must admit that I was skeptical that their particular laptops could save energy over newer energy efficient laptops with energy sipping processors. But it wasn't until they told me that their computers were wiped clean and installed with the Ubuntu operating system and I learned that they were re-using computers that had already been used. They get their gently used laptops from corporations that either don't need them anymore or that have minor damages and are repaired into working condition.

Ombligo is doing a service by keeping perfectly good computers in working condition for anyone who may need a computer but can't afford the new computer price tag. This is recycling and reusing at its core and is a resource everyone should know about.

From PlanetGreen.com:

Computers running Ubuntu have been shown to consume significantly less energy than identical machines running Windows Vista. In addition to this, there are a number of free programs available to help turn your Ubuntu computer into a power sipping green-machine. A notable example is Powertop, a program developed by the Less Watts project, that analyzes your computer and tells you what settings adjustments to make in order to improve efficiency.

Forget about the fact that Ubuntu is totally free. Disregard the social and humanitarian implications that come along with supporting open-source computing. Package-less distribution, reducing e-waste, and reducing power consumption alone are clear reasons to give Ubuntu a chance today. Trust me: Your computer will never be greener, or happier.

I have never encountered a computer with Ubuntu software on it, so when I was attempting to use it for the first time, I was surprised on how easy it was to use. I was greeted with a simple to use Graphical User Interface (GUI), and was able to easily get to programs that I was familiar with including Skype, Firefox, and OpenOffice. It also runs pretty fast with a 1.6 GHz processor and 1GB of Ram, I never ran into any of the delays I constantly experience on my Vista Laptop with more power. I would classify the Dell Laptop I tested as a powerful netbook that would be perfect for taking to the coffee shops around town.

The point I would like to drive home with this blog post is that E-waste is a HUGE problem in our society. And I would highly recommend anyone view a documentary called "Manufactured Landscape" to learn more about what I am talking about. We can all do simple things, but please remember that when you throw electronics away, that YOU are contributing to the decline of our environment. Their are recycling centers everywhere that will help recycle your old electronics and in some cases re-use them as well.

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