Green Apples

By: Megan McLaughlin

Shopping for a new computer can be a complete pain; desktop vs. laptop and the age old question…Mac or PC? There is no right or wrong answer, but it’s clear that Macs have become increasingly popular and have exhibited mass appeal. The newest MacBooks are here, just in time for the holiday season and it’s safe to say sales will be booming like usual, but is there a clear cut reason to choose a Mac this time? According to Apple, these new laptops are the, “The world’s greenest family of notebooks.”

So what are the pros and cons of the new MacBooks and what makes them so green? According to Apple, many harmful toxins have been eliminated during the production of these new notebooks. Also, “every new MacBook has been built using materials that are highly recyclable and free of many harmful substances present in other computers. Apple engineers also designed the software and hardware to work together, in order to maximize energy efficiency and minimize the carbon footprint of the MacBook.” Those are the facts provided by Apple, but what does the rest of the world have to say about this green family of notebooks?

The New York Times blog, Green Inc. agrees and sites that as far as green gadgets go, “the machine performs well. It achieves both Energy Star 4.0 compliance, as well as a gold rating from the Green Electronics Council.” However, they also mention the fact that, “130 other notebooks have received gold status too.” So why are these Macs the best? These are a few of the reasons why (according to Apple of course): they are made with “highly recyclable aluminum and glass, PVC-free internal cables, Mercury-free LED-backlit display,” to name a few.

All of this may sound splendid but recently, Greenpeace released its guide to green electronics. According to Greenpeace, the most environmentally friendly companies include, Nokia (rated at the top of the list), Sony Ericsson and Toshiba. At the bottom of the list; HP, Microsoft Nintendo and Apple! Nintendo may be ranked the worst of all, but the Apple didn’t fall far from the tree. So, it looks as though another wave of Macs will come and go…they will still be some of the most popular holiday items, but it may want to do your research before adding a new MacBook to your list.