Technology Simplified

Technology has covered every aspect of our lives. While we are trying to focus on our environment, it will be unfair and unintelligent of us to exclude the device that touches our lives so closely and can contribute to a Greener environment: The Personal Computer.

Here is some food for thought:

1. The average computers idle time consumes 69 to 97 percent of its total energy use.

2. With the computer turned on and all peripherals activated, the system consumed an average of 171 watts which is equivalent to having thirteen 13 watt CFL powered lamps turned on.

In our existing environmental situation, PCs can contribute a lot with the degree of penetration that these devices have, even in developing countries. While there is constant focus amongst hardware manufacturers to produce devices that consume less electricity, it is also the responsibility of Software vendors to provide interface to users to save power consumption.

This is one of the aspects that Microsoft has attempted to address with Windows 7. Microsoft has claimed that Windows 7 will provide better power management capabilities than Windows Vista or XP. Windows 7 will manage standby and hibernate modes more efficiently, which is not such a stable feature in Vista or XP. This will allow users to utilize these functions of the Operating System and save both power and environment. This would also tranlate to better battery time for Laptop Users.

Good Job Microsoft. Keep working on the environment while the cash registers keep ringing.