Today, it is frequently cheaper and more convenient to buy a new machine than it is to upgrade the old. Three quarters of all computers ever bought in the ASIA are sitting in people’s homes and offices because they don’t know what to do with them. When you throw electronics, ie, computers, cell phones, televisions, printers, cameras, etc. out with your usual refuse, these products end up polluting the environment by sitting in a landfill. The pollution caused by this method of disposal is not the only problem. Our society has a large problem with identity theft. Even if you take the extra precaution of cleaning out the memory of your computer or cellular phone, the information is still quite easily recoverable. Individual consumers need to be proactive about protecting their personal information, and companies are now legally responsible for securing all confidential information. Throwing unused electronics in the trash is not the answer.
The average computer platform has a lifespan of less than two years, and hardware and software companies – especially Intel and Microsoft -- constantly generate new programs that fuel the demand for more speed, memory and power.