Michael Dell challenges PC industry to go green

[jobycom]

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/gen/ap/Gadget_Show_Dell.html

LAS VEGAS — Michael Dell, chairman of Dell Inc., issued a challenge Tuesday to the entire PC industry to adopt free recycling programs for customers as he announced that his company would offer to plant a tree for every PC sold.

"Today, I challenge every PC maker to join us in providing free recycling for every customer in every country you do business, all the time — no exceptions," Dell said. "It's the right thing to do for our customers. It's the right thing to do for our earth."

The company has received high "green" marks from some environmental groups, including Greenpeace.

In 2004, Dell began offering free recycling of any brand of computer or printer if consumers bought a new Dell system.

The policy was revised in June so that consumers can recycle all Dell-branded printers, personal computers or other electronics gear for free, no purchase of new Dell gear required.

[npincus]

1. I've heard he's a B*sh supporter

and a major GOP donor, but I'll give him props for this.

[jobycom]

3. I've heard so, too, which makes this even more... interesting. nt

[npincus]

8. goes to show you

lots of grey between black and white.

Suddenly evangelicals and now, some GOP captains of industry, are worried about the environment and global warming. No complaints here!

[jobycom]

19. I agree. That's an issue I'd like to see become common ground, not partisan. nt

[Pierre.Suave]

5. Here is what you need to know.

http://www.buyblue.org/node/763/view/summary

[jobycom]

18. Aside from donations, that seems mostly positive, even laudatory at times.

The only negative article was one complaining that they were using a contractor who used prison labor for their recycling program, but an article slightly later says they dropped that contractor because of the prison labor issue.

As for the donations, I'd have to do more research to see how that money is distributed, but since they are a Texas based company, and Texas is overwhelmingly Republican, and has provided a Republican president, or imitation thereof, it is not surprising that they are greasing the hands of those in power. Not laudatory, not even good, but not hard to understand.

I admit, I'm surprised at this general info.

[Nomad559]

20. Here is what you need to know.

Apple lobbied against state e-waste recycling legislation and continues to lobby against takeback bills.

http://www.texasenvironment.org/ewaste_apple.cfm

http://www.computertakeback.com/bad_apple/bad_apple_biz.cfm

Apple approved sweat-shop labour
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=32644

Photos: inside Foxconn's "iPod City"
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1815

Campaign Finance
http://cal-access.ss.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1012686&view=contributions&session=2003

[Pierre.Suave]

28. ooooohhh

an Apple hater...

never seen one of them before...:eyes:

[physioex]

2. I challenge people not to buy....

Dell Computers.

[LSK]

6. reasons????

:shrug:

[YOY]

11. Outsourcing like nobody's business for one

Declining customer service (attached to the first reason) for another
Packaged software that you most likely DO NOT WANT

Incredibly overpriced high end machines: I made my PC for $1300 and a little elbow grease (IT IS NOT TOO HARD!) The same machine would have cost over $2400 at Dell...

[Deja Q]

13. Ditto on that too.

Homebuilding is the better way to go, but corporations love the packaged deals Dell, et al, offer. No need for 'skilled staff' to be employed either. (or obviously at Dell either, and they offshore like the dickens!)

[YOY]

17. Not to mention if you crack it open to fix it yourself (HOW DARE YOU!?!?!)

or to add some of your own Ram/new video card/better proc etc... It cancels out the waranty.

How dare you have any technical skills??? You MUST send the whole f***in' thing back to Dell for any upgrades!

Hell, I'm an MBA and I can do those things without anyone 'technical's' assistance!

[LSK]

16. thats fine, I just wish DUers would explain their positions sometimes

[physioex]

22. In addition to the reasons mentioned above....

Michael Dell is big time freeper. Check out newsmeat.com under Michael Dell.

[acmavm]

14. Ever tried to order anything from Dell?

[jobycom]

7. They used to be good products, but I've had increasing problems with them.

I buy them for work, and it used to be that a Dell was the best reliable computer for the price. Over the last few years, though, they've gotten more quirky when they run, and more likely to have components fail. They aren't as bad as Compaqs or HPs, mind you, but they are no longer worth the wait of mail ordering them. It's a sad day when you decide that you'd be better buying an EMachine than a Dell, but I've made that decision once recently.

[Deja Q]

12. Seconded. Their service was never great, but product quality HAS declined.

Though their higher priced monitors are said to be good -- understandable, they make a 20" LCD that uses the same flat panel as the Apple Cinema Display 20, at something near to half the price... though despite that I've still heard more stories of that model Dell having dead pixels than for the ACD 20... or maybe more people buy Dell than Apple... :shrug:

[porphyrian]

4. That's a good first step, anyway. - n/t

[Deja Q]

9. Michael Dell is also responsible for a company that makes flimsy trash.

Some of the innovations in case design are neat, but surely it is still better to avoid the NEED to open the case and replace parts every other day? :spray:

I like this incentive of theirs, but they have a LONG way to go to restore my faith in their product and service capabilities.

Now if they were to hire me, who ran rings around their own nitwit 'techs' 12 years ago, it'd be a good start... :D

[stopbush]

10. I challenge Dell to make a computer that isn't a piece of shit. eom

[crispini]

15. I applaud Dell for doing the right thing.

Regardless of other aspects to their company, this is a good thing.

[NashVegas]

21. Every Year Dell Sponsors a Free Recycling Day in Nashville

Regardless of your old computer & peripherals' makes. I have to give them a hand, for that.

[Beelzebud]

23. I challenge Dell to move their manufacturing plants, and customer service back to the USA....

Dell is a major out sourcing company.

[jobycom]

24. Honest question I don't know the answer to: What computer companies aren't?

[Beelzebud]

25. Dell started in the USA though. All their stuff used to be in Texas.

That is why it bothers me.

When they saw an opportunity to exploit 3rd world workers, and turn their backs on the people that literally built their company, they didn't hesitate to choose profits over the right thing.

[jobycom]

27. That's not exactly right

Dell is still a major employer here in Texas. In general, their outsourcing has been due to their expansion. In other words, as far as I've seen, they didn't fire large numbers of people here to outsource elsewhere. They opened further operations elsewhere as they expanded. They have, obviously, laid off numbers of people through various corporate restructures, as frequently happens with many corporations. And no doubt they could have closed some of their overseas sites and kept people here instead. I'm not claiming they are perfect or blameless.

Another issue: given the market, price expectations, and the fact that competitor products are made in the same places, can Dell even survive as a company if they do not do this? If not, what if they make a stand and keep production here, and fold because of it? They then lose the employees they do have, and employ even fewer Americans, not to mention turning over their share of the market to someone else, who may be entirely based overseas. I don't know if this is the case, it's just something I'd have to consider.

As for exploiting "3rd world" workers, there's a fine argument involved in that. Companies who employ workers in less industrialized nations are also pumping money into slower economies. That is sometimes a good thing. It can also be exploitation, depending on a lot of factors. Such as, are they paying less than comparable jobs in the community, are they hampering the community from growing economically on its own (are they shutting out other businesses, IOW), do they violate worker protection laws in the region, and if not, do they violate common decency standards in general, are they paying off governments to pass lower standards on wages and worker protections--thus clearly exploiting people? In short, are the people they employ and the regions they live in better or worse because of Dell's business there? I don't know these things about Dell, and I don't know which companies do a better job than Dell in these areas.

That's what I'd need to know before deciding to buy products other than Dell based on those types of criteria.

Not that I buy Dells much anymore. Their quality has slipped. But that's a different issue. Perhaps related, but different.

[mitchleary]

26. Dell

Dell is the Wal-mart of computers.