5 Ecologically and Socially Responsible Geek Gift Ideas
We give gifts to express our affection. What lasts are the thoughts and actions associated with the gift. We offer ideas to make gifts that will last a lifetime and create lasting memories and friendships.
7 Things You Can Do to Recycle Old Electronic Devices
We all have them in a drawer or on a shelf somewhere; outdated or broken electronic devices. Are they even good for anything now? Surprisingly, they can be quite valuable!
How I Failed At Building An Eco-Friendly Next Generation Computer
Many said it was impossible. Even so, I finished building a highly efficient computer that didn't use fans. The PC's design emphasizes low-wattage, power efficiency, fanless construction, compact size and excellent processing power per watt. I have been told that such a build was impossible, but ignored good advice and soldiered on. My final build took two years of planning, budgeting and research.
Eco-Friendly Computing 101: Buy or Build Silent and Green PCs
Computer fans clog with dust, make horrible noises and waste energy. Why put up with that when consumers can go silent and green? A huge number of options popped up for setting up highly efficient fanless computers. Because of their ideal acoustic properties, fanless PCs make ideal home theater PCs, workstations and industrial computers.
Is The Green Computer An Oxymoron? 4 Ways To Upgrade Responsibly
Computing and environmentalism are difficult to reconcile. While computers theoretically allow for a paperless society and reduced use of physical goods, these potential benefits have yet to be widely embraced. As a result, computers seem to be a negative impact; they require a lot of resources to create, some of them relatively rare, and they’re very difficult to recycle. There are some ways to be more responsible with your choices, however.
Thou Shalt Consume: The Story of Consumer Electronics [Feature]
Every year, exhibitions around the world present new high tech devices; expensive toys that come with many promises. They aim to make our lives easier, more fun, super connected, and of course they are status symbols. Moreover, they are an electronic manifestation of the ideals that drive our society: bigger, better, faster, more. What is the purpose of driving the technological advancement? Does it help us create something that will last? Where are we going so fast? We don't know. Or do we?
Spring Cleaning 2013 Part Two: Kill Your E-Clutter With Four Simple Methods
Discarded desktop computers account for a large percentage of illegally disposed of e-waste. This situation occurred because as the mobile age displaced that of the PC. Rather than pitching your things away illegally, those looking to get rid of their stockpiled electronics this spring should consider four free options: recycling, donating, repurposing, or selling.
Plan Your Garden For The New Year With These Great Websites And Apps
For those of us lucky enough to not live in the middle of the city or to have a little land to call our own, the garden is often the most neglected part of the family home. Most fall into the category of either a complete mess, or the whole thing is turfed over. Well no more, geeks! Rise up, and MakeUseOf these wonderful apps and website to plan your complete garden makeover. Get your fingers grubby for once!
The Secret To Profitable Printing With Your Inkjet In Three Easy Steps
Ironically, while printer ink costs more than champagne, cost-savvy consumers can actually make money using their inkjet. It just takes three simple steps—none of which lead to jail. In addition to saving consumers' money, selling or donating rebuilt ink cartridges offers an environmentally friendly alternative to the rubbish bin. Also, aside from being inexpensive and eco-friendly, it can be profitable.
Turn Your Mobile Phone Into a Survival Kit
Picture this. You're on vacation up in the mountains. You were hiking along, and decided to explore an interesting side trail. Before you know it, the trail disappears into a mess of weeds and trees, and as you turn around in every direction, you realize that you have no idea where the trail is. Then it dawns on you. You're lost. Being lost is no fun. I speak from experience. So, let me tell you what helps.
Get Free Stuff, Give Away Your Junk & Save The Planet The Freecycle Way
Freecycle is the world’s largest network of recyclers who, instead of throwing away, selling or otherwise disposing of their unwanted goods, give it away instead. It’s both an environmentally and pocket-friendly way of picking up things you want and getting rid of things you don’t, and it’s completely free to join and exchange goods. In addition being a great way to find bargains, it’s also a great way to rid your house of clutter that you no longer need.
4 Web Sources to Help Keep You Safe Outdoors
The outdoors can be a scary place (and this may be why many of you are cooped up inside reading MakeUseOf!). However, it can be pretty cool when you think about it. With gigantic mountains, beautiful oceans, and even stuff like the Aurora Borealis, you know that the world can be awesome. So why not get out there and enjoy it? Of course, I'm speaking for myself, too. I'm not exactly the bearded, axe-swinging lumberjack that I'd like to be.
The Future Is Here - Your Guide to Having a Paperless Life Today
Paperless – a term that is used quite often now days. But what does it mean? And to what extent does it apply? Certainly we all still use paper to some degree despite the advancements in technology, so how can we go completely paperless? Well, the truth is, there will likely always be some form of paper, but the problem doesn’t lie in using paper itself.
5 Tech Projects For The Mini Farmer
With food prices at a record high, chaotic weather systems destroying crops the world over, and no signs of population growth slowing down anytime soon - never has growing your own produce been more important than it is right now. So as city dwellers turn to mini-farming, technology is playing an increasingly important role in maximising crop yields from a small place. Today I’d like to highlight some of those great projects.
What Can I Do With My Spare Computer?
We all know the mantra of efficient product usage: Reduce; Reuse; Recycle. When it comes to computers though, changing technology and the need for tech-minded people to upgrade makes it hard to reduce consumption. This means we're plagued with the problem of old computers lying around our sheds with need of a good home or project to give them new life.
10 Best Websites To Find Awesome Camping Recipes & Outdoor Cooking Tips
Summer is almost upon the northern hemisphere, and official camping season is just around the corner. An important and integral part of any camping trip, be it car camping, backpacking or just a day camp in the woods, is camping food. It never ceases to amaze me how simple ingredients cooked on a fire can become so delicious just by the change of settings.
4 Ideas for a Fun Date Using a GPS Smartphone and Some Romance
Almost everybody has a smartphone with a GPS these days, but they're still sorely underused when it comes to creative days out of the house. If you're a geek looking to impress a date with your creativity, passion for life and cool tools, then using your GPS to liven things up could be the answer.
10 Great Online Resources To Support Your Dumpster Diving Lifestyle
Dumpster diving is urban scavenging in search of items that can be recycled into something useful or turned into cash. Plus, as the Wikipedia page on dumpster diving tells you, rummaging through your neighborhood garbage bin has uses for students, artists, and even scientists. So, if you have already started endorsing dumpster diving, here are ten resources that can help you learn more.
Recycle For A Cause: 5 Ways You Can Donate Your Old Cellphone & Help Make The World A Better Place
We can help by donating our old cellphones (and other electronics), so that the recycling industry can reclaim some more percentage from the precious metals that gets mined. But that is not the only way we can help. Here are five more ways to donate old cellphones and help a local or global cause.