Computer
Upgrade your computer
Apple Genius Bar
Whether you want to upgrade your Mac's hard drive or memory, your local Apple Retail Store is likely to have an in-store Genius Bar. Make a list of questions, bring in your computer, consult with a technician, and either to do the upgrades yourself or have a technician do them for you.Best Buy Geek Squad
Geek Squad started out on its own in 1994, dispatching an army of computer technician "agents" to homes and offices around the country. Retail electronics giant Best Buy bought the outfit in 2003, and now offers 24/7 Geek Squad computer upgrades and other technical services for PCs and Macs in-store or via housecalls.Circuit City firedog tech support
Electronics giant Circuit City offers in-store PC upgrades via its firedog technicians. Go online to make a reservation at your local Circuit City store, then bring in your computer along with your confirmation email to the firedog desk inside the store. Upgrades include hard drive, memory, DVD/CD drive, video cards, sound cards, and more.CompUSA TechPro
CompUSA provides both in-store and at-home service through its TechPro service, including the installation of upgrades on your old computer (either PC or Mac). In-store technicians will install upgrades while you wait or in your home for guaranteed next-day service (or the home visit is free).Staples EasyTech
Office-supply giant Staples offers the EasyTech program, allowing you to get a Windows-based computer upgrade at one of its stores or right at your home or office.
Buy a laptop instead of a desktop
Apple MacBook
Apple offers a variety of configurable laptops, including the MacBook, MacBook Air, and the MacBook Pro. With options for screen size, memory, processor speed, and hard drive size, you can find the right MacBook to fit you needs.Dell Inspiron and XPS Laptops
Very popular and affordable, Dell laptops offer many choices for processors, graphics cards, and screen sizes. The Inspiron series comes in a wide variety of colors, while some XPS laptops weigh less than four pounds.Lenovo Notebooks
Lenovo offers a number of configurable notebook computers. The 3000 Family is the least expensive, Thinkpad known as a reliable business tool, and IdeaPad optimized for entertainment and multimedia.Sony VAIO Notebooks
Sony VAIO notebooks are configurable with a variety of processors, graphics options, screen sizes, and wireless features.
Donate your old computer to charity
National Cristina Foundation (Greenwich, CT)
An organization that works to ensure that communities and individuals of need are given the opportunity to advance by reusing electronic hand-me-downs.Recycles.org
This website serves as an exchange board between people or companies looking to donate educational electronic equipment, and those organizations or schools that are looking to accept it.Students Recycling Used Technology (StRUT)
Students learn to refurbish and repair old donated electronics that are then given to schools for student use and education.
Choose an ENERGY STAR computer
Apple iMac
This high-performance computer has a compact, thin design and is available in 20- and 24-inch widescreen models. Additional features include built-in wireless, built-in stereo speakers, and the Leopard operating system. Customizable options include up to a 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme processor, 2GB memory, and a 500GB hard drive.Apple MacBook
Apple offers a variety of configurable laptops, including the MacBook, MacBook Air, and the MacBook Pro. With options for screen size, memory, processor speed, and hard drive size, you can find the right MacBook to fit you needs.Dell Inspiron 531
This family of sleek desktops is ENERGY STAR 4.0 compliant and features wireless connectivity, AMD AthlonTM 64 X2 dual-core processors, up to 4 GB SDRAM, and a 1 TB hard drive. These powerful computers are easily expandable and allow for television on your PC, widescreen viewing, and online data backup.HP Pavilion a6360t
This affordable model features standard wireless networking, a 2.2 GHz processor, and 2 GB DDR2-667MHz dual channel SDRAM. For enhanced performance, why not upgrade to a 2.4 GHz processor and a 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT.Lenovo ThinkPad R61 and R61i Models, T Series, and X Series
These select models are ENERGY STAR compliant and can be configured with a variety of processors, graphics options, screen sizes, and wireless features. The R61 and R61i models are affordable, the T Series is known for its computing power, while the X Series is Lenovo's thinnest and lightest family.Sony VAIO TZ, SZ, CR, FZ, and NR Series Notebooks
Sony VAIO notebooks are known for their sleek appearance and quality construction. Sony VAIO notebooks are configurable with a variety of processors, graphics options, screen sizes, and wireless features.
Buy an EPEAT computer
Apple MacBook Air
Starting at $1,799, these ultra-thin laptops meet EPEAT silver criteria. The battery will last you five full hours, and the mercury- and arsenic-free LED is super efficient and less toxic than many other laptops.Dell OptiPlex 755 Desktop
This EPEAT Gold-rated desktop is super efficient and comes with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, an LCD monitor, and built-in power management settings, too. Starting price: $1,252.Hewlett Packard Compaq 2510p Notebook PC
Get this Windows Vista Gold EPEAT notebook for about $1,500. It’s got a 12.1-inch widescreen display and can be leased, making it a great green option. Comes with tablet capability and fingerprint security options.One Laptop Per Child
Built with free, open-source software, this simple little EPEAT-Gold computer was developed to be affordable, adaptable, and available for use by any child, worldwide. Though you can’t purchase one for yourself, you can make a $200 donation which sends a laptop to a child in a developing country so that they can plan their eco-friendly future.Sony VAIO Professional Notebooks
Get this Windows Vista Gold EPEAT notebook for about $1,500. It’s got a 12.1-inch widescreen display and can be leased, making it a great green option. Comes with tablet capability and fingerprint security options.
Install a power strip
Belkin Components F9M923-08 9-Outlet Maximum SurgeMaster
This power strip comes with nine surge-protected outlets that have sliding covers to protect young children. An 8' power cord in a spoiler cord system elimates cord clutter.Isolé® IDP-3050 Plug Load Control
Designed for desktop electronic equipment, this top-of-the-line power strip has eight surge-protected outlets. An infrared personal sensor turns on six of the outlets when someone is there and when the space is vacant for a pre-set time, the outlets turn off automatically.P3 International Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor
Want to verify that your charger, appliance, or power strip is wasting energy when not in use? Simply plug anything electronic into the Kill A Watt Monitor and the LCD display will display the electricity used by the day, week, month, or year for that device in volts, amps, and wattage with 0.2 percent accuracy.Power Sentry 7-Outlet 1200-Joule TV and VCR Surge Protector
This power strip features seven child-safe outlets including two outlets that are spaced to handle adapters used for charging electronics such as cell phones. It comes with automatic shutdown technology and a $200,000 limited connected equipment warranty.
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