The joys of technology
Tuesday is our day for looking at technology on Working Lunch.
And right now I'm road-testing tomorrow's offering - an over-sized, round, plastic button.
I'm not sure what it does. None of my colleagues will tell me, even though they all know.
This isn't as cruel as it sounds. The device is supposed to be so easy-to-use that any idiot can pick it up without any instruction and make it work within seconds.
Hmm. We'll soon see about that.
It claims to be green - not just in colour, but in energy use. If I click it when I walk away from my desk, it will send my computer into some sort of sleep mode - saving energy and money.
All I have to do is install the and then plug the button in to the USB port.
(One dispute with the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ corporate firewall later ... )
OK. It's in. And glowing menacingly on my desk, like the in .
So - to turn off the computer in one easy step, I just need to clic ----
Comment number 1.
At 13th Oct 2008, RoddyJenkins wrote:Memo to ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ colleagues....
Someone put Declan out of hs miser....
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Comment number 2.
At 15th Oct 2008, joeblogger13 wrote:what a pointless invention. every computer has the ability to go into sleep mode already, using either a Windows or Mac system. how can this be green when it does nothing new. in fact it has probably does more damage to the environment to make and distribute them than it saves.
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Comment number 3.
At 16th Oct 2008, Atonnis wrote:After having watched your video clip regarding this button I have to indicate that this product is actually a waste of resources, ie utterly 'un-green'.
You are clearly using a Windows XP system during the clip, which has options under the Control Panel called 'Power Options'.
Under the Advanced tab there are several options available for what your computer will do when you press the power button. Hibernate or Sleep modes are readily available and do the same thing - without packaging, materials or extra cost.
People need to be taught, or learn, how to use their PCs. As a technical engineer I'm regularly shocked at the amount of people who 'turn off their computer' by turning off the monitor.
Learn the functions of your operating system (eg Windows) and you'll save money, resources and power on worthless junk like this device.
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