BYOPC, what’s it all about?

Who has considered the “Bring Your Own PC” (BYOPC) concept other than organisations like us, the vendors of the “BYOPC-Enablers?” It all sounds good on paper but what does it bring to the green arena that has not already been thought of, and is it just marketing or does it hold its own when scrutinised?
Let’s look at what it actually means first:
In layman’s terms, users get to bring their own devices (laptops or PC’s), ones which they provide and are used to working on – this gives them satisfaction but can it increase workflow and productivity?
Does it decrease the demand for hardware and therefore scoring carbon brownie points for the organisation?
In today’s move towards centralised computing is this decentralising it again?
And what about data security and virus risks, will it create more management overheads for the IT Support Teams or empower users to self support their own devices?
What about the impacts it has on decommissioning the user’s current devices – recycling tin, deleting data form the hard drives, the WEEE directive, not to mention the time and space this all requires!
So who can benefit then?
Well mobile workers and “hot deskateers” are already in the mind set, and don’t they seem to be happy bunnies?
And show me an FD who’s not thinking about the bottom line and wouldn’t welcome the cost savings of a skipped hardware refresh?
So, taking it at face value, who should consider a BYOPC network?
In our opinion, everything in moderation; the next time you find yourselves reviewing IT policies, give it some thought, it may suit an office, a department or even just a team but one thing is certain, any organisation that doesn’t purchase hardware will save time, save money and reduce their carbon foot print.
Let’s see how it all pans out!

Replacing a PC, what does it really cost?

When was the last time your organisation took a complete look at the real, hidden and inconsequential costs of replacing a PC? What do we typically consider the purchase price only? The time it takes to un-box, build and hand it over to the end user? Are there any other costs, really?

What's in a PC?
Material
Proportion
Plastic
23%
Ferrous metals
32%
Non-ferrous metals
18%
Electronic boards
12%
Glass
15%

A single computer can contain up to 2kg of
lead, and the complex mixture of materials
make PCs very difficult to recycle
What about the green costs, such as the production of packaging – cardboard, polystyrene, plastics; and then there’s the disposal of the very same materials, probably only ever in your possession for a day, or a week? What about the other parts?

Do you ever consider the manufacturing costs on the environment, and how about distribution, from the component to the warehouse to the shipping and on to the chugging diesel van just pulled up outside with your new delivery – have you just made your very own contribution to global warming?

Should we take a leaf out of the post war veterans – make do or mend? Well the Government seem to think so; they’ve gone as far as replacing the three R’s…

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

So the next time you face a hardware refresh consider the alternatives, or at the very least donate to a charity, they’ll be glad to expand the usable lifecycle beyond the standard three years!