Reduce, Reuse, ReMac

You may (or may not) be surprised to learn I use a PC at home. (collective gasp)

Though a Mac user at work, I grew up with both and chose the cheaper option when buying a home computer (shut up, Lauren).

Sadly, my Windows 98 operating system doesn't seem to work as well as it did in, say, the year 1999. You remember the year 1999, don't you? Y2K, dial-up, the Web Boom, Doogie Howser. It seems a crime that it's actually cheaper to throw my computer out my window, pay to fix whatever car it hits, and buy a new computer than to actually have the old one fixed.

It's not sad in a way, as I'll get a brand new computer which will have 1,000 times the capacity of my old one and will run at 5 times the speed. Maybe I can even download family photos from the Internet. But what the heck do I do with the old one? My son's school would scoff at my outdated computer, as would the Goodwill.

Apple has actually come up with an interesting solution.

They're currently running a recycling program where you can have your old computer and monitor recycled free when you purchase any "qualifying" Apple computer or monitor. Even if you give them an old PC. And they make a promise not to throw it into the dumpster the minute you leave the store, nor send it to some far away country where they'll unpack it then immediately throw it into their dumpster.

I hope this works better than the time I took a bunch of dead PowerBook batteries to an Apple store only to have the employees scratch their heads and look at me as if I was asking for Steve Jobs' address. (I really thought I was being part of the solution for a moment. The batteries are still under my desk.)

You can also recycle your used iPod and they'll give you a 10% discount toward the purchase of a new iPod on the same day.

Or you can give your gently used iPod to Paul. I don't think he has one and he'd really appreciate it on the bus, I'm sure.