Cool Bamboo tech- not the wacom

I am editing this month’s version of “Women in Technology’s” newsletter and as part of my search for cool tech links, I came across some eco friendly products made from bamboo.

Dell’s CEO speech at the Fortune Green conference showed off a “never before seen” eco-inspired computer with a bamboo casing. 81 percent smaller than a standard desktop, uses 70 percent less power and is filled with recycled materials like old bottles, milk jugs and detergent cases.  Check out the article and pictures c/ of Earth2tech at http://earth2tech.com/2008/04/22/pictures-of-dells-eco-bamboo-computer/

Desktop’s not your thing? How about an ASUS bamboo lap top? http://crave.cnet.co.uk/laptops/0,39029450,49288082,00.htm

Or if you just want some eco friendly accessories- you can get yourself a bamboo mouse, monitor and keyboard. Check out http://www.nigelsecostore.com/

Of course while Bamboo products are arguably more environmentally friendly than the current plastics used in casings of technical hardware, there will be advocates out there who claim that the new uses for bamboo (Bamboo is actually a grass, it grows fast and harvesting it doesn’t create the problems that cutting down trees does- albeit traditionally) will come to threaten the environment equally. While the debate is brewing about bamboo as a substitute for paper, it stands to reason the same principles will come into play as we find more creative uses for bamboo such as the above and the current designer trend of using bamboo for flooring- for more info on the debate around bamboo and the extent to which land is being cleared to make way for bamboo plantations go to http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/7-10-2006-101758.asp. It seems in our world today we can never get enough of good thing!!! That said the products are cool and at least at this time point in history have to better than plastic alternatives??