We no longer live in the ‘throw away’ age of discarding products simply because they have developed a small fault or we are after the latest and greatest new model. Protecting our Earth is now a big priority for most people and businesses, therefore we are adapting our lifestyles to do everything we can to help preserve our planet for future generations. Instead of throwing a laptop in the bin simply because one of the components has failed or it is no longer considered to be up-to-date, more and more people are turning to recycling or ‘refurbishing’ as an environmentally sound option.

Recycling can be done in a number of ways, selling the laptop for spares, donating it to charities that supply third world countries or by selling it to a refurbishing company such as Eflex Computers Companies such as this will offer you money for old laptops, whether they function or not, and then refurbish them and put them back into the marketplace. The refurbishing process is carried out by professionals and incorporates the following stages.

The laptop is fully wiped of all personal data, programs, software etc and taken to a ‘blank’ state. This not only protects the previous owner from having any information stolen but also ensures the system is totally clean of any viruses or issues that could prevent it functioning properly. The hardware then undergoes rigorous testing to ensure that all of the components are functioning correctly and that they still have a good life left in them. If any of the components aren’t functioning correctly or are identified as only having a short life span left they are replaced with new parts. Fresh versions of all the software including operating system, required drivers, anti-virus programs etc are then re-installed on the laptop effectively returning it to the same state as when it was first sent out of the factory.

Refurbished laptops are generally considered by a lot of people to more reliable then systems bought directly after manufacture. This is due the fact they have been operated for some time and so any issues with faulty hardware have been picked up and resolved.

Refurbished laptops offer a lot of benefits over buying a new model. The instant one you will see is the huge savings you can make on the price. For the sake of some cosmetic marks that wont effect functionality at all you can save up to 50% on high street prices. The second benefit is the huge impact on the environment. New laptops produce a lot of harmful gases and toxins during the manufacturing process that damage our environment. The refurbished option means 1 less new laptop being manufactured and 1 less old laptop sitting on the local tip!

You know how you can always tell when someone is feeling particularly pleased with themselves, and that when that look is on a bloke it usually means he has scored with the opposite sex? Well you should have seen Paul’s face yesterday. Talk about Cheshire Cat.

Although he persisted in denying it most of the morning, it was clear to everyone that Paul must have met someone, somehow, somewhere. But he remained tight-lipped, despite his lips being permanently stretched in this perpetual grin. You could just see the boy was in love.

Alex became immediately jealous, and Gary and Kirstie began reminiscing on how they first met by chance in Asda’s cheap crisp aisle.

But Paul wasn’t giving anything away…until someone mentioned match.com and there was a sudden glimmer of recognition in Paul’s eyes, and it was clear he had been putting his computer to good use at last.

Of course Paul was really dying to tell everyone all about this goddess, and his resistance finally broke during elevenses when, with everyone gathered around the percolator, Paul recounted his bubbling, passionate affair with the girl of his dreams.

Giselle.

“What is she like, what is she like,” Kirstie twittered excitedly, hopping up and down, but no description was forthcoming.

But then it transpired that, despite his excitement, Paul hadn’t actually seen what the girl of his dreams looked like. Why? Was his cheap laptop malfunctioning Gary asked hastily, fearing the company’s high standards were slipping.

No, said Paul, there was nothing wrong with the laptop, it was as good as new (of course, seeing as he had built it!).

Giselle just hadn’t uploaded a photo, said Paul simply.

The room fell silent. Was he for real? Was she for real come to that? Was it possible to fall in love with someone you had never even seen a picture of?

Course it is, exclaimed Paul dismissing the others with a tutting whistle between his teeth. How could they be so shallow, feeble-minded, and so image-conscious?!

Gary, Kirstie and Alex were gobsmacked, but impressed at the same time. Gary has known Paul for years, and always had him down as a bit base. He now saw him in a totally new light.

It was only when they discovered what she did for a living that everyone sped off back to their jobs with deep groans bouncing off the walls.

Giselle was a traffic warden.

What? said Paul.