Of all the innovations undertaken in recent years by the IT industry in the name of environmental sustainability perhaps the strangest is the emergence of the world's first bamboo monitor, keyboard and mouse.
Available in the UK from gadget website Playengine, the TFT monitor, keyboard and mouse have all had their traditional plastic casings replaced with bamboo in a move designed to replace plastics that will sit in landfill sites for a millennia or so with a biodegradable alternative that will also reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released during the products' manufacturing and lifecycle.
The monitor also claims to meet Energy Star standards, while its internal components are lead free and comply with the EU's safety and hazardous substance directives.
Furthermore, any concerns that the product may contribute to deforestation are unfounded, according to the manufacturers, as Bamboo is in fact a fast growing grass, which will replenish itself rapidly.
Meanwhile, no pandas were harmed in the manufacturing of the products as they are made using the Gramineae monocotyledonous plant - a hard variety of bamboo not eaten by the cuddly, but sadly frigid, creatures.
All of which sounds great for the environmentally-minded desktop user. But is
this new take on desktop equipment really a revolutionary development,
highlighting how a bit of lateral thinking at a product's design stage can wean
us off of environmentally damaging plastics? Or is it just another example of a
green product that sounds good in principle but is never going to out-perform
its more toxic rivals?
BusinessGreen unplugged its plastic-cased monitor and fired up its new 15"
Bamboo monitor review model to find out.
The first thing to note is that the new kit really does look smart. There is undoubtedly something more tactile and easy on the eye about wood than plastic and it is easy to imagine the monitor making an eye-catching addition to executive offices and posh reception desks.
However, closer inspection raises immediate questions about the bamboo-casing's durability. The manual claims that bamboo is tougher than other woods, stronger than steel and has been dried at high temperatures and treated to stop rotting and prevent woodworms and insect infestation. But on our review copy one of the joins on the back has sheared away, probably where the wood has dried and expanded, causing a gap where dust could get into the machine.
Playengine insists durability is not an issue and is currently seeing just one percent returns, on a "very successful" level of sales to consumers.
Once up and running it has to be said the monitor stacks up pretty well compared to my usual plastic-cased model.
The 1,024 x 768 native resolution may not the sharpest and the analogue as opposed to digital connection to the PC is also a step down from my usual monitor, but it is more than sufficient for most office work. Meanwhile a quick mid-afternoon check on the top of the monitor when my old model is usually running so hot you could almost fry an egg on it proves the manufacturer's claims that bamboo is good at disipating heat.
The main flaw is that the height and angle does not adjust as much as most plastic models and for my desk the leads weren't long enough. But it is worth noting that these are design issues rather than a problem inherent to the bamboo material – future models must surely feature more adjustable stands.
So are bamboo monitors a viable option for green-minded firms?
Well they are probably too expensive at the moment for many firms to justify. The 15" version we reviewed is normally priced at £199, while the 17" and 19" models costs £223 and £269 respectively. The mouse and keyboard are admittedly a bit cheaper at £18.99 and £21.99 respectively, but Playengine admits it needs to drive down the manufacturer's prices still further if it is to attract widespread corporate interest.
Concerns about durability, resolution and the difficulties in adjusting the monitor's height also reinforce the impression that bamboo monitors are an interesting novelty for consumers but not yet ready for the corporate market. The current incarnation will doubtless appeal to environmentally-minded and image-savvy corner office residents, but these basic design flaws need to be ironed out if it ever expects to break into the corporate mainstream.
However, the monitor's weaknesses are nothing that a better designed stand, higher-end screen, and more investment in build quality could not overcome. There is growing demand for IT kit that is easy to recycle and dispose of and bamboo casings could well prove a valuable part of the solution to the eWaste problem.
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