The American company Microsoft already announced at the beginning of 2023 that it will end the sale of devices with the Windows 10 operating system. The company’s plan includes not only the sale itself, but also the support of this operating system. This move will not only affect users who were used to working with Windows 10 OS, but will also add a lot of unnecessary waste. As many as 240 million personal computers can end up in landfill. The total weight of waste can reach 480 million kilograms. To give you an idea, this waste would weigh as much as 320,000 cars.
Paid support until the end of 2028
At the same time, Microsoft announced that it plans to provide support for the Windows 10 OS until October 10, 2028 for a financial fee. If Microsoft continues the established trend, the number of older, unused devices in landfills will increase. The company plans to end free support for Windows 10 OS in October 2025.
Operating Windows 10 has gained popularity among users, just as version 7 had. Version 11 is not the worst, but the transition from 10 to 11 is not the most comfortable.
Other uses
Microsoft faced attacks on its address regarding the disposal of the already mentioned devices that are to end up in a landfill. However, they have their own answer to that. For example, hard drives that are part of the device are recycled to collect materials important for motors in electric vehicles or in the production of energy from renewable sources. As a result, it will not be a question of throwing away unnecessary material, but of the possible transformation of unused material where it is needed. In this case, it would not only be about throwing away useless material, but about transforming it into useful resources where they are needed. These include the area of electric cars or wind power plants.
Renewable resources
Hard drives with the addition of Afiuna are usually discarded before they reach their useful life. It is precisely because of this fact that there is an excess of waste from rare earth magnetic materials.
On the other hand, Redwood Materials does not see a problem with Microsoft’s decision. According to her, batteries can be recycled countless times. Thanks to this, metals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel or copper can be obtained from them.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/technology/microsoft-ending-support-windows-10-could-send-240-mln-pcs-landfills-report-2023-12-21/, https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/story/microsofts-decision-to-end-windows-10-support-could-lead-to-240-million-pcs-becoming-electronic-waste-report-410468-2023-12-22
Preview photo: Pixabay
2023-12-25 08:05:28
#Microsoft #Windows #impact
