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02.02.2024 ·  Peter Bernscherer  ·  Share on Facebook  ·  Share on X (Twitter)

Not directly PCs für alle concerning, but very important

Reuse, recycling and further use, avoidance of electronic waste

The answer to the article by Mrs Kuhlmann in the magazine ct' was written by an important supporter of our association and I think that the topic is very important and interesting

Hello from Hanover,

If a manufacturer shuts down its cloud services, expensive hardware becomes electronic waste overnight. And as more and more product categories move to the cloud, from body fat scales to pellet heaters to cars, this problem is likely to become even more severe.
 
This annoying quasi-remote expropriation has become more common in recent years. When devices can only be used to a limited extent or not at all, even though the hardware itself still functions perfectly, researchers refer to this as "software-related obsolescence." One reason could be missing security updates. Or the manufacturer may cut the connection to the cloud and shut down its servers forever. In the current issue of c't, we tested 14 popular smart home systems to see what still works when the internet and cloud fail.
 
When purchasing a device, consumers today are often unclear about what they're getting into and whether a cloud connection is absolutely necessary. Therefore, every device's packaging should clearly state which functions are available on which platform, what personal data must be provided, and the extent to which the devices can be used locally. Do I need an account on the device manufacturer's cloud server even without remote access? And does the smart scale seriously require an internet connection to display my weight?
 
Equally important, however, would be to be able to legally hold manufacturers accountable for their claims. As a side effect, some providers might be much more cautious with their promises. Of course, manufacturers cannot be obligated to guarantee the functionality of their devices forever—technological progress and the natural obsolescence of hardware speak against this. However, in our view, there's nothing wrong with a kind of best-before date.
 
The legal situation here is unsatisfactory. With the Cyber Resilience Act, the EU has passed a mandatory update requirement for all connected products: Manufacturers are expected to be required to provide security updates for at least five years starting in 2027. However, stricter requirements for maintaining cloud services are not yet in sight. I hope you haven't had to discard any devices because the cloud connection stopped working!

Ulrike Kuhlmann

c't editorial team

Dear Ms. Kuhlmann!

I am referring to the topic of “greenwashing” that you mentioned and would like to share my approach with you:

I work as an IT systems administrator at several schools in Vienna and the surrounding area, and the challenges I face here—high demand with a low budget—have turned me into a passionate REUSED user.

About 6 years ago I had my first contact with REUSED hardware: Due to the need to buy cost-optimized, I bought a REUSED server from servershop24.de My experience with server hardware, its configuration, and necessary equipment at the time was very limited, as I had previously specialized more in client hardware. Accordingly, it was sobering to realize that I had made mistakes when purchasing this reused server – thus, the "fault" for the server not functioning as it should have did not lie with the refurbisher, nor with the refurbished hardware.

The step of picking up the phone and servershop24.de Getting advice from this company was a game-changer in my IT-oriented life! Since then, "my" schools have only used high-performance, reused server hardware – outstanding performance at a fraction of the cost of comparable new hardware!

The obvious conclusion was that I also switched to purchasing refurbished client hardware. There was no other way to implement the ever-increasing IT projects in schools!

Since Win10 LTSC will no longer receive regular updates starting in 2027 and we will remain with Windows for various reasons, I am forced to purchase Win11-compatible hardware now, even though the PCs and NBs still in use with older CPU generations feel like they would run for several more years and meet all requirements.

There are many critics of reused hardware, especially those who seem more or less indifferent to costs and the environment. Especially in the school system (and the situation in Germany is probably similar to that in Austria), IT budgets are always very, very tight. For example: With the available annual budget, I can either purchase 15-20 new PCs and thus not even equip one computer lab, or I can equip two computer labs (including some spare devices) with reused business PCs (HP or Lenovo)...

REUSED and warranty? No problem, since my suppliers still replace defective devices even after two years. However, I've never had to make use of this service: I now manage and support around 1.000 REUSED client hardware and 15 host servers. Not a single device has failed in the past few years. If there have been any, it's only been defective components, such as SSDs, HDDs, power supply fans, or server RAM modules.

A cost comparison for server and client hardware that I created showed that a comparably equipped server as an approximately 8-year-old REUSED device costs a maximum of a quarter (!) of the new price!

Or: A new brand-name business notebook (HP 850 G5, FHD, i5-8xxx, 8GB, 256GB) cost around €2019 in 1.700, depending on the configuration. I'm currently purchasing these devices reused for €250–300 (including VAT) and including Windows 11—that's less than a fifth of the original price!

I still have one: I can get a REUSED HP EliteDesk 800 G4 SSF PC (I5-8500, 16GB, 500GB SSD) for about EUR 240 (incl. VAT) – the new price at the beginning of 2019 was about EUR 1.400, so a good six times more expensive!

What makes me immensely proud is that, with these measures, I was able to bring the schools entrusted to my care to a very high level of IT technology – and that was before the Austrian government called for the digitalization of schools: primary schools with three Windows PCs and one teacher PC in each classroom; middle schools with two fully equipped computer rooms with Windows 3 PCs; high schools with four computer rooms, each with 1 Windows 2 PCs and one Windows 10 notebook in each classroom…

All schools are domain-managed and equipped with Hyper-V hosts. All PCs are connected to the LAN via 1 Gbps. The switches form a 10 Gbps backbone (some even have a 20 Gbps one). All schools have Wi-Fi 5 or 6 coverage throughout.

All this would not have been possible without the use of REUSED hardware!

Of course, it always depends largely on the requirements placed on the hardware, the purpose for which it is to be purchased and the financial resources available.

But I am firmly convinced that for schools, various clubs, some public institutions, and especially for private individuals who do not have special hardware requirements, the use of REUSED hardware is not only financially worthwhile, but also addresses two essential issues: Firstly, the use of REUSED hardware conserves resources and the environment. And in conjunction with non-profit organizations such as "PCs for All" (www.pcsfueralle.at), which provides such REUSED hardware free of charge to people in need, NGOs, schools, etc., society is also helped sustainably.

“ESG” is on everyone’s lips: with REUSED hardware, we are making a sustainable and social contribution!

The competence of the supplier of REUSED hardware must also be ensured. I personally have had very, very good experiences with: AfB, Compuritas, Compits, servershop24.de and many more. You're helping to consistently promote this sustainable approach!

And here I pick up on your articles:

Unfortunately, software developers are making this truly good idea obsolete! Governments of all countries must therefore urgently take action to ensure that what has happened since the introduction of Microsoft Windows 11, for example, never happens again!

mfG