You can judge an eco-computer by its cover... but that comes into it as well!

Your reader's comments are a mixed bag of truths and misconceptions..

A woode laptop case and mouse as long as it made from certified, renewable forsts is definitely more ecological than plastic or metal alternatives... This can be measured in a number of ways, such as energy consumption in production, brominated flame retardants used in plastic, PVC's that are toxic, and so on.

However, no computer can claim to ecological unless the insides can be subject to the same or equivalent evaluation. The problem is that there are bery few ways of establishing overall econological performance. There are evaluation programmes (labels) that meadure energy preformace only (energy star) but leave out toxic substances, electromagnetic emmissions, noise, and life-extension (PC's thata re obsolete n three years can hardly be called ecological).

The only standard we have been able to identify which has overall coverage and independent (not industry-based) assessment if the European Eco-Label for PC's. This label which carried the authoritity of EC commissioned expersts has been treated with contempt by most commercial PC manufactures, who have ignored it.

MicroPro, an SME based in Dubin, committed to genuine ecological standards, has form some eays been involved in the development of a PC that meets thse standards. It is called the iameco (www.iameco.com) and is currently being tested for the comprehensive Eco-Label. When it secures it it will be the 1st computer to achieve this comprehensive standard, a true eco-computer.

Fire proof!

Bamboo doesn't combust as easily, so you're bound to get a few more hours battery life out of the laptops before they explode violently.

Oh hang on, that's bad. . . . .

dont judge the notebook by its cover

... if they were promoting this by its design/look good on them, they do look fairly smart) --- but to claim environmental responsibility is ridiculous (as has been proven by all the comments above!)

At least...

At least you can put the lid down and use it as a bread board...

desktop/laptop

You may have trouble finding it on a wooden desk if the lid was down. Unless the battery sets it ablaze, in which case problem solved.