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PC World Canada tested some of the newer laptop chipsets/CPUs against their predecessors. Unlike the big performance boost the Core 2 Duo CPUs provide on desktops, there is only a minor performance boost (7%) on notebooks and no increase in battery life.

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Yesterday I saw an article by Meg Nugent of Newhouse News Service in the local newspaper about Computer Vision Syndrome.

Computer [tag-tec]eye strain[tag-tec] caused by low quality monitors, too much time spent in front of a computer monitor, or poor ergonomic setup, with reflection glare, etc.

The picture coming with the article shows a 4 or 5th grader hunched over a notebook, eyes about 4 inches away from the screen. The correct distance is about 25 inches. The correct distance for reading on paper - books, newspapers, etc. - is about 15 inches.

Rule of thumb: Sit arm length away from the monitor and the length of your forearm from all printed matter.

If you are using a notebook, that would mean your arms should be stretched, if you are an adult. Small kids can’t even reach the keyboard!!! Does it make sense to type with stretched arms?

What the article didn’t mention, eye strain can also be caused or additionally worsened by a black keyboard. Everybody, even people who type with 10 fingers, look up and down between keyboard and monitor. The contrast difference between a black/dark keyboard and the bright lit screen creates additional eye strain.

Being hunched over a notebook is causing bad posture, the spine is round, the head tucked between shoulders. Most people hunch over and then look up a little bit, while ideally the neck should be straight and the chin slightly tilted towards the chest. Hands and arms are all clawed in.

Being hunched over not only curves the spine and shortens the muscles in the front but also takes volume away in the chest and doesn’t the person to breathe freely.

If it has to be a notebook, please give yourself or your kid a break and use a notebook stand to get the screen into correct position and plug in an external keyboard to allow for an upright and ergonomic posture.

Make sure there is no reflection on the screen from windows, etc.
Your eyes, your whole body will say thank you and feel much fresher once your done working.

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If you are low on energy working with a notebook, I’m not surprised Notebooks are not ergonomic. The location of screen and keyboard strains, upper back, neck, eyes and shoulders. On top of that, they are usually not as well shielded as desktops, the electromagnetic exposure increases our overall “stress” levels. Stress means here not necessarily stress out, but the stress on the bodies energy, with higher fatigue after the work is done.

The only way to use a notebook is to use a docking station with external monitor, ergonomic keyboard and mouse, or a notebook stand to raise the screen off the desk and use external mouse and keyboard. And only occasionally “stand-alone”.

Heat: Many notebooks get really hot, i.e. that’s wasted energy. Desktops can operate much cooler -> less wasted energy. If the notebook runs off the battery, you wasted probably about 40-50% of the energy you put in.

First, the loss in the power supply, usually they are 60 to 80% efficient
Second, the battery is about 80% to 90% efficient.
You might use less power in total, but not in performance per watt.

Unless the battery is charged by a solar panel. But who has that setup?

Somewhere around 80% of the total energy balance of a computer is used to manufacture the components and to built the computer.

Desktops have a much longer life cycle. For example a GreenMachineShop desktop is built to run stable for 5 years. Due to the higher heat and the way the electronic is designed and components used, most desktops and notebooks are built to run stable for only 2-3 years. There is also a higher failure rate for notebooks. They need to be shipped back and forth. Parts in a desktop, if they break down can be replaced by off-the-shelf parts, the whole system doesn’t need to be replaced.

I highly doubt that the energy and environmental balance of a notebook comes even close to compete with a good quality desktop system. Especially now that the new low wattage AMD and Intel CPUs are available.

Desktops are also easier to recycle. Easier to take apart, steel can be just recycled. Many notebooks have a lot more plastic parts and take more time to take apart.

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The recent battery problems, facing a number of notebook manufacturers are not really a surprise as the http://blog.greenmachineshop.com/8/extend-notebook-battery-life-and-rake-some-health-benefits/
View »technology is not fully under control just yet. An online resource for battery information recommends to charge the battery to 40 percent capacity and store it in a cool place, when using a laptop plugged into an electrical outlet (see www.batteryuniversity.com, Part 2, BU34).

Unfortunately, many notebooks do not work with the battery unplugged. What can be done?

Is it time to rethink how we use notebook and desktop?

No question, notebooks are great for people who need mobile computing, but (too?) many people use them all the time, even when sitting at their desks. The higher heat shortens the lifetime of electronics and battery, the higher noise level and the not-so-ergonomic setup can reduce productivity and cause health issues. Using a desktop computer whenever possible and a laptop when necessary could be a better solution.

With more software and data available online at all times, it isn’t that difficult anymore to switch between computers. A little configuration allows almost seamless transitioning between them.

We have customer that report they are 10-20% more productive since they moved away from “all notebook” use and now use mostly a silent and better shielded computer. They also feel fresher and have more energy after a full work day.

Reducing muscle and joint strain in the hands, wrists, arms, neck, shoulders and back is a “common side effect” for people when they use less notebook and switch on to a better keyboard and monitor in the right location on the desk.

For all who want to find out more about noise, ergonomics and electromagnetic radiation, click here for our Free E-Class.

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