Ubuntu: a path to green(er) computing?

This is a draft of an argument (you might call it marketing piece?) on the use of Ubuntu to prolong the effective life of a computer. I need to do a little research on how computers are recycled to backup (or refute!) the claims in the first paragraph.

Computers are tremendously valuable tools in our lives. But they contain hazardous materials that can escape into the environment once they are retired. Recycling does not ensure that computers will not cause pollution as the act of reclaiming metals can release them and may involve mercury or other chemicals in the process of extraction.

From an environmental standpoint it is desirable to get the longest live possible from our machines. Reusing them ourselves or passing them on to others who can reuse them.

However, there are a number of major difficulties in keeping a computer running windows operating optimally:
* Windows accumulates "cruft" as it ages. There are files and settings that are mostly of no use, but it is hard to know for sure so you don't dare delete them.
* Viruses are detected by anti-virus software and removed but sometimes manage to cause damage before they are removed. Anti-virus software does not always manage to fix these problems.
* New versions of anti-virus software detect more viruses, but also consume more resources in order to keep your system safe.
* New service packs and upgrades increase the resources used by the computer sometimes exponentially.
* Various other issues gradually slow the computer down to a crawl.

There are things you can do to undo this damage:
* Buy utilities to fix windows, however, chances are it still won't run like new.
* Hire someone else to fix windows for you, gets expensive and may not restore performance completely.
* Reinstall windows from scratch, works for a while but eventually you run in to the same issues.
* Get the next version of windows, good solution if you are able to upgrade your hardware. However, there are limits to the degree a particular system can be upgraded. There may not be anything you can do to make your system Windows 7 "capable."

None of these solutions can reduce the amount of resources consumed by anti-virus software or upgrades to the OS. Eventually Microsoft will drop support for the OS and most people will toss their old computer and buy a new one with Windows 7 or whatever the latest release is. Then the cycle starts all over.

Some will argue the streaming video or 3D effects require a new computer. But many users just want to get their email, browse the web, write a document or spreadsheet and chat with friends on-line. None of these things *should* require a state of the art computer. Windows will eventually bog down these newer machines as well.

For the reasons cited above Windows is not a good choice if one wishes to continue to use their existing computer over the long haul rather then replacing it every few years.

So what features *would* be desirable in an OS designed for sustained use over years:
* A packaging system where the OS would handle installing and removing programs so that defects in individual programs would not cause files to be left around.
* An anti-virus strategy built around preventing infections rather then trying to clean them up afterward would result in less damage to the OS and leave more resources for other tasks.
* A commitment to not raising hardware requirements in future OS versions.
* The system would be quick and easy to install so that if problems eventually slow down the computer the user can re-install without a big hassle.

It happens that Ubuntu offers all of these benefits.

Will Ubuntu do what you need?
* Word processor, spreadsheet and database programs are included that can read the files created by their Microsoft equivalent.
* The Fire Fox web browser is included. Fire Fox is the second most popular web browser and its share of users continues to grow as Internet Explorer's share shrinks.
* Ubuntu comes with a good email program, Evolution. However, you can pick from a number of other excellent choices like the popular Thunderbird made by the same folks who created Fire Fox.
* There are literally thousands of software programs available for Ubuntu at zero cost and easily installable.

Ubuntu is created from thousands of software projects all over the world created by people who create them to meet their own needs or the needs of their employer and realize that the best way they can make their software better is by sharing it and inviting others to help improve it.