We all know about carbon footprints, and how you should reduce them. How about our Apple footprints? How big is yours, and do you need an offset? How about Google or Microsoft, for that matter? I need an Apple Footprint Calculator, and I need it now!
Recently, my Apple footprint rose, declined, then might be climbing again. Consider…
- 2005: Bought a iPod, to replace my Karma Rio (1X APPLE)
- 2008: Bought an MacBook, to replace my Windows PC (2X APPLE)
- 2008: Bought an iPhone, to replace my Windows Mobile Phone (3x APPLE)
- 2010: MacBook broke, shifted to Windows 7 (2X APPLE)
- 2010: Bought an iPad (3X APPLE)
- 2010: Oh, the new MacBook’s have finally come out … 4X APPLE?
Should we strive to be more balanced, spread our gadget love among multiple companies? Should I move to the Nexus One or the HTC Incredible on Verizon, rather than to the iPhone 4 when that finally arrives. But if the new iPhone finally makes it to Verizon, that’ll be a tough call.
So I want a calculator, if not for fun than for anything else. Not being a programmer, I can’t build it — maybe Gina Trapani can do it. I was joking with her about the entire Apple footprint thing when I saw both her and Anil Dash whip out their Nexus One phones yesterday at the Chirp conference. Both were former iPhone users, so they’re offsetting Apple with a little Google.
What would you calculate? How about for a start:
- Laptop
- Desktop
- Phone
- Netbook/Tablet
- Browser
- MP3 Player
- Email provider
- Search engine
That makes me look like this:
- Laptop: Microsoft, Windows 7
- Phone: Apple, iPhone
- Netbook/Tablet: Apple, iPad
- Browser: Firefox
- MP3 Player: Apple, iPod
- Email provider: Google, Gmail
- Search engine: Google
I don’t have a desktop, so I’ve left that off. Out of 7 possible points, I have:
- Apple, 3: 43%
- Google, 2: 29%
- Microsoft, 1: 14%
- Firefox, 1: 14%
Clearly, another Apple device would make my footprint far too large! Offset a Macbook by shifting to Android? Maybe buy a Zune as an offset?
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I like the idea, although maybe the calculation should be divided by market share of the product…
After all, using Google as a search engine is showing Google much less favoritism that using a Google handset. Similarly, Apple iPod vs. MacBook or Windows PC vs. Zune.
Also, how would you count a Windows 95 machine that you’ve had for 15 years in the balance against a brand new MacBook?
Maybe this should be the “‘Fanboi’ Index”.