Or, find alternate solutions. I agree I'd rather not have to worry about an OS going near-obsolete within a short time of my purchasing it, but I've heard elsewhere that it's the hardware that determines the software; as hardware gets better, software will either have to take advantage of the newer improvements, or else become ineffecient. I'm not sure how accurate this is, but as I said, I have heard it before.

As an example of an alternate solution, I heard about an event in my area recently. The event went by the name of 'Ecycling day' if I recall correctly, and the whole point was to take the no-longer-wanted hardware people have cluttering their houses and try to get some use out of it. From what I understand, working systems were to be set aside for donation to local schools, possible salvagable parts reclaimed, etc. I'm not sure how well they actually did with this, as I understand the ecycling team was overwhelmed with people coming in and underwhelmed with volunteers, but it's a start.

But that's what they want, isn't it? Save power and thereby save the planet, while making the eevil capitalists who're destroying the poor planet suffer in the wallet for it.

an even bigger farce by the guys trying to make you use fluorescent light instead of incandescent is that the environmental impact of making and disposing of those fluorescents is far far higher than that of an equivalent hour/wattage of incandescent bulbs.
The heavy metal polution alone is enough that there's some talk in Europe to ban the things (while another working group is considering a ban on incandescent lights because there's fluorescent ones as an alternative, if both go through we're back to oil lamps and candles, romantic but hardly practical).

We might also end up going back to arc lamps lining outdoor roadways. Although those wouldn't last too long; I'm sure they'd produce enough ozone that someone from one of those groups would get them banned too..

yes, and oil lamps and candles produce soot which is carcinogenic so must also be banned.
The greens won't be happy until we're all naked, cowering in the darkness outside the caves they won't let us use because they belong to animals.

Always switch the pc off. Get angry if the lights are on and no ones in the room

Just read survey of a british company about switching off your computer - It actually can save you 150pounds pure money if you switch off your devices. So if you some of you guys wanna be silly, funny and sarkastic you might consider going greener for the sake of GREEN (money).

oh wow. The average company saves 150 pounds a year if everyone turns their computer off at night?
And they loose more than that per day from time lost because everyone has to wait 5-10 minutes for the things to get started in the morning...

No mate a 150 pounds a year per/head/computer and monitor!!! The same research stated that a company could save nearly 1500pounds per employer every year (!! imagine multiplier to that...sick - with that money your company could put up a pretty impressive xmass party eh!? - in bahamas or get you a new computer every year ) just by switching off all devices that are not been used. Google E.on for details. Or GreenerGle

And yeah I am sure that 5minutes will make huge difference...like we do anything productive in first 30mins anyway... also Windows OS works smoother after boot so the productivity with faster computer is a factor too if we start been wise asses here.

Just read new info about using Greenergle.com or generally black desktop background in new led-based displays - The difference is HUGE! Black saves more than 50% comparing to white in that new technology... not sure if I remember right the figure but HUGE saving there...back in black... wearing black with black bg. and black sunglasses

If you bought your computer in this century, it will go to power and monitor saving standby on its own. So what's the fuzz all about?

Did you ever ask one of the Greens that fly to Greens Meetings all over the world what they are thinking when they do all this flying? Where do they park their horse and carriage when they go to work?