[X4U] webcam

[Stroller]

On 5 Sep 2006, at 19:51, Ronald Steinke wrote:
>>>
>>> iSight is no longer allowed in the whole of Europe.  They made it  
>>> a law
>>
>> What????? How??
>
> It all started when someone found out that there are parts inside  
> the iSight camera that are considered as hazardous materials in  
> most of Europe. The laws in many european countries are much  
> stricter than in America (corporate entities don't exactly own  
> those governments yet) and they have been more cognizant of  
> environmental issues than we have.

I believe that it's not that someone "discovered" hazardous materials  
inside the iSight but that a new European Directive came into effect  
this year. I have heard of a number of other computer parts being  
withdrawn from European sale because of the amount of lead in their  
solder. I believe the alternative solder is more expensive and  
requires higher soldering temperatures; consequently the replacement  
solder may not be interchanged freely and the cost of re-engineering  
the production process may be cost-prohibitive.

There are also requirements that suppliers of electronics hardware  
take responsibility for recycling their products at the end of their  
life-cycle. As I understand it some  manufacturers will only sell to  
Europe if the purchaser is buying in volume and agrees register that  
responsibility.
An example of this is PC Engines:
   http://www.pcengines.ch/order1.php?c=2 (first requirement)
   http://www.pcengines.ch/rohs.htm
   http://www.pcengines.ch/recycle.htm
They clearly seem to think the EU requirements are insane but I am  
glad, at least, that some consideration is being made of our  
industrial legacy.

Stroller.