04/06/2008

The rate with which consumers are getting through high-tech gadgets has led to people disposing of older models 'faster than ever'.

Waste Watch, a leading environmental organisation, has reported that people are increasingly looking for better and faster technology and should consider recycling or reusing older gadgets.

Senior consultant at the company Caroline Laitner said: 'You might want the latest model but this does not mean the one that you have got has not got any life left ... there is always someone who can find a use for it.'

She also commented on the increasing amount of laptops on the market and said consumers should look for products that make sense cost-wise and do not become obsolete.

At the All Things Digital conference last week, the chairman of Dell was spotted carrying a brand new cut-down laptop, known as a netbook, by the editor of gadget website Gizmodo.

The netbook is aimed for delivery in the developing world as well as to the general consumer.