Weekend Connect: iPad Dharma is Awesome, But is it Environmentally Friendly?

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Ponlop Rinpoche told me, via twitter to enjoy my "iPad Dharma." He uses an iPad when he teaches. The Karmapa is in an iPad ad. Welcome to the 21st century.

My first week using the iPad 2 that was gifted to me by students completing Secular Buddhist Studies at IDP was awesome. This week saw more ease of reading, more working outside, I stayed on top of email better, and I didn't have to print any class notes. Not only does it allow me to fully embrace my book geekery, but it also represents part of what will hopefully be a great revolution in book publishing, one without the fixed gatekeepers of the current paradigm, and one from which both authors and readers will benefit greatly. We'll see if that turns out to be true in this profit-mad world, but as one author and writer, I am excited by the eBook revolution. Sorry, publishers, we authors wish you all great happiness, but in our heart of hearts I think we all resent your middle-man status just a tiny bit. It's just the nature of the game, and the game, it is a-changing.

However, from a responsible consumption standpoint, I keep hearing greatly mixed views on whether Kindles, IPads, and the like are more environmental than paper. Some people say a definitive yes. Others say that the increasing problem of e-waste greatly outweighs the benefits. Do you have any reliable sources? I can't possibly imagine that going paperless is a bad thing, as Annie Leonard points out that 40% of all landfill waste is paper, but I would like to be further educated on the topic.

Have a great weekend, and enjoy your dharma, iPad or otherwise.