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Laptop Methanol Fuel Cells Promised This Week
securitas writes: "Wired tells us that Germany's Smart Fuel Cell is about to ship the first methanol based fuel cells for laptops and other electronic devices. The company says a 120 milliliter fuel cell can power a 15W notebook for 10 hours, and you can refill it without shutting down."
If only NT could stay up that long.
Doesh it *hic* mesh up your *hic* documentsh like *hic* I do when I'm dhrinking methanol *hic* ?
jer
We may be human, but we're still animals
- Steve Vai
Where does this water go? Does it evaporate or am I going to have to take my laptop for a pee?
--
billwashere
Will a peaty single malt gum up the works?
I don't know, but it sounds like a terrible waste!
"Information wants to be paid"
If so, I can eat airplane peanuts on my Melbourne to London flight and power my laptop with a strategically placed tube from my MethPort to my... well, if you are here, you've got an imagination...
http://pcblues.com - Digits and Wood
As others have mentioned, the availability of the fuel for these fuel cells is what is going to kill or break it. I wouldn't much mind filling up my laptop while I pump my gas, as long as it only costs me 33 cents extra. You just know if this technology takes off the methanol industry will recognize the demand and increase their bulk prices to be more expensive in smaller quantities. That's how it was with gas and oil when the car became mainstream.
It's going to be a tough haul convincing consumers, especially because most don't see that they *are* acutally paying something when they plug in their laptop or cellphone to charge. You also can't beat the distribution of electrical outlets. There may be a fuel cell depot at every gas station and news stand, but I doubt there will be one right beside your bed.
Personally, I'm still holding off on my hydrogen from air bit, or burning oxygen for fuel. We have plenty of "fuel" in the air, why not use it? And what about energy from plain old H2O we've been hearing about? Burn both the Hydrogen and Oxygen and you have no waste.
Ultimatly, we will have to see. For now I would be for a hybrid battery/fuel cell slot system where you can get the instant fill-up when you need it, but still not be left in the dark when the minimart in All Pains, Michigan doesn't cary your fuel cell brand.
"I'll just chip in a bit for RedHat: I actually have that installed on my university machine." - Linus, '95
I can just see him rolling the 55 gallon drum on a dolly up to the check in counter.
With all that good information, I was surprised you didn't mention antifreeze. Years ago, antifreeze was made with ethanol. Farmers put antifreeze in their tractor tires to help keep them from having to refill the tires every time the weather changes.
Now here's the funny part. People used to go looking for drinks in the farmers' tires. That wouldn't be too bad in itself, unless you're the farmer. But then a few years ago, they changed antifreeze to methanol, instead of ethanol. So the younger generation, upon hearing the older generations stories of drunken nights in fields, decides to go try it. Now we've got farmer Jones field full of blind, methanol poisoned high school students.
I really get a kick out of stories like this. I really like those Darwin Awards, too, though. *shrug*
It's easy to stand out when the general level of competence is so low.
I can see it now at HardOCP:
I just modded my laptop, not only does it have a clear case, a liquid cooled CPU but I put on a 4 barrel micro-holly carb with a supercharger on on the fuel cell and MAN does that baby purr.
With this puppy I can whip any ground based gamerw while in flight. Just kick it into overdrive!
make Linux, not Microsoft. sin(beast) = -0.809016994374947424102293417182819
I'm sorry sir, your methyl alcohol fuel cell is a safety hazard. Can I get you some scotch to take your mind off that?
If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.