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NEC Unveils Methanol-Fueled Laptop
genericplacebo writes "Japanese computer giant NEC Corp. Monday revealed a prototype of a laptop computer that runs on a methanol fuel cell instead of a rechargeable battery, and said it will start selling it next year. NEC initially plans to introduce a computer with a fuel-cell system able to run for five consecutive hours on a single cartridge of methanol fuel, but also plans to make a PC within two years that can run continuously for as long as 40 hours."
I was already worried about the concepts of television, telephony, and high-fi merging entirely with that of the personal computer, now I have to worry about computers becoming strikingly similar to automobiles and weed-whackers?
Computers are already too unstable and crash-prone. I hate to think how it'll be when my laptop is busy drinking alcohol while I'm trying to work...
Dare you to put an AMD in it.
The coolest voice ever.
It must be that it will be easier to take extra flammable fuel on board an airplane than extra batteries!
Mmm...alcohol fueled computer. One for you, one for me.
So I'll have to pull start this laptop to boot it up?
-=- Many seek good nights and lose good days.
"Man dies from carbon monoxide intoxication after using laptop for five straight hours, more at 11"
So you're saying you're not only blind but dead also?
Welcome to Slashdot!
I'd have an endless supply of fuel! My laptop would never go down.
Sweet, you spelled 'retarded' wrong. What a retart
Of course almost no one will call them 'Methanol fuel cells' because that sounds too nerdish and is too difficult to say.
:)
So when you go to Starbucks and order you're double espresso latte with extra whipped cream and sprinkles on top, you'll probably be asking for a 'meth pack' with that.
My journal has hot
Bender.
20 January 2017: the End of an Error.
God damn them to hell for offering products to people. Bloody capitalist swine. We'll immolate them on a stack of their own fuel cells! Power to the people! Or not, in this case.
How long do you think that the printer ink refillers start marketing knock off fuel cartridges and "self fueler" fuel purifiers which filter camp stove quality wood alcohol into laptop grade fuel?
Methanol will just blank out the screen...
It would be cool if we could use ethanol instead of methanol in a pinch. Imagine flying long distances in coach class. You could buy bottles of booze and keep your laptop going indefinitely!
:-)
"Excuse me, what's the highest proof you sell on this flight?"
Well, on the 10 hour flight, you could get those little airplane booze bottles and fill up ... alchohol is a lot more plentiful than electricity in underdeveloped areas.
I bet you're fun at parties.
Ever been on a plane where they let you take a large quantity of some highly combustable hydrocarbon into the cabin with you? ;-)
You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
nononoNO! that is not alcohol. You are mixing up one taboo with another. One you do with your hand and your mouth and the other with you hand and... erm... welllll... you know. That and harry palms too, right? or am i mixed up?
Excellent, now I can sit at the local mexican restaurant ALL DAY, and my laptop will keep up as long as the refriend beans and beer keep coming!
Doh, the airline you use must have a crappy inflight bar.