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NEC Unveils Methanol-Fueled Laptop

Posted by timothy on from the note-methanol-not-methadone dept.

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."

15 of 363 comments (clear)

  1. Merger... by mgcsinc · · Score: 4, Funny

    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?

  2. Don't drink and drive! by NumberField · · Score: 5, Funny

    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...

  3. Light humor follows by Faust7 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Dare you to put an AMD in it.

    --
    The coolest voice ever.
  4. How about on airplanes? by expro · · Score: 4, Funny

    It must be that it will be easier to take extra flammable fuel on board an airplane than extra batteries!

  5. Ob Homer by eap · · Score: 4, Funny

    Mmm...alcohol fueled computer. One for you, one for me.

  6. Pull start boot? by cpopin · · Score: 3, Funny

    So I'll have to pull start this laptop to boot it up?

    --
    -=- Many seek good nights and lose good days.
  7. Re:That's kind of wierd. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    So you're saying you're not only blind but dead also?

  8. Re:So what by Minderbinder106 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sweet, you spelled 'retarded' wrong. What a retart

  9. Re:So what by Surak · · Score: 4, Funny

    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 /. gossip.
  10. Perfect name... by ncc74656 · · Score: 4, Funny
    ...for a methanol-powered notebook:

    Bender.

    --
    20 January 2017: the End of an Error.
  11. Yeah! by John+Jorsett · · Score: 3, Funny
    Some might think that fuel cell is the greatest thing since Lithium Ion batteries but its really another way of getting money out of the poor consumer.

    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.

  12. specialist refuelers by nounderscores · · Score: 3, Funny

    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?

  13. That's ethanol... by Hobbex · · Score: 3, Funny


    Methanol will just blank out the screen...

  14. Re:So what by Patik · · Score: 5, Funny

    I bet you're fun at parties.

  15. Re:So what by squiggleslash · · Score: 4, Funny

    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.