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Fuel Cells for Laptop Computers

ArbiterOne writes "An article in PC World states that the company MTI Micro Fuel Cells plans to demonstrate a new technology this week that could pave the way for better power technology for laptop and palmtop computers. The article claims that this new technology could provide a battery life 2.5 times greater than that of a lithium-ion battery. Could this be the solution to the problem of short battery life in high-end notebooks?"

33 of 266 comments (clear)

  1. Short battery life solved... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Could this be the solution to the problem of short battery life in high-end notebooks?

    Yes, and with their safety record it could cause the problem of short user life in high-end notebooks.

  2. Solution to short battery life by SpaceCadetTrav · · Score: 5, Funny

    Stop playing games on the company laptop.

  3. Uh... by Paulrothrock · · Score: 5, Funny
    Call me a luddite, but I don't really want hot electronic components sitting next to pressurize, flamable gas.

    I like my pubic hair, thankyouverymuch.

    But seriously, will this be available in time for current computers (like my brand-new Powerbook) to be able to upgrade to a fuel cell power source?

    --
    I'm in the hole of the broadband donut.
    1. Re:Uh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      I don't really want hot electronic components sitting next to pressurize, flamable gas

      It's tooo easy. Tooooo easy.

    2. Re:Uh... by Paulrothrock · · Score: 2, Funny

      Nope, I'm *hoping* that the $3K I dropped for it will keep it reasonably capable for 10 years.

      --
      I'm in the hole of the broadband donut.
  4. A friendly reminder from Smokey the Bear... by GillBates0 · · Score: 5, Funny
    When using your MTI Micro Fuel Cell based laptop at the campgrounds, always practice safety. Surround your laptop with rocks to keep the fire from spreading. Be sure when you're done with your laptop to put it out with a bucket of water and make sure it has stopped smoking before you leave the area.

    Remember what Smokey the Bear says. Only you can prevent your MTI Micro Fuel Cell based laptop from starting a forest fire.

    --
    An Indian-American Hindu committed to non-violent thought/speech/action alarmed by the global explosion of radical Islam
    1. Re:A friendly reminder from Smokey the Bear... by srussell · · Score: 4, Funny
      Be sure when you're done with your laptop to put it out with a bucket of water
      Ah, you must not have read the announcement. These things produce their own water. The next obvious step is to construct a tiny internal fire suppression system.

      Actually, the sneaker benefit of this technology is that your laptop will steam-press your pants for your ... or, at least, the thighs of your pant legs.

  5. Re:The nice thing about "normal" batteries... by L.+VeGas · · Score: 5, Funny

    Only on Slashdot

    The last thing I need to be doing is wandering around vegas at three in the morning trying to find some hydrogen to power my notebook

    During my 3am Vegas wanderings, it sure wouldn't be hydrogen that I'm looking for.

  6. It's bound to happen by Stephen+Samuel · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can just see someone cycling up to a petro-can Station pulling out a steaming laptop and yelling 'Filler up fast! I'm being slashdotted!'

    --
    Free Software: Like love, it grows best when given away.
  7. Uh... by Digitus1337 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Do I want an experimental fuel cell on my lap?

  8. Re:At long last. by AviLazar · · Score: 4, Funny

    Don't worry, they already believe they can create components that use 2.5 times the power, even without the battary to power it :)

    --

    I mod down so you can mod up. Your welcome.
  9. Longetivity! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now my dual 3.2Ghz EE Pentium 4 laptop time will triple to 8.3 minutes!

    1. Re:Longetivity! by theendlessnow · · Score: 3, Funny
      Now my dual 3.2Ghz EE Pentium 4 laptop time will triple to 8.3 minutes!

      You can hold it in your lap for 8.3 minutes??!! Who makes your underwear?

  10. Re:RTFA it uses methanol for its hydrogen source.. by Rei · · Score: 5, Funny

    I don't know how easily you could find methanol, but *ethanol* is darn easy to come by. :) The new teenage slogan would become, "No, mom, I swear, it's for my computer!"

    --
    I just invaded Grammar Czechoslovakia and duped Grammar Neville Chamberlain; now it's on to Grammar Poland.
  11. This was on /. once before by Murf_E · · Score: 2, Funny

    I have seen this on slashdot before but I can't seem to find it and am too lazy to keep looking. I guess this will be the same: no one wants a laptop called the hindenberg

    --
    this sig intentionally left blank
  12. Re:RTFA it uses methanol for its hydrogen source.. by Kenja · · Score: 4, Funny
    To paraphrase Homer.

    One for the computer, one for me, one for the computer, one for me.....

    --

    "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
  13. Mmmm.... methanol by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wonder how long before people start cracking the top off the fuel chargers and start mixed it with coke... sure it may cause blindness, but there are a whole lot or reasons your laptop will make you go blind. (ba-dum-ching!)

    I can just see it now... tough board meeting, heading back on the train... cracking open your fuel cells for sweet sweet relief.

    Come on... people do it with whipped cream changers! Next best thing for the liquor-added geek?

    Now to find a way to power my laptop on vodka (like Bender!)

  14. Re:Methanol toxicity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah, we should stick with safe, nutritious lithium ion batteries.

  15. excess water by apachetoolbox · · Score: 5, Funny

    Over the course of the operating period, the amount of excess water released will not be noticeable to the user, he says.

    great, now laptops can pee on us :D

    1. Re:excess water by Epistax · · Score: 2, Funny

      You gotta see them piss after you put in ethanol instead of methanol.

      Oh and spelling errors everywhere, not to mention a terribly belligerent disposition.

  16. Strange.. this came to mind.. by AnswerIs42 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Spengler: There's something very important I forgot to tell you.
    Venkman: What?
    Spengler: Don't /. the server.
    Venkman: Why?
    Spengler: It would be bad.
    Venkman: I'm fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing. What do you mean "bad"?
    Spengler: Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously, and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.
    Stantz: Total protonic reversal!
    Venkman: Right, that's bad. Okay, alright, important safety tip, thanks Egon.

  17. Re:The nice thing about "normal" batteries... by Kenja · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hey, I said it was the last thing I wanted to be doing....

    --

    "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
  18. At least... by gmuslera · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... this could give a new meaning to "CPU burning"

  19. Re:The nice thing about "normal" batteries... by Jeremy+Erwin · · Score: 5, Funny

    By themselves, they won't cost very much. But I would expect them to also be equipped with some sort of authentication system, so as to prevent unscrupulous third parties from ruining your name brand system with inferior IP.

    And, of course, the initial fuel cells supplied with the laptop will only be half full.

  20. Re:At long last. by MP3Chuck · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hmmm ... a laptop that you can't put on your lap. I think they're onto something!!

  21. Re:The nice thing about "normal" batteries... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I believe that would be penecillin.

  22. Richolson's Law by gricholson75 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I hereby announce Richolson's Law:
    Whenever an article mentioning laptop computers, parts for laptop computers, or any accessory pertaining to laptop computers is posted to Slashdot, the chances someone will link to the Register article about the man who burnt his penis with his laptop approaches 1.0.

  23. Re:At long last. by AviLazar · · Score: 4, Funny

    Oh don't let me get into that one. "Hey lets create a game that is a huge memory hog so nobody can run it unless they are running Quad Pentium 10 processors, 95k RPM scsi hard drives (raid required), 14 gigs of ram, and THREE video cards that won't be invented for three years."

    --

    I mod down so you can mod up. Your welcome.
  24. What memory effect by lcsjk · · Score: 4, Funny

    I don't remember anything about that!

  25. Re:Glucose based fuel cells by yeremein · · Score: 2, Funny
    Maybe instead using batteries, we'll soon just plug our laptops into our arms.

    Sounds great! Eat junk food, play Quake, and lose weight all at the same time! Crank up the resolution and effects to burn the most calories.

    Heck, I should apply for a patent on this.

  26. Use U-235 by dpbsmith · · Score: 3, Funny

    A single aspirin-sized pellet of U-235 could power your laptop for 20,000 years. No wimpy Centrinos, but a big honkin' full-strength 43.8-watt Pentium IV. The ability to burn DVD's directly, and I do mean burn. A simple 20-pound lead plate integral with the back of the case provides your lap with thermal and other protection, as well as looking cool. Waste disposal? No problem, nobody's going to throw one away when it still has 19,997 years of useful life in it.

  27. Re:At long last. by spacerodent · · Score: 2, Funny

    imagine the fun of engineering a laptop with a nice hot cpu,ram, videocard over a nice and most likey explosive fuel cell. Good thing they've bred most the ethics out of us engineers.

  28. Forget fuel cells, use the alternative by panurge · · Score: 3, Funny
    In the real world, fuel cell powered cars are always on the horizon, but for sheer fuel efficiency the good old direct injection Diesel is still winning. Works brilliantly on boats, and recharges my laptop in the car via an inverter.

    The obvious answer is a tiny Diesel engine. It'll probably be commercialised faster, it will run nicely on rapseseed oil, which you can carry on airplanes, and the coolness factor would be enormous. The Powerbook would doubtless have some six-cylinder BMW design with engine management and a titanium-clad alternator, while Dell would have some two-pot Chinese job that emitted black smoke while starting. Of course, the plane could still run out of salad dressing on the way to a convention, and the filler better not look too much like a hypodermic.

    --
    Panurge has posted for the last time. Thanks for the positive moderations.