Steve Ballmer's $100 PC, Sans Windows

Martin_Flory writes "SolarPC has announced the $100 personal computer. Steve Ballmer's idea for reducing piracy was great after all, since this computer runs on Linux (DSL Distro). 'The design and construction of the SolarLite is consistent with the goal of an environmentally friendly computer. It uses a lightweight, recyclable, aluminum case that has a 20-year warranty. Its VIA chipset based "long-life" motherboard is a "green" lead free product. Like all SolarPC computers, the SolarLite operates on 12 volt DC power and can be run from a solar panel, car battery, or human powered (with a bicycle-based generator). The cool and quiet SolarLite uses approximately 10 watts of energy, just a fraction of what a standard PC consumes.' Sounds amazing right? This could change education all around the globe... a new Information Era is coming, and everyone is invited." The site claims they'll be available next month (minimum order 100,000 units), and promises a demo at SCALE 2005.

Comments

10Watts of slave power

[Hanzie]

... or human powered (with a bicycle-based generator)

I have visions of slaves in third world countries on generator bicycles, all outside pedaling away, while the local bigwig surfs porn

Re:10Watts of slave power

[FLAGGR]

I have visions of linux geeks loosing lots of weight, because they overclocked their SolarPC and it needs more juice.

Re:10Watts of slave power

[Gherald]

> I have visions of slaves in third world countries on generator bicycles, all outside pedaling away, while the local bigwig surfs porn

Exactly how would this be more apealing than just fucking the slaves?

Re:10Watts of slave power

[fourtwo]

No slaves needed with the new Wanking-based generator.

Damn, that is a seriously viable idea. I CALL PATENT!

Re:10Watts of slave power

[drinkypoo]

Depending on how appealing they are, you might need one before the other.

Re:10Watts of slave power

[kesler]

The girls in the pron would have all their teeth.
Not to mention there could be a farm animal.

Re:10Watts of slave power

[Zorilla]

The downside is having less time available to them to keep up on their spelling skills.

Re:10Watts of slave power

[0racle]

I envision less Gentoo users.

Re:10Watts of slave power

[samekt]

Not to mention there could be a farm animal.

Where? On the porn site or pedaling the bicycle?

Re:10Watts of slave power

[Anonymous Coward]

Same thing goes for "America"

You mean the continent thing, or the third world thing ?

(with Dubbya managing the economy, you never know)

Re:10Watts of slave power

[Moderatbastard]

Given:
that the article does indeed say "10 watts of energy",
that parent article referred to the aforementioned FA, and
that Edittard has a habit of taunting the idiots^H^H editors, I must conclude:
1) whoosh! and
2) you're new here.

For leaders of a new Information Era...

[frenetic3]

...they sure do have a ghetto website. :P

-fren

Re:For leaders of a new Information Era...

[Anonymous Custard]

...they sure do have a ghetto website. :P

It's a $100 website, too.

Re:Minimum 100,000?

[TheBoostedBrain]

Are you kidding? Imagine a green beowolf cluster of these...

Re:that's cool

[frenetic3]

whoo dont's have much money a chance to have a computer and learn

And not a moment too soon. :)

-fren

From the SolarLite page

[mr.henry]

Small, Silent, Sensible and Stylish

WTF, stylish? It looks like a metal project box from radio shack.

Check it out.

a new Information Era is coming

[frovingslosh]

Damn, at first I read this as ""a new Information Bra is coming". I kind of like my way better.

Re:a new Information Era is coming

[Zorilla]

You just stumbled upon a new paradigm of UI design.

(o) Press here for more information

Re:specs?

[Anonymous Coward]

Here's a hint: think low, and then think lower.

Re:Miniaturizing is required.

[Zorilla]

Subnnotrenbiooklds are fgreast!@ Teh keybboardas sizzzxe dsolen't boethre me at allk!

Hmmm

[ICECommander]

It's the solution to America's obesity problem: Stop buying computers with power supplies, just make your kids pedal away.

Re:that's cool

[damiam]

Even single-checking it would be a good start. :-)

a metal project box from radio shack

[Visaris]

WTF, stylish? It looks like a metal project box from radio shack.

How is that not stylish?

Re:AWESOME!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

But it does nothing so efficiently!

ghetto website

[Nanoda]

Yeah - they have to turn off stylesheets when it gets too cloudy.

You're right.

[StarKruzr]

How silly of me.

What's the capitol of Africa again?

Re:You're right.

[corbettw]

What's the capitol of Africa again?

Africa City, of course. Jeez, you don't get out much, do you?

Re:You're right.

[CharlesF]

From the Simpsons family trip to Africa:

Flight Attendant: Please prepare for our landing in Tanzania... I'm sorry, it is now called "New Zanzibar." Excuse me. It is now called "Pepsi presents New Zanzibar."

Re:solid-state?

[geminidomino]

Wives can be such pains in the ass that way (as well as many many others), especially one who just "doesn't get it" (like yours seems not to).

"Don't need another computer" indeed. That's like saying I don't need to pay $90 for a mint copy of Lunar:EB or Rhapsody.

Re:specs?

[AoT]

Monitor?

Doom is so much more challenging with a braille output.

Re:solid-state?

[Anonymous Coward]

This works with my wife:

"You don't need another pair of shoes. What's wrong with the ones you're wearing right now?"