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Laptop Fuel Cells Coming Soon

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the whacking-people-over-the-head dept.

tomsastroblog writes "Soon laptop batteries could last all day and be recharged from a cartridge. BBC News has a piece on fuel cells as laptop batteries, and what their adoption could mean for laptop usage." From the article: "At the Cebit technology fair in Hanover, Taiwanese hi-tech firm Antig said its fuel cells should be on the shelves of computer shops by early 2007. The first versions of the methanol-using units should keep a laptop going for up to nine hours. Fuel cell technology got a boost recently when international air flight regulators changed rules that banned passengers from carrying flammable methanol onto aircraft."

15 of 181 comments (clear)

  1. eheheh by soapdog · · Score: 5, Funny

    gives a whole new meaning to "this laptop is burning my legs..." sorry could not resist...

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    1. Re:eheheh by SeeMyNuts! · · Score: 2, Funny


      That isn't the laptop burning your legs. The Alien that sat in that seat before you got a paper cut and bled acid all over the upholstery. Check the back of your pants before standing up--that could be really embarrassing!

    2. Re:eheheh by LiquidMind · · Score: 5, Funny

      just make sure you don't accidentally set your scrotum on fire

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    3. Re:eheheh by Zach978 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Am I the only one afriad to click a link "set your scrotum on fire"...

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      "I told you a million times not to exaggerate!"
  2. Re:"flammable" by licamell · · Score: 2, Funny
    Not sure if this was meant to be a joke or not, but I'll bite...

    Definition of inflammable:

    1. Easily ignited and capable of burning rapidly; flammable.

    2. Quickly or easily aroused to strong emotion; excitable.

    Definition of flammable:

    1. Easily ignited and capable of burning rapidly; inflammable.

  3. Sounds Dangerous by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 3, Funny
    FTFA:

    "There used to be restrictions on passengers to take methanol on flights," said Ms Tsai.

    But, she explained, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recently changed its guidelines to allow passengers to take methanol cartridges with them when they travel.


    From the MSDS for Methanol:

    Warning! Flammable liquid. May cause skin irritation. May cause central nervous system depression. May be absorbed through the skin. May cause kidney damage. May cause respiratory and digestive tract irritation. May be fatal or cause blindness if swallowed. May cause fetal effects. Causes severe eye irritation and possible injury. Target Organs: Kidneys, central nervous system, eyes.

    It's a neurotoxin! It casues blindness! And it's highly flammable!

    Sounds like a terrorist's dream.
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    1. Re:Sounds Dangerous by fermion · · Score: 5, Funny
      Other terrorist plots
      • All agent fart on the plane at once
      • Hit passengers over head with NiMH batteries.
      • Bring the new Apple boom box on the plane and force everyone to jump to thier death by playing Celine Dion and Cher.
      • Force passenders to watch a Adam Sandler Marathon on the flight from New Yok to Bejing.
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    2. Re:Sounds Dangerous by pilkul · · Score: 3, Funny
      That's nothing. The highly dangerous chemical Dihydrogen Monoxide has been allowed on aircraft for years, and calls for banning it have been summarily ignored. According to this essay at DHMO.org, it is known to frequently cause severe burns, and inhaling it is often lethal. Its MSDS states it forms dangerous explosive gases if you only mix it with calcium carbide.

      Now that's a terrorist's dream. Methanol is the least of our problems.

  4. Re:"flammable" by bcrowell · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Flammable" is a neologism, meant to prevent people from getting killed because they think "inflammable" means "impossible to set on fire."

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  5. Re:Convenience Really Counts by AndroidCat · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'd like a combination laptop-chainsaw!

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  6. Re:Ok I don't get it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    obviously it would be more convenient if they just burnt gasoline like your car. Then you could fill your laptop upw hile youre at the gas station filling your car.

  7. The big question! by Jugalator · · Score: 4, Funny

    The big question (for males) is obviously, would fuel cells increase or decrease the risks of burning the scrotum and penis? :-o

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  8. Re:"flammable" by Psykus · · Score: 3, Funny

    Did you know that "gullible" isn't in the dictionary?

  9. China Syndrome in miniature by John+Jorsett · · Score: 2, Funny

    How much energy can we pack into a small package before we need to start treating it like thermite? If we're putting many watt-hours into a cartridge and it malfunctions, could it, for example, end up melting its way through the cabin floor and skin (and the fuel lines) of an aircraft?

  10. Re:Are fuel cells the right answer? by mingot · · Score: 2, Funny

    Six Blades!