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First Laptop With Full-Sized Solar Panels Will Run On Ubuntu

Posted by Soulskill on from the not-sure-i-have-the-acreage-for-it dept.

iwritethings writes "The Sol, a rugged-looking laptop with built-in foldable solar panels is designed for use in the military, education and developing countries where electricity is scarce. The Canada-based makers behind the Sol claim that the device can run directly off solar energy or can harness the sun's rays to charge the laptop's battery in under two hours. Once fully charged, the battery is expected to last between eight and 10 hours. While the concept of solar charging gadgets isn't new, this type of battery life is unprecedented. There's no word on when Sol will launch, but its headed to Ghana first, and it will run Ubuntu Linux."

8 of 155 comments (clear)

  1. Matte screen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Hope it comes with a matte screen. A glossy screen would be unusable out in the sun.

    1. Re:Matte screen by niftydude · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Whatever happen to those colour E-ink screens Pixel Qi was working on? They would be perfect

      I was at a conference last year where some japanese guys were working on a microfluidic transflective displays - they are essentially as bright as the ambient light level is - those would also be pretty good for this.

      Come on people - we need low power daylight readable screens already.

      --
      You can never know everything, and part of what you do know will always be wrong. Perhaps even the most important part.
  2. Seems like a terrible design by SSpade · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A separate set of solar panels could be used to power / charge things other than a laptop, and a set of solar panels connected by a cable would let you sit in the cool shade while using the laptop during the day, rather than having to sit out in the sun (where it's hot and you can't see the screen).

    Assuming it's real, which I have some doubts about - a couple of square feet of solar panels provides enough power to drive four or five laptops?

    1. Re:Seems like a terrible design by pla · · Score: 5, Informative

      a couple of square feet of solar panels provides enough power to drive four or five laptops?

      My PC draws under 45W average, and around 20W idle. At my latitude, that would require about 4 square feet (as in, 2x2, not 4x4), and I live pretty far North.

      Computers have gotten a lot more efficient since the bad ol' days of the P4, and solar panels have gotten a lot cheaper (like under $2/W). Given a laptop specifically designed for low power, I have no trouble considering this an entirely realistic design goal - An 8sqft 100W panel and a few laptops that draw 10-20W? You could probably even manage it with OEM hardware, never mind anything hardcore optimized for power.

  3. Re:In a nutshell by Skapare · · Score: 5, Funny

    I want you to have one. You obviously need a new caps lock key.

    --
    now we need to go OSS in diesel cars
  4. The specs... by afxgrin · · Score: 4, Informative

    I don't like their website design, I find it annoying to navigate. :P

    http://solaptop.com/en/products/laptops/

            System

                    CPU: Intel Atom D2500 1.86 GHz Duo Core, Intel 945GSE + ICH7M
                    HDD: Seagate 2.5” SATA HDD 320GB
                    RAM: Kingston 2-4GB DDRIII SDRAM (Options Available)
                    Graphics: 1080p HD Vide, Built-In Intel GMA3600 Graphics
                    Battery Operating Time: 8 - 10 hours

            I/O

                    Display: 13.3" LCD, WXGA, 1366 x 768
                    Camera: 3MP
                    Audio: Realtek ALC661 HD Audio, Built-in 2 Speakers | Internal mic + 1/8” input
                    3 USB2.0, Headphone jack, HDMI, LAN(10/100), Card reader (SD/MS/MMC)

            Wireless

                    Modem: 3G/4G World/multimode LTE
                    GPS: gpsOne Gen8A
                    WiFi: MIMO 802.11b/gn (2.4/5GHz)
                    Bluetooth: Integrated Digital Core BT4.0

  5. Save Frequently by cdxta · · Score: 5, Funny

    Every time a cloud goes over you're going to loose your work, or is your work in the cloud?

  6. Samsung NC215s by iamhassi · · Score: 4, Informative

    Samsung NC215s is the world's first solar laptop way back in 2011.

    It's on Amazon with real reviews and here's a customer unboxing video

    Article mentions the NC215s but claims it didn't have a 10 hour battery life while this review says the NC215s did have a 10 hour battery life... not that it really matters if the laptop can run on sunlight.... unless you're visiting the Arctic I suppose

    --
    my karma will be here long after I'm gone