The First Solar Computer Case that Charges Computers
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 01. 8.07
It seems that my growing dependence on my PowerBook, iPod, cell, and other gizmos is outstripping the battery endurance these devises can supply me. In fact, the more attention I give my little electronic horde, the less amenable they become in the energy department. I’ve been in the market for a solar bag for a while but have held out because, for all the coolness of available models, these computer bags don’t yet actually charge computers. That line has now been crossed, however, by the Eclipse Solar Gear Hybrid Notebook Case. Onboard is a charging inverter and a battery pack that can charge a laptop as well as PDAs, cell phones, MP3 players, GPS units and satellite radio systems. The Hybrid Notebook Case also has an “integrated cooling solution” intended to improve your computer’s energy efficiency. Innovus Designs, creator of the case, won an award for the design from the Consumer Electronics Assoc. this year, and plans to release the product soon in different sizes and body materials. Also from Eclipse, we’ve covered their Solar Flare messenger bag (great name). Other solar bags of note are the Voltaic, Solarstyle, Solio, and Reware. (see them rounded up here). The need for enduring battery performance was pushed into the foreground for me this weekend as I missed recording significant portions of Al Gore’s lectures (part of the Climate Project trainings) on my iPod because my MP3 couldn’t keep up with the former Vice President. I’m at the point where a dependable energy source is worth looking like I’m imitating Mission Impossible. ::Eclipse Solar Gear via Hugg (google)
I want that bag asap.
It's an exciting press release but their products section doesn't even show the product. AKA, as far as the duck test, it's varpoware.
A press release is nice and good, but, the product could be out in days, weeks, years. Duke Nuke 'em Forever has existed in this state for 10 years now. In a significant number of cases, press release doesn't match reality. If you look at the list of features Microsoft told the world Windows Vista would have even 12 months ago, you'd find most did not make it into the release. The Windows XP experience was very similar. The land of palmtop computers is littered with products that made it to the nether world between press release and press/developer previews but never made it to a product people could buy. The same is true of a lot of other product categories.
Until the company is committed enough to the product to create a product page and take orders, the product is still hype. Till then, tell the company you've got a bunch of readers and ask them to tell you when the product is ready for market.
the prototype case is rad. let's hope they make it
Two problems. First, it's gonna be really heavy because rechargeable batteries are super dense. So this probably should be designed as a backpack with really good cushiony straps. The other problem is, you have to leave it in the sun a long time to get much charge, and the limitations of size mean it probably won't cover enough area to get a lot of juice. At most it would get you about 10 watts. And if this is a backpack it means you will likely have it at a bad angle to the sun when you're walking around. I have been looking for a solution for camping, and I think the best bet would be flexible solar panels - there are companies that will sell them with a fabric backing - and you would put these on your tent, or else have it hanging off your backpack somehow, perhaps in an awning-like configuration. But really, I don't think solar is a great mobile charging solution.
I just saw the new version of the Eclipse Solar Gear laptop case at the 2008 CES. It's awesome. Definitely different from the original version. It's still a hard case, but more expedition-quality. It took care of the issue with solar panel power output-it will recharge a laptop battery, but really meant to extend the life of the batter charge. It looks really, really rugged. Supposed to go to market this summer- they had the prototype, and it looks polished.