Very nice thinking - laptops are generally more efficient users of power than desktop equivalents, so this is an even more compelling step to buy a laptop, especially considering it is using recycled PET materials as well.

I do have a question mark as to the practicality of such a bag though - laptop users (like I am) would surely be wary of placing their bag in a sunny location (for extended periods of time), where it could attract the attention of those socially less considerate individuals (also known as thieves!).

Perhaps the bag can have an inbuilt solar powered "zapper" to keep prying hands away too!

A great development which not only influence the world energy balance, it is also seems to be quite handy. I hope that people will start using it soon and with a great extend.

Awesome! And 15W is very useful. It would totally blast any iPod or cellphone to the moon. As far as being on the low side for laptops, this sure sounds like a good reason for the laptop manufacturers to reduce their power consumption. The OLPC laptop is only 2W, and Everex has a 12W StepNote NC1500. Add in new categories like iPhones and diskless UMPCs, and 15W looks totally in the future mainstream. Rock on!

I went to the CES 2008 and I saw Voltaic's offering- Voltaic's looked like a standard soft laptop case with a solar panel sewn in. I also saw Eclipse Solar Gear's current offering, which is supposed to be out this summer. Eclipse Solar Gear won an Innovations & Design Honoree award in 2007 for their solar laptop case. It's pretty slick. Really rugged stuff. If I had to really protect my laptop, I think Eclipse's case would do a better job. Eclipse's case looked like a Pelican-style case, fan-cooled, gasket sealed, ruggedized and weather sealed solar panel, and an internal battery. Neat case.

In talking to the owner of Eclipse Solar Gear, he said that solar cells in a portable, convenient case aren't anywhere near ready to power a laptop- you need a battery in the system to store power (present in both Eclipse's and Voltaic's cases), and the system would more assist with the laptop battery- extend your operating usage by a couple of hours or so, depending on the laptop (and it will power other devices as well) rather as being the primary source for giving the laptop a full charge. Theoretically, yes- given enough time in the sun, but not for most users (except if you were on expedition, out in the field, military, or something like that- something that Eclipse's case looked like it was specifically designed for). True, most current laptops draw a lot of energy- for example, all of Dell's Latitude D-series need at least 65 watts to charge (I think it's more of a limitation of Dell's charging circuit), but computer component manufacturers are getting better about making more efficient and low-power usage components. It's good that people are thinking ahead though.

Greenwash. The idea of having little solar PVs charging cellphones, laptops and the like is about having gadgets, not saving the environment. There is nothing ecologically beneficial about this bag unless you have it sitting in the sun whenever you are not using it and feeding electricity into your house or something worthwhile.
Solar PV panels have an energy balance where after 1-3 years (of full time exposure to the sun) they have produced as much energy as it took to make them.
(http://www.eupvplatform.org/fileadmin/Documents/FactSheets/PVPT_Fact_Sheet_PV_Energy_Balance.pdf)
My guess with these sorts of chargers is that for most people they will be sitting inside, unused in the shade 99% of the time and only used for occasional trips or holidays. That means they will never reach that energy balance and less emissions are actually produced by powering the laptop off the grid.
The same goes for probably any solar powered gadget or garden light or solio charger - the are eco-unfriendly. Don't use them unless you have a special need (ie you have no grid connection or need it for trips outdoors)
Benjamin

This is a great direction, but it's a small shame that the bag isn't a bit better looking. Crumpler and others are sounding the death knell for ugly laptop bags, there's just no need for it! :-)

My laptop goes everywhere I go as I travel a lot. I think it's a brilliant idea!!

I also saw this bag at CES last week. The fit and finish was first class. The zippers were heavy gage. I think it will work just fine, notwithstanding the comments above. As for its "green" credentials, I think the point of having people disconnect completely from the grid, at least for their smaller gadgets, is admirable. And this bag will let them do it. Going off-grid is not just about being green, it is also about self-reliance, showing people another way that doesn't involve ongoing payments to OPEC, Duracell, or begging people to use a spare outlet.

waaay to expensive!!!! that could eb so much cheaper and more people would buy them!!

Benjamin has a good point, and has demonstrated some keen thought and insightful analysis. Far apart from the fact that you need to have the panel exposed to the sun to charge your laptop, how many laptops screens are suitable to being used in full sunlight? The alternative is to sit in the park for a few hours waiting for your laptop to recharge - nobody is going to leave their solar recharge bag & laptop sitting unattended in the sun!

No prices or available vendors...did I miss something or a link? Len Dixon

http://www.voltaicsystems.com/ - I guess they just listed it for sale.

I actually have a laptop that you can use in the sunlight...its not the greatest visibility but it works.

I also have one of the solar backpacks from voltaic systems and Ive NEVER used it to charge my phone, ipod, or camera...I only use it to hold power to whatever I need. Like when you are out in the woods and lose all power to your phone and just need something to make the call. I mean it will charge you phone all the way - but when the hell am I sitting in the sun for 4 hours? thats just dumb!

SOOOOOOOOOOOO...if you have a generator and a laptop...sit under a tree...place your generator just out from under the tree canopy and your power cord stretches long enough so that you can sit in the shade...see your screen, make your emails...and be disconnected fromt the grid.
Its a GREAT IDEA! I cant stand when people nock free electricity.

Heres a little something I noticed about my backpack: Even when Im inside a classroom w/ floresant lights...the light inside my bag says that its recieving a charge!!!Im sure its not much and its not generating enough to make a difference...but it notices the light!!!! WEIRD!

http://www.voltaicsystems.com/ - I guess they just listed it for sale.

I actually have a laptop that you can use in the sunlight...its not the greatest visibility but it works.

I also have one of the solar backpacks from voltaic systems and Ive NEVER used it to charge my phone, ipod, or camera...I only use it to hold power to whatever I need. Like when you are out in the woods and lose all power to your phone and just need something to make the call. I mean it will charge you phone all the way - but when the hell am I sitting in the sun for 4 hours? thats just dumb!

SOOOOOOOOOOOO...if you have a generator and a laptop...sit under a tree...place your generator just out from under the tree canopy and your power cord stretches long enough so that you can sit in the shade...see your screen, make your emails...and be disconnected fromt the grid.
Its a GREAT IDEA! I cant stand when people nock free electricity.

Heres a little something I noticed about my backpack: Even when Im inside a classroom w/ floresant lights...the light inside my bag says that its recieving a charge!!!Im sure its not much and its not generating enough to make a difference...but it notices the light!!!! WEIRD!

a good read