Taiwan company develops solar-powered notebook computer

Tech News

Jan 11, 2006, 15:18 GMT

Taipei - A Taiwan company has developed a solar-power notebook computer to save computer users the trouble of charging batteries by plugging them in, the company said on Wednesday.

An undated handout image supplied by MSI showing a solar energy operated notebook computer, developed by Taiwanese Micro Star International (MSI), Wednesday, 11 January 2006. While a first generation solar notebook would operate for 30 minutes, the 2nd generation notebook, which is being developed by MSI, will use a satellite solar panel and will allow the PC to operate for at least four hours. The computer is aimed for indoor use, on flights and on trains. EPA/DAVID CHANMicro Star Industry (MSI) said it spent a year to develop the first-generation solar notebook computer, Solar NB, and is now developing the second-generatino Solar NB. 'Solar NB is a notebook computer with a solar panel on its top. The first-generation Solar NB can operate on so light power for half an hour but it takes the solar panel half an hour to collect that much power,' MSI Marketing Manager Chen Chien-hung said. 'For the second-generation Solar NB, we will use satellite solar power which is more effective but also more expensive,' Chen said. The 12-inch first-generation Solar NB costs 55,000 Taiwan dollars (1,700 U.S. dollars). The second-generation Solar NB will cost 80,000 Taiwan dollars (2,500 U.S. dollars) and is expected to be able to operate on light power for at least four hours. Chen said that although Solar NB can be used outdoors, the main purpose of developing Solar NB is not for outdoor use, but for indoor use, and the solar panel does not collect solar power, but light power. 'We want to allow people to use notebook computer when they travel in an aircraft or train, either by relying entirely by light power or using both light power and the battery when the light in plane or train is dim,' he said. MSI unveiled a pair of Solar NB at the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held January 5-8 in Las Vegas, but will not market it until the product is more mature. © 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

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jrFeb 9th, 2006 - 11:53:17

I am from Australia i am american.
Is good.
I liked.
solar power computer or lap,I give you 100% of your adie it good ok

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jrFeb 9th, 2006 - 11:54:20

I am from Australia i am american.
Is good.
I liked.
solar power computer or lap,I give you 100% of your adie it good ok

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FredJan 30th, 2007 - 17:48:43

I think this is a very good idea, in many cases we run out of power and can't continue our work on laptop just because of low bat!!!
Great idea, good luck

Fred (French leaving in Kuwait, to much sun there!!!)

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jedMar 13th, 2007 - 23:29:57

How much energy went into making the solar cells? Did the manufacturer have to burn fossil fuels and pollute rivers with semiconductor waste products such as Trichloroethylene?

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SP NOTEBOOKSep 20th, 2007 - 19:40:00

Whatever, i made one myself for under $35 it may even work better too. like i would pay 2500 dollars for some solar cells i could buy at radio shack! HA!

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