Samsung solar-powered laptop – One hour use per two hours charging? | Hacker News Reader

Samsung solar-powered laptop – One hour use per two hours charging?

liliputing.com

17 pointskarl_nerd8 comments

Many buyers of solar chargers (esp. moi) are surprised to encounter the reality: we don't stay in a sunny place long enough to obtain a meaningful charge. We move, shadows are cast, clouds pass, valuables are stashed & secured. We don't sit still (save for our ill-lit cubicle caves), we worry about theft, weather happens.

One hour use per two hours charging is fair given the technology. Short of extreme scenarios, are you seriously going to leave your laptop out in the open, most likely unattended, for 2+ hours? or all day?

out in the open, most likely unattended, for 2+ hours?

Balcony comes to mind. But yes, I'd be worried about rain showers.

I think the optimal form-factor for a portable solar charger would be a water-proof, inflatable umbrella (with a stand).

Such an umbrella charger could double as sun-shade while you're working and as rain-protection when you leave the laptop out on a table.

Full, noontime sunlight with the panel optimally aimed delivers less than 50 watts to an area the size of that solar panel. Multiply by solar panel efficiency and you are under 8 watts of charging power.

Hmm. I bet it has conventional "electric power plug" mode charging too. When using this netbook outdoors while sunny you'll get some very long battery life indeed. :)

Forget Africa... I do both creative writing and hiking, and like to combine the two. This would be great for that.

Or you could bring a paper notebook and pen.

I do, but I like to type sometimes. I type much faster than I write, much closer to the speed of thought.

Whether I like to type or write is a total mood preference thing.

Combine it with a piezo-electric setup in your hiking boots and you may have a sustainable power supply.

Serioulsy that sounds idyllic. Hiking and writing. You make me imagine a modern day Wordsworth,

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