Fuel Cells in Laptops Next Year?

[Gizmo]

Read it here - http://www.aoaforums.com/frontpage/content/view/800/2/

[dsio]

Can you take these things on planes? I don't see them taking to kindly to a small bomb, even if it is part of a computer.

[danrok]

"Effective January 1, 2007, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will allow fuel cells based on methanol - and selected other fuels - to be carried as 'carry-on' baggage and used onboard commercial aircraft by passengers and crew," he said. "This is an important milestone for the portable fuel cell industry."

From:
http://www.bymnews.com/new/content/view/29963/82/

No idea if that is correct. Sounds odd!

It has been reported elsewhere. But no proper detail.

[jnansley]

I bet they'd be a lot more fun if it was ethanol!

[madcatmk3]

I like the idea and this 10 hour run time, whats it on? The current laptops that already get about 4-5 hours or ones that get about 45 mins worth of power and use desktop processors? Aslo what will they do to the price of a laptop?

[Wolf2000me]

Originally Posted by jnansley

I bet they'd be a lot more fun if it was ethanol!

It probably works with ethanol too However I wouldn't waste that on my lappy

[dsio]

Originally Posted by madcatmk3

I like the idea and this 10 hour run time, whats it on? The current laptops that already get about 4-5 hours or ones that get about 45 mins worth of power and use desktop processors? Aslo what will they do to the price of a laptop?

Some thinkpads and Toshis are getting 12 hours using two batteries at the moment at the expense of an optical drive.

I like that more than this methanol idea.

[Staz]

Originally Posted by dsio

Some thinkpads and Toshis are getting 12 hours using two batteries at the moment at the expense of an optical drive.

I like that more than this methanol idea.

You guys are thinking of this as how it applies to you. I don't think this is aimed at people wanting to watch movies or play games on an intercontinental flight.

There are many applications where it would be great if you could use a small 6 oz. can of methanol that cost $10 and get 10 or 12 hours of use from it. Places where there is no way to recharge a battery and weight is a concern as everything needs to be carried. Also as the technology progresses run times will get better and sizes will get smaller and cheaper and the technology itself will travel to other devices such as video cameras and other devices such as sonar and radar and ultrasonic testing equipment.

[whatever]

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/image...topcell300.jpg

Look at that... looks even bigger than the size of mini laptop!

Nice Invention though.


I want a different technology, something that is extremely effective. A Nuclear Powered battery card that slides into the laptop's special slot. It's same size as a credit card only slightly thicker. This power card lasts 4 weeks, or 1 month, at constant 100% CPU utilization. Now THAT's an invention.....

Cold-fusion might be another great idea.

[dsio]

Yea. That would own. If my nuts are going to be nuked, may as well do it properly!

[whatever]

lol

[madcatmk3]

Originally Posted by dsio

Some thinkpads and Toshis are getting 12 hours using two batteries at the moment at the expense of an optical drive.

I like that more than this methanol idea.

optical as in no DVD/CD drive? The use of that is what for someone like a student?