Showing posts with label Solar powered gadgets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Solar powered gadgets. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Housetec Sdn Bhd launched solar generator for the local market

Sometime ago I wrote about Solarator, the portable 600W solar power generator that costs as much as $6,500 (more than RM20,000) and people asked where and when will this be available.

I suppose the Solarator's price would be too prohibitive for the masses. But a new portable solar power generator is now available locally thanks to Housetec (M) Sdn Bhd.


Housetec Korea Group Chairman Keun Moon explaining to the delegates. Sinar Harian photo


Housetec to market portable solar generator in Malaysia

Housetec (M) Sdn Bhd has recently launched the first compact solar power generator for the local market. It plans to first introduce the product to the ministries, departments and other government agencies followed by individual consumers in the rural areas, fishermen, etc, at a later date.

Several solar based products were introduced during the signing of memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the company and  ANGKASA (Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Bhd) in Kuala Lumpur.

For the time being, Housetec is targeting ANGKASA members but the products would be extended to the masses soon.


Products offered

Very little was made known through the report by Sinar Harian, but from the information seen on ANGKASA's official FB page, these are two of the products on offer:

  • SG-80 Multi Solar System: This system enables you to operate/ power-up TV, laptops, fans, lights, etc.
  • SG-24 Solar Lighting System: This system enables you to to power up Housetec's LED lighting series


TheGreenMechanics: This initiative shows that there is now improved awareness in the solar-based technologies as an alternative source of energy that is environmentally friendly. You may want to check it out with ANGKASA for more details should you be interested.


Source

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Solar-powered laptop lasts 10 hours on a charge

Think solar, think independent.

You can go far away from the power grid and still get connected to the rest of the world. You can do so with the truly independent laptop, the SOL which can be powered by just "plugging" it into the sun. During night time, or when the sun isn't there, you can run it all night long with its powerful battery, claimed to be up to 10 hours!


The laptop charges up in 2 hours and can last up to 10 hours. Image credit: SOL


SOL laptop comes loaded with all the productivity and creativity tools you need. Since there are thousands of free apps available online, you don't need to purchase any more software to get started. Since it runs on Ubuntu (not Mac or Windows) operating system, it cost you nothing to power it up and running.

The laptop has built-in foldable solar panels, and the Canada-based makers behind the SOL claim that the device can run directly off solar energy or can harness the sun’s rays to charge the laptop’s battery in under two hours. Once fully charged, the battery is expected to last between eight and 10 hours!


The SOL Specifications

  • CPU: Intel Atom D2500 1.86 GHz Duo Core
  • Storage: Seagate 2.5” SATA HDD 320GB
  • RAM: 2GB upgradeable to 4GB DDRIII SDRAM 
  • Graphics: 1080p HD Vide, Built-In Intel GMA3600 Graphics
  • Battery Operating Time: 8 - 10 hours
  • Weight: 5.02 lbs / 2.28 kg
  • Display: 13.3" LCD, WXGA, 1366 x 768
  • Camera: 3MP
  • Audio
  • 3 USB2.0, Headphone jack, HDMI, LAN, Card reader
  • Modem: 3G/4G World/multimode LTE
  • GPS: gpsOne Gen8A
  • WiFi, Bluetooth

Prices:
  • $350 (RM1,139)
  • $400 (RM1,302) - waterproof version

From the above information, it is clear the laptop is packed with mid-range specs but what sets it apart from the rest is that it's designed for use in the military, education and developing countries where electricity is scarce.


TheGreenMechanics' take:
It is not the first solar-powered laptop, but previous products such as the Samsung NC215S netbook don’t claim 10 hours of battery life on a single solar charge.

It is slated to launch in Ghana, Africa first but with the attractive price, I'd love to see the laptop making its way into Malaysia. Perfect for the grid-power-deprived folks in the not-so-rural-areas in Sabah.


Reference: SOLaptop