Solar Powered Computers
From iUnika
A Spanish company called iUnika has unveiled a range of solar powered computers that are ultra-cheap and ultra-lightweight. They are partially made from bio-plastics and incorporate solar panels into the machine itself. The case is made of plastic produced from plant matter and so is carbon neutral and fully recyclable.
The range of notebooks is cheaper than regular notebooks for several key reasons. First, the company is using trailing edge technology. The hard disk in the basic computer model weighs in at 64 GB. While this is reasonable, it is by no means cutting edge. The 400 MHz processor (non-Intel brand) and the 128 MB of RAM are also less than stellar in their statistics, and the 8-inch screen is unlikely to appeal to high end gamers.The regular and solar powered computers do come with all the standard connectivity options that we've come to expect from modern notebooks. So What's The Good News?iUnika prides itself on being the "free" company, with a major focus on utilizing and developing free software. As such these mini computers are dedicated to operate on the free Linux OS, which also means that users have access to over 5000 free open-source developed software products. The use of Linux also allows better performance from the computer, releasing it from the bloated code and ponderous processes of the Windows operating systems. Linux computers run faster and are less vulnerable to viruses than windows PCs. The CostThe biggest advantage of these new machines is their ultra low cost. The basic model is announced as costing 130 Euros, which is about $180 US. With solar panels built into the lid, like the one shown at the top of the page, the cost is 160 Euros ($220 USD). That's not a lot more than I paid for only the operating system of my computer. Clearly iUnika has identified a niche of low cost computing that it intends to supply. At present no information is available about the expected lifespan of these computers. This is a serious issue, as machines like these take a great amount of energy to produce and extending their lifespans should be a priority for those interested in reducing global energy use. More InformationFor more information have a look at the company's website. However unless you can read Spanish, you might want to use the Yahoo Translator or some other similar program.
24 May 2009
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