On October 2, 2005 6:05 am, Kevanf1 wrote:

I can't help but wonder when Microsoft will send out the counterstrike. They will! They'll no doubt (probably already in negotiation) team up with a hardware manufacturer (they already produce the X Box don't forget and other hardware) and offer a laptop installed with the latest Windows which will probably be cut down. It will happen...

They've already teamed up with AMD for one machine. http://www.amdboard.com/pic.html I've been watching the development of these low cost systems. simputer http://www.simputer.org/ http://www.ncoretech.com/simputer/index.html mobilus http://www.ncoretech.com/ http://www.ncoretech.com/mobilis/pdf/mobilisbrochure.pdf I wish they were available here. I've been wanting a hand crank laptop since I saw the wind up radio, wondering when or if they'd produce a wind up power supply for other devices.. -- Collector of vintage computers http://www.ncf.ca/~ba600

On 02/10/05, Randall R Schulz wrote:

Mike,

On Sunday 02 October 2005 06:45, Mike wrote:

...

...

I wish they were available here. I've been wanting a hand crank laptop since I saw the wind up radio, wondering when or if they'd produce a wind up power supply for other devices..

Old meets new, eh?

I've heard that the Eton Grundig FR200 can charge a cell phone, but I can't see mention of that capability on their Web site catalog. Even if it's true, it's pretty clear it could not power a laptop. They say 180 rotations of the crank over 90 seconds charges the internal lithium-ion battery enough for 40 to 60 minutes of operation. You'd probably have to operate the dynamo constantly to power a device like a laptop.

Randall Schulz

Apparently one turn of the crank gives 10 minutes of usage. This 'clockwork' laptop was on the news a few days ago. No mention was given of the operating system though.... I was hoping Linux... -- ============================================== I am only human, please forgive me if I make a mistake it is not deliberate. ============================================== Take care. Kevan Farmer 34 Hill Street Cheslyn Hay Staffordshire WS6 7HR

On October 2, 2005 10:23 am, Randall R Schulz wrote:

Mike,

On Sunday 02 October 2005 06:45, Mike wrote:

...

...

I wish they were available here. I've been wanting a hand crank laptop since I saw the wind up radio, wondering when or if they'd produce a wind up power supply for other devices..

Old meets new, eh?

I've heard that the Eton Grundig FR200 can charge a cell phone, but I can't see mention of that capability on their Web site catalog. Even if it's true, it's pretty clear it could not power a laptop. They say 180 rotations of the crank over 90 seconds charges the internal lithium-ion battery enough for 40 to 60 minutes of operation. You'd probably have to operate the dynamo constantly to power a device like a laptop.

I was thinking of something like the gumstik http://www.gumstix.org/tikiwiki/tiki-index.php?page=gumstix which draws <250 mA at 400MHz without Bluetooth. Bring back some LED status lights to let you know what's going on. Turn off the screen during a download and keep cranking until the light changes. My original thought was to hook up pedals, or a tredle, but a hand dynamo might do the trick. -- Collector of vintage computers http://www.ncf.ca/~ba600 Machines to trade http://www.ncf.ca/~ba600/trade.html Open Source Weekend http://www.osw.ca

On 02/10/05, Randall R Schulz wrote:

Mike,

On Sunday 02 October 2005 11:43, Mike wrote:

...

...

I was thinking of something like the gumstik

http://www.gumstix.org/tikiwiki/tiki-index.php?page=gumstix

which draws <250 mA at 400MHz without Bluetooth.

Bring back some LED status lights to let you know what's going on. Turn off the screen during a download and keep cranking until the light changes. My original thought was to hook up pedals, or a tredle, but a hand dynamo might do the trick.

I don't think it could be considered practical if continuous mechanical input is required. Also if the generator was far bigger than the device it powered, it would probably not be generally accepted.

Another aspect of a practical device of this sort would be immunity from power loss, since it could be expected to occur regularly.

I think realistically hydrocarbon or alcohol fuel cells or even tiny reciprocating or turbine heat engines may prove to be a practical solution to portable computing power supplies:

http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/04/11/freedman1104.asp http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6559 http://radio.weblogs.com/0105910/2004/10/19.html

Randall Schulz

The one I have seen demonstrated on a tv news report was excellent. It was slim, not a bit bulky and the charging handle/crank was akin to a fishing reel handle. If you know about the ABU series of multiplier reel than think that. They looked cool :-) and very desirable. I am starting to think that there are a number of these projects being worked on now though. -- ============================================== I am only human, please forgive me if I make a mistake it is not deliberate. ============================================== Take care. Kevan Farmer 34 Hill Street Cheslyn Hay Staffordshire WS6 7HR

On 03/10/05, Carl William Spitzer IV wrote:

On Sun, 2005-10-02 at 21:30 +0100, Kevanf1

...

The one I have seen demonstrated on a tv news report was excellent. It was slim, not a bit bulky and the charging handle/crank was akin to a fishing reel handle. If you know about the ABU series of multiplier reel than think that. They looked cool :-) and very desirable. I am starting to think that there are a number of these projects being worked on now though. --

There was a radio minister who had a tape player which worked by hand crank so people out in the boondocks of whatever continent could play his sermons. Apparently they were a hit with missionarys because they did not need to carry the extra weight of batteries into the bush.

There is another solution in solar cell chargers which are sold for use on boats and RV's to keep their batteries charged. Boats needing the double sized ones. Much more voltage than a computer needed but nicely compact about the size of a keyboard.

CWSIV

That's right :-) I bought one of those when I was over in Australia in 2000/2001. I hadn't seen any over here in the UK at the itme so picked one up from Dick Smith Electronics store from the shopping mall in Adelaide. Good price, shame I haven't got around to using it :-(((( My car just won't accept it (it's meant as a solar battery charger) as all power is cut from the lighter socket when the keys are taken out. I keep meaning to run some cable direct from the battery but haven't got around to it...too busy playing with Linux on my PC's :-) -- ============================================== I am only human, please forgive me if I make a mistake it is not deliberate. ============================================== Take care. Kevan Farmer 34 Hill Street Cheslyn Hay Staffordshire WS6 7HR

On Sun, 2005-10-02 at 20:44 -0400, boricua wrote:

On Sun, 2 Oct 2005 07:23:13 -0700 Randall R Schulz wrote:

...

Mike,

On Sunday 02 October 2005 06:45, Mike wrote:

...

...

I wish they were available here.

can i buy one if i live in the usa?

Yes i found the solar charger in an RV aftermarket parts dealer. there are two sizes the large is for boats. Not sure how fast they are I think its to keep things alive when sitting. -- ___ _ _ _ ____ _ _ _ | | | | [__ | | | |___ |_|_| ___] | \/

At 12:23 AM 3/10/2005, Randall R Schulz wrote:

Mike,

On Sunday 02 October 2005 06:45, Mike wrote:

...

...

I wish they were available here. I've been wanting a hand crank laptop since I saw the wind up radio, wondering when or if they'd produce a wind up power supply for other devices..

Old meets new, eh?

I've heard that the Eton Grundig FR200 can charge a cell phone, but I can't see mention of that capability on their Web site catalog. Even if it's true, it's pretty clear it could not power a laptop. They say 180 rotations of the crank over 90 seconds charges the internal lithium-ion battery enough for 40 to 60 minutes of operation. You'd probably have to operate the dynamo constantly to power a device like a laptop.

It has been done for an old monoscreen toshiba (two or three years ago) was on the Australian Inventors program for use in P.N.G. as most of P.N.G. has no power and the teachers / Health workers needed something to hold their basic records (dos system from memory)

On 10/2/05, Mike wrote:

I've been watching the development of these low cost systems.

simputer http://www.simputer.org/ http://www.ncoretech.com/simputer/index.html

mobilus http://www.ncoretech.com/ http://www.ncoretech.com/mobilis/pdf/mobilisbrochure.pdf

Hey, these guys are Indians! :) [I'm proud.] Hmmm, looks like I may buy one, some time later. SS.

On Sunday 02 October 2005 22:04, Darryl Gregorash wrote:

On 10/02/2005 04:05 AM, Kevanf1 wrote: [...]

...

I can't help but wonder when Microsoft will send out the counterstrike. They will! <snip>

But will the crank work? :)

Sure! Mostly... But you'll need to register it, giving every bit of personal data that ever applied to you... or to anybody who looks like you. Then the crank will be unlocked. Two weeks later, you'll need to register again, and the crank will then only work in the opposite direction. Kevin