Off-grid computer invites you to dream up charging methods
Here's a green idea. How about forgetting the high power consuming computers you use everyday and invest in something that will save you lots in utility cash. The "Aleutia E1" desktop, designed for use in rural Africa consumes only 8W of power, which is 4% of what your typical 600W desktop machine powers from. It even runs from a solar panel, and its internal drive is a standard CF card. See how inventive you can get with finding interesting ways to power it.
Posted by: codesuidae on December 3, 2007 at 7:48 AM
"consumes only 8W of power, which is 4% of what your typical 600W desktop machine powers from"
First, 4% of 600 is 24, not 8.
Second, typical desktops are nowhere near 600W. Maybe a typical high-end gaming system with projector, but not a typical desktop. The article on the website says:
"During peak performance, the E1 consumes just 8W of power, 4% of what a typical (200W) desktop uses."
Third, given the 410USD price tag, if saving money is your primary concern, the ~$10 a month this might save you on electricity might not be much of a bargain. It will save space, CO2 emissions, and power.
It uses a 200MHz x86 CPU and includes 128MB SDRAM and comes preinstalled with Puppy Linux. Cool system, I will consider buying these next time I need to add a system, thanks for the link.
Hm, I wonder if it would run EMC to control a RepRap?
Posted by: ZappBrannigan on December 3, 2007 at 2:38 PM
Just want to let people know that if youre only looking for the computer, and not the solar panels, it comes ALOT cheaper than what they sell it for. Their price for the computer = $370, get the same one at the folloing places for sub $100, and alot more options like wifi, harddrive and 2x RS232
www.norhtec.com
WDL systems
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"consumes only 8W of power, which is 4% of what your typical 600W desktop machine powers from"
First, 4% of 600 is 24, not 8.
Second, typical desktops are nowhere near 600W. Maybe a typical high-end gaming system with projector, but not a typical desktop. The article on the website says:
"During peak performance, the E1 consumes just 8W of power, 4% of what a typical (200W) desktop uses."
Third, given the 410USD price tag, if saving money is your primary concern, the ~$10 a month this might save you on electricity might not be much of a bargain. It will save space, CO2 emissions, and power.
It uses a 200MHz x86 CPU and includes 128MB SDRAM and comes preinstalled with Puppy Linux. Cool system, I will consider buying these next time I need to add a system, thanks for the link.
Hm, I wonder if it would run EMC to control a RepRap?
Reply to this comment
"During peak performance, the E1 consumes just 8W of power"
This is the E1 alone. Should one need a display add 10-12 watts.(using a guesstimate exchange rate, put the price up to $700-$1000 USD)
Not sure if I'm comparing Apples-to-apples, but isnt a 200mhz cpu pretty slow?
But a neat, go-anywhere concept.
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It looks like the E1 is being compared to a desktop to "scare" people with the 600w.
However, why not compare it to a laptop? or with those specs compare it to a PDA?
Or even the decTop?
https://store.dataevolution.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=DT%2D7001
Of course none of these come with solar charger but that can be easily had.
Reply to this comment
Just want to let people know that if youre only looking for the computer, and not the solar panels, it comes ALOT cheaper than what they sell it for. Their price for the computer = $370, get the same one at the folloing places for sub $100, and alot more options like wifi, harddrive and 2x RS232
www.norhtec.com
WDL systems
Reply to this comment