The All-In-One Solar Bag
By Peter Rojas 
posted March 29th 2005 8:55AM
posted March 29th 2005 8:55AM
We've been majorly stressing over the fact that Earth Day is just over three weeks away. Apparently teaching the
Aibo how to recycle old newspapers
wasn't enough to satisfy the eco-concerns of the hippie protesters camped out in front of Engadget HQ (they have some
"issues" with our tech-laden lifestyle), so we're going to try and placate them with the All-In-One Solar Bag, a gadget
bag that's not quite big enough for a laptop, but does have a solar cell capable of pumping out 2.6 Watts of power and
that can charge any 600 mA battery in less than three hours on a bright, sunny day.
[Via TRFJ]
only 200$ ... that's quite a bargain.
$200 ?
Let's see. I buy AA Sanyo alkalines from Fry's electronics (mercury free and highly rated in consumer reports) for about $2.29 per 4 pack. If I switched completely to rechargables and this thing I would have to go through...
nearly 350
batteries to break even (on the purchase of the bag anyway, this does not include the purchase of the rechargable batteries)...
Nice idea though...when solar becomes cheaper and more efficient it will be wonderful (same goes for fuel cells)...
It depends on what you want to use it for. It would be cool e.g. for an extended hiking/photographic trip out in the wilds, away from outlets and battery stores.
True that #3. You can't put a general price on CONVENIENCE. Carrying this bag is probably easier that carrying 10lb's of batteries, and under the right circumstances might be a real
boon...
But I think in your scenerio the backpack based one or even the jacket model might be even better. But I think both of those cost even more...