The corntop lives: Fujitsu showing off mostly-biodegradable notebook

We're not exactly sure what became of that biodegradable laptop being touted by NEC all the way back in 2004, but the concept of corn-based notebook casings is far from dead, with Fujitsu showing off just such a machine at this year's CES. According to Inhabitat, "the main component is polylactic acid, also known as PLA, a resin that comes from the fermentation of the raw biomass from plants," although a small amount of nasty fossil fuels must still be mixed in to create a housing with the proper structural integrity. Fortunately, once the rig is ready for the great gadget heaven in the sky, the plastic can be separated from the PLA so that the latter material can be left to safely biodegrade. No word yet on when we'll see these edible inedible lappies hit the market, so for now we'll have to continue kicking Mother Nature's ass with our biannual tech upgrades.

[Via, and image courtesy of, Inhabitat]

[Andir3.0 @ Jan 10th 2008 9:29AM]

Think of it this way. Oil is needed for plastic. Another way to reduce dependency.

[Alexander @ Jan 10th 2008 12:27PM]

Plastic _IS_ Oil. This plastic is _ALSO_ oil, just oil from plants that were living a couple of months ago rather than plants that were living millions of years ago and got compressed and turned into some black liquid goo that the world constantly fights over.

[Andir3.0 @ Jan 10th 2008 1:59PM]

Excellent point.

[Joseph @ Jan 10th 2008 9:35AM]

So now when users get frustrated and throw their laptops out the window after using Vista, they won't hurt the environment as much. That is assuming the laptop doesn't hit a tanker truck that happens to be passing by that contains the world's deadliest chemical. Oh the humanity/irony!

[Jonathan Bergeron @ Jan 10th 2008 9:39AM]

Why would you get frustrated using Vista? It's more stable than XP.

[Joseph @ Jan 10th 2008 9:48AM]

Other people have problems with it. I haven't met them, but they post a lot.

[Ricardo @ Jan 10th 2008 12:39PM]

@Jonathan

More stable than XP? *That's* an endorsement if I ever heard one.

[Rob @ Jan 10th 2008 9:46AM]

So, when I'm bored with it, I just throw it in a pot, put a couple of seeds, and voila... fertilizer.

[Chebwa @ Jan 10th 2008 9:55AM]

"Corntop."

That seriously sounds f*@^$ng disgusting.

[csoto @ Jan 10th 2008 9:56AM]

An added benefit - when the battery causes it to catch fire, you get the lovely aroma of popcorn!

[David @ Jan 10th 2008 10:15AM]

what the ... where's VERONICA on the front page of engadget?

mmmm .. veronica.

[KC @ Jan 10th 2008 10:23AM]

OK. I can see the salt and pepper bottles. What does the third bottle contain. Why are those bottles in the picture anyway?

[Alex @ Jan 10th 2008 10:56AM]

Whats up with that old blackberry in the background?!

[Bostig @ Jan 10th 2008 11:57AM]

This made me laugh... I don't care if the idea has merit, to me biodegradable has never been on my list of important characteristics for a lappy. Call me irresponsible.

[Tin Marin @ Jan 10th 2008 12:44PM]

irresponsible.

[Jeff @ Jan 10th 2008 12:46PM]

You're irresponsible.

[Tin Marin @ Jan 10th 2008 12:48PM]

BTW I was kidding you Bostig, I too believe is a waste of time. Mainly, to produce corn derivatives you need more fossil fuel resources for processing which makes the whole thing redundant and even non-greener. The best way to help the planet is by returning to pen and paper (recyclable that is).

[Udayan Tripathi @ Jan 10th 2008 1:32PM]

Hopefully other companies will follow Fujitsu's lead and not just offer to take in old computers, and replace them with equally toxic new ones.

[CosterMonger @ Jan 10th 2008 2:32PM]

how about for cell phones?

[Rick @ Jan 10th 2008 7:54PM]

How about biodegradable enough to be into a pot, cooked, spread on toast, and then eaten?