Solar chargers not looking so tulip now

[Sysman]

If they get a bit smaller, one could be built into the laptop lid.

Edit: already done

First Sun Powered Laptop Sold in US

I thought Oracle had bought Sun.

[AtW]

£100 for up to 5 watts, which is enough to charge a smart phone in a few hours.

I thought you were charging your phone in public places with unprotected power sockets?

[TimberWolf]

If they get a bit smaller, one could be built into the laptop lid.

Edit: already done

Hmm, sun baked PC.

[NotAllThere]

If they get a bit smaller, one could be built into the laptop lid.

Edit: already done

[TimberWolf]

I was looking at solar chargers again today and they don't look as bad as in days of yore, as long as you get one of a decent size.

Amazon.com: The sCharger-5 is a Powerful Compact Solar Charger that can Both Charge and Actually Run At The Same Time, iPod, iPhone(3, 4, & 4S), Droid, HTC, Samsung, and Many Other Portable Devices Directly from the Sun: Cell Phones & Accessories

£100 for up to 5 watts, which is enough to charge a smart phone in a few hours. I reckon a UK noon day sun might just about approach that, with 1 to 2 watts average power for the day. These use higher efficiency panels than in the past and are looking like viable sources of (expensive) mobile power.

Handy for camping, though I don't know what use you hotel dwellers would have for them.