Hitachi Readies Fuel Cell for PDAs

Anuj Jain writes "The Register is reporting that Hitachi and Japanese cigarette lighter maker Tokai will ship a direct methanol fuel cell system for PDAs in 2005. The prototype has already been built. The two companies believe they can develop the prototype into a device the size of a AA battery. Hitachi first demonstrated its fuel cell system back in March. NEC is also known to be working on a similar system of its own, as is Toshiba. Unlike Hitachi, they are targeting the notebook computer market. In October, Toshiba showed off a PDA-sized version of its fuel system that can recharge a mobile phone. Another article here. Light on details, but cool photo in the Reg article!"

"Light on details"

[Space cowboy]

Yep, that'd be the hydrogen :-)

Simon.

Gadget Integration Gone Too Far

[Hell O'World]

Coming soon, the worlds first combination PDA-cigarette lighter!

Alternative Reasons

[Anonymous Coward]

The PDA unfortunately has pop-ups that come up every 5 minutes telling you how smoking is good for you and increases your annual income.

The swiss army knife for the new millenium..

[Anonymous Coward]

PDA, Cellphone, radio, recording device, large file caddy, mp3 player, game system, mini-torch, cigarette lighter, sterilizer, and home blindness kit.

Recharge?

[medscaper]

...methanol fuel cell systems...

Tech : No, sir. You should NOT try to recharge them like that...

CH3OH

[whovian]

(glugg, glugg) Help! I can't see my PDA!

Smokey the Bear says...

[GillBates0]

When using your methanol based fuel cell system at the campgrounds, always practice safety. Surround your methanol based fuel cell system with rocks to keep the fire from spreading. Be sure when you're done with your fuel cell to put it out with a bucket of water and make sure it has stopped smoking before you leave the area.

Remember what Smokey the Bear says. Only you can prevent your methanol based fuel cell system from starting a forest fire.

Re:Early Adopter?

[Anonymous Coward]

I wouldn't recomend drinking methonol.

Well I might, depending on what kind of person you are. But in general I wouldn't.

Re:Laptop power consumption & airplane securit

[fader]

Therefore, we should ban forks from planes.

I know you were joking, but they did. About 9 months ago, I was stopped by security when doing the pre-boarding check and given the third degree. It turns out that I had a fork in my backpack that I kept just in case and had forgotten about. They actually made me throw it away before I could get on the plane, and double checked everything I had to make sure I wasn't carrying anything else I could hijack the plane with. (Yeah, because there's no way you could ever fight off a scrawny computer geek if he were armed with tableware.)

Re:"Light on details"

[iminplaya]

Now just imagine the smog in the cabin with 300 of thes things operating. Later we'll have to put catalytic(sp) converters on them. Then it will smell everyone on board ate hard boiled eggs for lunch.

Fuel Cells Hazard

[tangent3]

Are you sure it's safe to have fuel cells available to the public? Have you seen what the fuel cells powering the T101 in Terminator 3 can do when not properly disposed of?

Changing the name

[wowbagger]

To what should they change it?

Booze Battery?

Vodka Wattsa?

Gin-erator (or En-Gin)?

Coming soon...

[fiannaFailMan]

Hollywood movies in which laptop computers crash off a cliff and explode into flames.

Re:Hello,

[Anonymous Coward]

Also, is it true that white people don't have souls?

White people don't have soul. Big difference.

Huh?

[Eric_Cartman_South_P]

Also, the thought of a liquid methanol next to all those hot electronics make me wince.

I'm sure the though of having 10-20 gallons of GAS! just a yard away from your ass, and forcing the gas into cylinders where it will be mixed with air and EXPLODE thousands of times a second might also make you wince!

I guess I can cross of full cells for the Palm, and cars from your x-mas wish list. :)

Re:Changing the name

[Kris Thalamus]

To what should they change it?

I really don't know what kind of words sell products these days.

If we copy current naming conventions for portable electronics, it should probably start with a lowercase 'i', 'c' or 'x' and maybe incorporate the term 'eXtreme'.

It might be best if we can get the advice of the group that decided to rebrand 'jungle' as 'rain forest', 'swamp' as 'wetlands' and 'copy restriction license violation' as 'theft'.

Re:Changing the name

[dexter riley]

Happy Fun Cell.

Re:Cool, but...

[medscaper]

When I need PDA juice I just pop the thing in the wall and I'm charged.

Whoah. You're running CE, aren't you?

I mean, it's a great use for them, but doesn't that get expensive?