Gizmodo
Of all the solar powered gadgets we've shown you recently, I'd have to say this is the most elegant. The Intelligent Forms SOLo is a lounge table (can we call it a coffee table?) and is simply designed to soak up the sun, turning it into stored power so you can charge your gear. Apparently left for a year in a "typical outdoor setting," it can store enough power in its internal batteries to charge up your cellphone 6,800 times or your laptop 168 times. Its got USB sockets, a car-style 12V socket and even a standard 3-pin mains plug, and the whole thing is weatherproof.
Better yet: the SOLo has LED lighting built in for subtle evening lighting effects, you can check on its charge status on its built-in LCD monitor, and it has a large device drawer so you can safely pop your phone, iPod or even laptop inside to keep it safe. For some reason it also has Bluetooth, allowing it "to collect, distribute and exhibit information on both the tabletop LCD display screen and wirelessly between computers and the internet"... and while we're not sure exactly what that means, it sounds pretty impressive.
It's in stainless steel and tempered glass with silicon solar cells and it's around 43 x 30 x 18 inches in size. No info on its price, but it's available through Intelligent Forms own website and considering one of it's suggested uses is aboard a cruise ship, it's going to be expensive. [Intelligent Forms via Born Rich]
Comments
If that girl comes with the table, count me in!
SoLo is Lounge Table and Solar Powered Charger For Your Gadgets
Not to mention it looks like an iPhone on stilts.
I suppose it'll sell like hot muffins.
Or you could, you know, plug them in and charge them from a regular socket, which can be powered by actual real solar cells. The table is a little too utilitarian for most homes, especially with those big ass casters, though I personally love stainless steel and glass.
That table looks like a giant ipod touch with legs.
How resistant is it to wear and tear by the consumer? The thing is awesome, but I'd be afraid it would get wrecked by people screwing around in it's vicinity.
If I had the money and the facilities, I'd consider buying something like this.
Nice idea, but who wants to be hunched over an 18" high table to use their laptop?
@Galley: Vern Troyer, that's who.
@Galley:
That's what i was thinking. It needs to be higher, it is right at her knees.
Oh, and I bet you it is going to be like $5K.
It looks like a gurney for a robot, or perhaps a giant iPod.
This has cheaper DIY version written all over it. A few solar cells, a wood or metal base, a glass top and some internal wiring, resistors, etc., and you're set.
I could do everything but the electrical components.
@Galley: well, if you're lounging poolside, this would be just the right size to have between a couple of recliners.
Sometimes a table is just a table.
@ARP: The internal wiring would be easy-peasy once you got the battery array hooked up. I would probably forego any AC output and just stick with a few usb outlets to keep it extra simple.
Does that Macbook Pro come with the table? And if it does, is it a Penryn MBP or earlier? I need to sell my 2.33ghz MBP and will take that one ifs its faster....
Can't my laptop cover simply be a solar cell itself?
At least it has a flatware drawer.
Looks next to useless. It's just another kitsch item that uses 'solar' as a way to snag money out of people who have too much of it. Reasons: solar panels lose a great deal of their potential generation capacity when not horizontal to the sun's rays. So even if this is a 200 Watt panel, expect more like 150 watts max. The next point is that is *any* portion of the panel is shaded (by a laptop, or just a building shadow) it's output is cut by 90+%, so now you're charging at 15-20 watts. That's why panels should be placed aimed & angled directly towards the sun, and in an unshaded area.
Tor the cost of this table to charge your gadgets, you could put up a 1kw array and inverter on your roof to power most of your house.
Also, if you're using just about any LCD device outdoors on this table, good luck trying to actually see the screen in direct sunlight. Granted, you could wheel the thing indoors after it charges, but that's just a pain in the ass.
@MadiganLabRat:
I'll take two... of the girls... maybe if I let them keep the table I can get a second girl instead.
Or I could take one girl and use the table to help me charge her gadgets... if you know what I mean ;c)
Oh this is perfect for me because I always like to leave my expensive gadgets out in the open.
(too much?)
@Rabid Penguin: Comments like that make me so proud of my gender.
This will appeal to Apple fans. PC users will just use a damn plug.
@liveinvt:
If I can help to make only one person proud to be who they are then my job here is done.
You sir, are very welcome.
@Sleeper_Service: Nope. There's no giant magnetic hole in the floor for this thing to pop into. This thing's been slathered with fail sauce.
@Kaiser-Machead:
Indeed, sir.
works great indoors.
The table has a bad finish, the metal parts are hanging down...its seems really crappy made if you ask me
@Galley:
Exactly.
I am going to steal SO MANY OF THESE it won't even be funny.
@MadiganLabRat:
That ain't a girl, that's a woman ... who looks like she's dropping a deuce!
Here's a 60" x 25" solar panel that outputs the amount of power they're claiming. It costs $600.
Go make yourself a table.
[www.solarhome.org]
The price of the internal batteries are likely what'll kill you -- if a laptop battery costs $50, and this thing can store the energy of 168 laptop batteries...that's a whole lot of cash. Even if they use some cheaper/bulk batteries in this table, you're well over $1000 in batteries alone.
too short
looks like it's falling appart
legs are ugly as fuck (the tables' legs)
casters must have fell off a moving truck in brooklyn
hey I know! lets build something that needs to be outside to work from materials that will rust!
Oh yeah, lets put a laptop on the top of it like a table! never mind that:
Solar surfaces get hot as shit
laptops get hot as shit
shit squared explodes
Hot exploding shit block light, negating the whole purpose of solar
people like to spread out books and papers.. negating the whole purpose of solar
people just don't out out the in the sun to use their laptops much cause.. screens suck in the sun.
but hey it's got a drawer in it! whoa!
what fuck wads! if it wasn't for the hand painted keyboard I would feel that the idiot bucket was already full.. our cup runeth over
@Denver_80203: shit squared explodes FTW!
@Denver_80203: Awesome. I have never laughed so hard at a Giz comment.
If they make it run on thermal energy I believe I could create some serious heat with that model in the pic. MmmmHmmmmmm.
Hello design aesthetics, goodbye ergonomics!
Impressive table and useful too but I guess it's only for riches.
It costs $14,000.00. Nuf said.
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