By my back of the envelope calculations, to drop 20 degrees off a can of water in 5 minutes in a perfectly efficient system requires the energy output of over 50 USB ports.

So try again.

I need the stainless steel version to match my sub-zero PC.

actually, i think Brando ment the device itself can cool down to 47 degree in 5 minutes. The can will take longer I suppose.

Nothing new here unfortunately.

Those Peltier junctions they use are very power hungry.

It'd be one thing if it were power hungry and plugged into the mains, or even the computer power supply. Trying to run something like that off a USB port is completely non-functional.

USB ports simply can't do that. Never. Never-ever. Anybody who tells you otherwise is lying out his or her respective ass.

Since this thing is for desktops, why waste space on a USB port, when there are likely plenty of powerful sockets on the power strip or wall?

because every usb device is cool ?

(you're right, indeed)

What's the fascination with these USB-powered gadgets?

Does a mini-fridge all of a sudden become the most amazing thing in the world because you plug it into your computer instead of the wall?

yeah, there is no way to make a powerful enough cooling unit. You can create a cold environment, such as the air inside that mini fridge, but the presence of anything other than air creates an extremely large amount of energy to cool. Liquids are extremely difficult to cool...

If this is really the kind of thing that you would find useful in your office or wherever, I'd suggest the Sharper Image model, which holds more beverages and actually works. It can also be used to heat.

http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/product/sku__SI7...

Mmmmm... A lukewarm can of soda in 4 hours. Refreshing.

Boy, the only exercise a dork with a coke habit was to walk to the actual fridge. Now they can just sit there and play W.O.W. or a flight sim without moving their fat ass.

Well, it looks like anything that can be usb powered has to be created. It doesn't matter if it can do the job or not. This is getting pretty stupid.

Only in America

They still sell soda in cans?

Seriously, using quick (bad) calcualtions and poor (none) research on actual costs, I estimate that you will have to drink nearly 80 cans of store bought cola (avg .30 cents/unit) to recoup the $33 you paid for this gadget vs. just going to the vending machine (avg .75 cents/unit).

The vending machine can is going to be much colder and the exercise will do you some good (take the stairs). I'm not even trying to calculate the cost of the power this thing would use per can because you're plugging it in at work, right?

Please don't tell me you're using it at home (parent's basement).

Perhaps it would be useful for keeping your already cold beverage cold, while you type/frag away on your PC?

Of course, a nearly-free beer coozy would work pretty good for that.

iPod dock?

that's not cold enough for my "at work tequila shots".

ZIEGMAN901 400mA is what USB puts out. No volts, just current.

Actually, since the subject has been brought up, a USB port provides a maximum of 500 mA on most computers at +5 volts DC. The "refrigerator" would have to be limited to a maximum of 500 mA of current draw, or it would overload the hub, and the computer would automatically shut down that port to protect itself.

Given that, the maximum amount of power that can be produced is 2.5 watts. In one hour this will produce 8.5 BTU, which will cool the drink approximately 8.5 degrees per hour (neglecting the insulating properties of the can itself) once the system reaches operating temperature. Thusly, a can at room temperature will take slightly over three hours to reach lukwarm temperature. So worth 33 dollars, don't you think?

Just what everyone wanted to see, a bunch of calculations...lol.

like I said, USB produces 400mA & NO CURRENT. Sorry WILLIE, you're wrong.

Whoops, Willie, you're right! Damn.