Comments on: A solar-powered e-book reader: A real gizmo, not just a design

By: Consumer Reviews

Consumer Reviews — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:24:48 +0000

More interesting news from the electronic book reader department: shortly after Barnes & Noble announced plans to unveil the first color eReader, it looks like LG is vying to put out the first solar-powered digital book reader.

The reader from LG Display will be equipped with a solar cell developed in-house, allowing the device to charge about a day’s worth of reading time with 4 to 5 hours of exposure to sunlight.

By: eBookRus

eBookRus — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:24:22 +0000

I believe this is true because most people think in a standard way, so if a normal method is appropriate for the problem, they will often find a solution faster than I will. It seems to me that because your methods are more fluid than most, you might have had similar experiences.

By: EBook Reader Review

EBook Reader Review — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:30:40 +0000

A great design for ebook readers. It really makes the reader devices more green and environmental friendly.

By: sOlAr

sOlAr — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:35:49 +0000

This is a really good invention…at least one of the best I’ve seen. I must say that I really need one of this as I always forget to charge my kindle.

By: Solar Energy Blog

Solar Energy Blog — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:19:42 +0000

It sounds great, I used to read in my palm and frequently run out of battery. And the power that this device use is perfect for a small solar panel.

No doubt a great solar gadget

By: Jodie

Jodie — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:46:59 +0000

I was searching for such a device for use in areas that have infrequent access to the internet, little to no electricity, and little to no library or bookstore access. Such places as missionaries might travel.

The purpose would be to download books/articles when internet access is available for use when they are unavailable.

Cost is a factor as the people who live there and family/friends that might send such items as gifts are on limited incomes, often very limited.

Hope the demand is such that it goes beyond prototype stage.

By: Greg Schofield

Greg Schofield — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:53:56 +0000

I like the idea as, in fact I was discussing such a thing just the other day.

Here is my suggestion for what it is worth.

1) a good battery.

2) a reading light on the top of the solar panel.

2) a solar cell array on on a hinged twist stalk with a ratchet anchored to the top of the reader.

3) get the balance right, battery and as much as possible in the bottom of the reader, even add a bit of weight to counter-balance the solar panel.

—————————————–

The panel sits on the front, in protected position (solar panel facing down and over the reader).

Lift it, twist it, and angle it to the sun.

Twist it, push it down, and lay the book on its face, solar panel up.

Lift it, twist it, push it down again, solar panel protected on the back of the reader (battery power).

Lift it, twist it, push it down – solar panel over the reader soaking up the sun.

At night lift the solar panel, angle it and turn the light on.

Make it shower proof, leave it on the garden table, leave it on the dashboard, prop it up against a window. Put it in a pouch with a clear plastic panel and hang it on the wall, sling it on your back, or strap it on a back pack.

Charge it when the sun is none too good, at night in bed, but if the battery can run 10 hours or more then that would not be used.

By: Rich Adin

Rich Adin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:01:23 +0000

I very much like the idea and would be quite interested in purchasing such a device, although I do not like the design of the one shown. The biggest design problem for me is that it would be difficult to hold in one hand as I can now do with my Sony. I think some ergonomic tweaking is all that would be needed for the design.

So, for me to buy one, it would need to meet these requirements: (1) capable of easily being held in one hand like my Sony Reader; (2) capable of reading at least the same book formats that my Sony can read; (3) a price of $300 or less; and (4) be a dedicated ebook device (again like my Sony), not another minicomputer or combination computer, ebook reading device, and telephone.

It does not have to have either touch screen or wireless capability. I definitely do not want a keyboard like the Kindle. If there must be a keyboard for some reason, then it should be touchscreen.

Finally, the solar rechargeable batteries should be consumer replaceable.