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July 23, 2008

accessories

Juicz your MacBook Air with Al Gore-Friendly™ charger

Posted Jul. 23, ’08, 4:33 PM PT by Dan Pourhadi
Category | Hardware » Accessories

juiczSolar.jpgSetting: You’re on a camping trip with your family in The Middle of Nowhere. The grass is green, the sky is blue, and your leg is red (poison ivy rash—you’re wearing shorts).

Situation: Your wife is dealing with the crying baby. Your 8-year-old and 12-year-old are fighting again. And the teenage son of the jackass who parked his RV in the adjacent lot is blasting ear-piercing metal “music” because he’s mad at his parents. You decide its time to watch the new Doctor Who episodes you just bought from iTunes to escape the surrounding chaos.

Problem: Your MacBook Air’s battery is about to croak, and the nearest power outlet is at least 15 miles away.

Solution: QuickerTek’s Apple Juicz solar charger for the MacBook Air.

I present this hypothetical scenario because it’s one of the few circumstances I can imagine where one could possibly justify spending at least $500 on a solar panel charger for your MacBook Air.

The concept’s great, and I’m sure Al Gore has five. But in most situations, I—as I’m sure like most of you—would much rather opt to save the cash and forgo using the Air, or take the fifteen or twenty steps usually necessary to plug it into an outlet.

But for those desperate to harness the mighty power of Sol, the Apple Juicz seems to fit the bill. Described as “far more than a simple trickle charger,” it’s designed to power and recharge your Air at the same time.

Three lightweight solar cell options easily unfold from 10.5 inches to various sizes from 30 inches to as large as 60 inches. A very cool Element backpack is included which stores both your MacBook and the Solar Cell.

The Juicz comes in three models: $500 18-watt model that charges the Air in 14 hours; $600 27-watt model that charges in 8 hours; and a $1000 55-watt model that charges in 5 hours. You also need to purchase one of their “upgraded” MagSafe adapters, which will set you back either $25 if you have them modify your own adapter, or $100 to buy a new adapter from them.

I’ll stick to relying on power outlets. I was never a fan of the outdoors anyway. Too much “fresh” air—I’ve always been more of a recirculated-air guy myself. Just seems less wasteful, you know? Like re-using Slurpee cups, or bath water.

[via Macsimum News]


3 Comments

steveballmer said:

Yeah, right!

July 23, 2008 5:01 PM
WoW said:

That's some terrible snark.

You killed whatever info you were trying to convey by the too hip for anyone tone.

Tech blog reading is getting so tedious.

July 23, 2008 5:50 PM
MoneyToBurn said:

If you were camping with your family and needed one of these.....well......I suppose you would have to sell your kids or your wife....

July 23, 2008 7:03 PM

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