make your ereader run on solar power

[ProDigit]

Then you'll have to add the insurance to the cost of the purchase.
Standard factory guarantee usually covers the basic errors not caused by physical abuse, and does not cover theft, and generally only covers the first 1-5 years.

[frquixote]

Originally Posted by ProDigit

Then you'll have to add the insurance to the cost of the purchase.
Standard factory guarantee usually covers the basic errors not caused by physical abuse, and does not cover theft, and generally only covers the first 1-5 years.

Insurance is actually minimal cost for theft and damage. Factory guarantee for most major brands is 90% of rated power for the first 10-12 years and 80% of rated power for the next 10-12 years. If the panel does not meet the guaranteed power output for whatever reason, the panel is replaced. The microinverters are a bit less generous and are generally guaranteed for 15 years.

You can find a lot of this kind of information on the many solar power consulting sites available on the web.

[Pinecone]

Do they pay the cost of replacement, or just provide the replacement panel?

[ApK]

Originally Posted by carpetmojo

Quite !

Solar power as it is now, strikes me rather like electric hand-dryers - the triumph of the saleman over practicality.

As long as you mention it, do you have any data on this?
While I generally prefer a clean paper towel, electric dryers do SEEM like they should be more energy efficient than producing and shipping paper towels, and more hygienic than a pile of germ-infested used paper laying around, but I hear people claim otherwise.

Sorry for the (yes, this is off-topic even from the general off-topic drift that dominates the thread)

[DustyDisks]

Originally Posted by ApK

As long as you mention it, do you have any data on this?
While I generally prefer a clean paper towel, electric dryers do SEEM like they should be more energy efficient than producing and shipping paper towels, and more hygienic than a pile of germ-infested used paper laying around, but I hear people claim otherwise.

Sorry for the (yes, this is off-topic even from the general off-topic drift that dominates the thread)

Well we can always go the other direction and keep solar in the middle!

http://www.google.com/search?q=minia...w=1355&bih=639

[frquixote]

Originally Posted by Pinecone

Do they pay the cost of replacement, or just provide the replacement panel?

Provide the replacement.

And that's about all I'm going to say on that topic ... don't want the off-topic police to get me.

[ProDigit]

Originally Posted by ApK

As long as you mention it, do you have any data on this?
While I generally prefer a clean paper towel, electric dryers do SEEM like they should be more energy efficient than producing and shipping paper towels, and more hygienic than a pile of germ-infested used paper laying around, but I hear people claim otherwise.

Sorry for the (yes, this is off-topic even from the general off-topic drift that dominates the thread)

It takes more coal or wood to feed your electric dryer, which basically vaporizes the water on your hands, but keeps the germs on them, than one or two paper towels that will be recycled into toilet paper.
The paper towels not only suck up the water, but many of the germs with it.
So paper towels may be a bit more expensive than electricity, they definitely are more environment friendly (not to mention added AC costs for the bathroom, because a hand heater warms up small bathrooms quite quickly).

/end of off-off-topic topic.

[blue_skies]

Solar power breakthrough could render solar cells obsolete:
http://inhabitat.com/breaking-solar-...ells-obsolete/

Vertical solar farm:
http://inhabitat.com/chicagos-willis...al-solar-farm/

[Pinecone]

Paper towels do not remove germs. WASHING removes the germs.

The modern high velocity hand dryers, will take some of the germs that might be left on your hands and aerosolize them, so that you can breath them in, which is a great way to become infected.

[ProDigit]

actually the soap in water neutralizes most of the germs. When drying your hands with a clean towel or paper towel, those germs that are in the waterdrops on your hands will get sucked with the water.
Very few germs will get airborne with the water; most of the germs that are alive will remain on the hands even after the water vaporizes. So paper is better.

But as far as e-readers go,
Classic paper books can be recycled. Batteries from e-readers don't.
In fact in the near future I expect prices of lithium to skyrocket, as more and more lithium mines are emptied to not only every possible electronic device, but also cars and electric motor bikes!
The amounts of Li needed for a car is huge!
Cars like the chevy Volt will only aid in the annihilation of usable lithium on this planet.
I'd prefer if lithium is used for small devices only, as there's only so much lithium on this planet (probably enough for only 40 years at this rate).

[Pinecone]

No, the soap does not (barring anti bacterial soaps). The soaps break down the surface tension, allowing the water to pick up the dirts and germs, but scrubbing is required.

And letting your hands air dry, leaves any remaining germs still on your skin. Yes, once suspended in water, the paper towels do remove the germs, but the act of drying your hands does not by itself remove germs (otherwise we would just wipe with a dry cloth instead of using soap and water).