http://techcrunch.com/2011/06/04/first-solar-powered-laptop/

While there are plenty of solar-powered peripherals that plug into your laptop to boost its battery power, we haven’t yet seen a model that runs solely on solar. Industrial Designer Andrea Ponti‘s concept for the Luce Solar Panel Powered PC could become the greenest laptop ever made.

The computer has two solar panels: One on the back of the monitor and one underneath a touch keyboard. Ideally, the two panels would be able to power the computer continuously, though it’s unclear whether this has been successfully tested. Using a laptop in the sun is far more battery intensive than indoors since the screen brightness needs to be cranked up to compete with the sun’s bright light.

One solution could be to use an electronic ink display in place of the usual backlit flat panel. Although the laptop includes a battery, the cordless design means your productivity will plummet in the evening — at least until you reach for another digital device.

The Luce, which means light in Italian, is made from a clear polycarbonate and weighs about four pounds. It was shortlisted in Fujitsu’s 2011 design competition.

There’s no word on whether Fujitsu plans to turn Ponti’s design into reality, but either way they’re not the only ones thinking about integrating sunlight into computer design. Last year Apple filed a patent for “harnessing external light to illuminate a display screen.”

In Apple’s vision, a reflector could fold down to brighten the display, and the company is rumored to be looking at integrating solar cells as well.

It would be completely useless here in the North of England.

I don't really want to leave my expensive laptop outside unattended.

Good luck with that.

Beings how I don't sit outside with my laptop, and I like to use it in the dark, as I'm either playing games or watching movies, i don't think it would ever be charged.

If it works like the good old solar calculator it'll be great. The biggest thing in the way of all these electronics these days is battery life. Laptops, smartphones ect.

Hahaha great...

Rubbish

My laptop never leaves my house soooooooo..... no.

Moved to the PC forum.

Regardless of the practicality of the laptop, I really dig the look in that geeky kind of way.

That's totally cool, but most pc gamers are sort of shut ins and doesn't get outside much. I can't speak for everyone, but I can see how that might be slightly limiting because I won't be able to charge the laptop.

Somehow I don't think having to leave your laptop under the sun a good idea, also the thing would overheat like crazy if you ever tried using it while under direct sunlight, sounds like a dumb idea to me.
 
Also it would cost a fortune because of those solar cells.

So make a fold out backing with a mirror.. make the screen slightly transparent, sit by a window during the day... and turn an external mouse into a storage of energy for non daylight times. Of course it has negatives, but I don't see a problem considering if everyone even saved an hours worth of energy by using one.. would make a huge difference.