posted on Mar, 8 2009 @ 10:19 AM
There is actually a really cool device I came across a couple of years ago that was a solar power cell phone charger. It would charge a little slower
than an outlet, but could charge the phone anywhere, and seemed to work when the sky was overcast, too (good news for Seattle!).
Really convenient in an emergency, was about the size of one of a candybar style cell phone from about 10 years ago and would clip to your belt.
Though it did take longer to charge, it generated enough power to maintain the phone if you were talking on it (I had a Motorola Razor at the time).
So, for small appliances like that or a GPS system, I think portable solar cells are invaluable. However, for larger applications, though I believe
the technology is close if not already good enough to be able to generate enough power, it's enormously expensive. Sort of like owning a cell phone
in the early 80s, except without the status