Page index:

Options

Power requirements

Solo sub-pages

Market scope

Environmental issues

Input devices

Design & construction

Other "green" technology

LCD monitors

Laser printers

Links back:

Solo Mk I main page

ExpLAN Computers Ltd homepage

Specifications

Prototype Mark II

	Dimensions; (overall)	386 x 278 x 54 mm incl stand 345 x 274 excl*		Screen size;	14.1" (36cm) diagonal
	Screen type;	TFT Liquid crystal		Resolution;	1024x768 (XGA) @ 256 colours
	Processor;	ARM 7500#		Operating system;	RISC OS and/or Linux in ROM
	Memory;	32Mb RAM, 128Mb max		Storage;	256Mb Compact flash or 1Gb Microdrive
	Power;	6-30v AC or DC @ 12 WATTS		Battery;	Internal 2Ah lead-acid or NiMH; external lead-acid
	Weight;	4 Kg plus keyboard, solar panels etc		Ports;	parallel, serial, PS2 keyboard, mouse, 10baseT Ethernet, (USB, PCMCIA+)

^*The Solo case has a standard 75mm VESA mount and may optionally be held by a wall bracket or desk-top arm.

^#Production units will offer an ARM 9 processor option

⁺USB port and PCMCIA not fitted on the Mk II prototype.

Options

LCD screen size: 8.4" or 10.4" @ 800x600; 12.1", 13.3" or 14.1" @ 1024x768 (XGA). The smaller the LCD screen, the less power is required to run the Solo. A minimum of one 10w solar panel is required for screens up to 12.1" in full sunlight.

Input devices: Keyboard, mouse and touch-screen options are covered on the Input devices page.

Case material: wooden, with optional outer layer of Dibond aluminium composite (Alusuisse). Refer to the Design & Construction page. Other case materials on request.

Storage: internal; Compact Flash or IBM Microdrive up to 1Gb. external; Compact flash via optional PCMCIA interface.

Battery: internal 12v lead-acid 1.2Ah or 2Ah, or 2Ah NiMH (Nickel metal hydride)

Solar panel: Polycrystalline or amorphous silicon. The former are more efficient per m² in full sunlight, but amorphous silicon units are 'shadow tolerant' and can also be supplied in a flexible variant. Guide-price is £100 ($150) for 10w.

Power requirements

Solar panel A 10w mono-crystalline PV (photovoltaic) panel driving a Solo prototype Mk I near Kihihi, Uganda, March 2001. Two such units will provide sufficient power at 16.4v to continuously supply a prototype Solo computer and dump excess energy into a storage battery for use at night. Production computers may require only one such solar panel, depending on the choice of screen-size. The intelligent power supply in the Solo will continue to operate when the computer itself is 'off' and can be used to store energy in any lead-acid vehicle battery that is connected.

The choice of power sources is wide. Any AC or DC supply from 6 to 30v will be capable of driving a Solo. Any shortfall in the power required is made up from the internal or external batteries. Excess available power is stored back in the same batteries.

In the event of a complete power failure, and the user giving no response to on-screen warnings, a 'last resort' battery within the Solo itself will close all open files and shut down the computer cleanly.

See also the information on Environmental issues and the Solo computer strategy.

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