Your computer probably has a 300 watt power supply, most do.  But your computer doesn't use 300 watts.  It could, if it wanted to, but power supplies very rarely get maxed out.  Usually computers run at around 80 watts, less than your average lightbulb, a remarkable thing, considering what they can do.  Your monitor is a different story.  Add in a 17 inch LCD and you can add in another 60 watts. 

But the Fantsuam Foundation of Nigeria has just produced a computer that can be powered by a single small solar panel with an output of roughly 8.5 watts.  The computer has no moving parts, the hard drive is solid state flash, which we've touted the power saving virtues of before.  

 

What's important is that it's possible.  The 'Solo' has one gig of storage, one gig of RAM (both solid state), and a 14 inch monochrome LCD keeps costs and power use down as well.  The system maxes out at $1,200, a fair price considering that the unit comes with a solar panel and rechargeable battery.  It's a ways off from Negroponte's $130 laptop, but at 8.5 watts, I'm impressed no matter what the pricetag.

 

Via Gizmodo