Supply of adequate quantities of fresh potable water is one of the most serious problems confronting human especially when we know that one third of the world population are suffering from water shortage and it is expected to reach two thirds in the near future. Therefore, desalination, as a non-conventional water resource, has become one of the most interesting alternative water sources to partially face the fresh water shortage in the near future. The objective of this study is to obtain a general mathematical model for a newly developed solar still that uses parabolic reflector-tube absorber desalination technology. A computer program has been developed to simulate the still operation and to solve the governing heat and mass transfer action, which occurs during the operation. The program will then be used to study the still production in different cases. The study revealed that increasing the solar intensity, ambient temperature, efficiency of reflector material, reflector aperture area, and evaporation area increases the unit productivity. On the other hand, increasing wind velocity, saline water depth, condenser emissivity, and condenser thickness have a small effect on the productivity. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.