Apple's New Laptops Not Intended For Use On Laps

from the hotter-hotter-fuego-fuego dept

There have been a lot of reports about how hot the bottoms of Apple's new MacBook Pro laptops get, but apparently the high temperature isn't the problem -- rather that the laptops aren't actually supposed to be used on your lap. The computer's manual warns that "prolonged contact with your body could cause discomfort and potentially a burn", saying the machines should instead be used on a desk or flat surface. A computer to be used on a desk -- wouldn't that make it, um, a desktop?

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  1.  
    identicon
    drkkgt, May 19th, 2006 @ 1:51pm

    No Silly, a desktop is a computer you put in those cabinets on the side of the cheap desks or on the floor.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  

    This came up a few months ago

    identicon
    Aaron, May 19th, 2006 @ 1:58pm

    I remember reading somewhere that Apple tech support was aware of the problem, but the computers were specifically being marketed as "notebooks" rather than "laptops" for a reason.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  

    Ok...

    identicon
    Colin LeMahieu, May 19th, 2006 @ 2:04pm

    Call it whatever you want; laptops get hot and unless you want your sperm count to drop, you should probably put them on a desk to use them.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  

    Good lap protector

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, May 19th, 2006 @ 2:23pm

    I highly recommend one of these for you toasty laptop users:

    http://www.raindesigninc.com/ilap.html

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  
    identicon
    csaturn, May 19th, 2006 @ 2:28pm

    I have seen the same warning in many manuals including my Thinkpad's. It's there for legal reasons.

    The question though is: How hot is it? Like summer in Norway or Greece?

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  
    identicon
    Hannibal Lecter, May 19th, 2006 @ 2:36pm

    is it going to ruin my flesh-covered desktop?

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  7.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Hero, May 19th, 2006 @ 2:39pm

    It's just a legal thing, I bet it's in every single manual, that way they wont get sued. Thats the good old USA for you.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  8.  

    That's why...

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, May 19th, 2006 @ 3:16pm

    I bought a fan cooler to place under my notebook. The first time I used my computer on my lap was the last time. I take it as a fact of life, computers will be hot! Then again, I didn't buy a Macbook Pro, or even a Core Duo Machine.
    In fact I bought a Toshiba A105 with a 2Ghz Pentium. Better bang for my buck when I bought it on clearance, and it doesn't have that pesky USB power draw issue that the Windows Core Duo machines have.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  9.  

    Re:

    identicon
    Don Gray, May 19th, 2006 @ 3:24pm

    that the funniest damn comment I have seen in a long time!

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  10.  

    hmm

    identicon
    computer girl, May 19th, 2006 @ 3:52pm

    who cares.
    its not surprising.
    apple sucks!!
    duh

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  11.  

    Re: This came up a few months ago

    identicon
    robert, May 19th, 2006 @ 4:01pm

    When computer companies started coming out with portable machines there was a differentiation between “notebooks” and “laptops”. The difference was one had a battery and one required a cord respectively. As the years flip, notebooks have kept more portable then their beefy sibling the notebook at the cost of functionality. Each has their place in the computing commuting world. It’s all about what you need.

    I agree I haven’t used either that has not been uncomfortable warm on the lap after more than 30 minutes.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  12.  

    Averatec

    identicon
    Andrew Baker, May 19th, 2006 @ 4:07pm

    I bought a Averatec 10" screen apple wanna be. (white case and all that)

    in the firmware it states the normal operating Temp to be 165 degrees F. and the "critical" shutdown temp to be 209 degrees F. Thats hotter then I want near my boys. I dont think it ever gets that hot, but shesh.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  13.  

    Laptop

    identicon
    Ross, May 19th, 2006 @ 4:09pm

    More like a Notebook? All I need is something luggable.... Most "desk tops" are Under desk anyway

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  14.  
    identicon
    Some like it Hot, May 19th, 2006 @ 4:10pm

    Buy a Chillpad. It's a handy little device that cools the bottom of your laptop with fans.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  15.  

    Apple only has itself to blame

    identicon
    Planet Smasher, May 19th, 2006 @ 4:17pm

    Apple could probably avoided the Lap Hot - er... I meant Lap Top too hot issue if they had gone with these guys instead of Intel..... 7 Watts (cool) compaired to 21 Watts (hot, hot, hot!)....

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/05/19/pasemi_apple/

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  16.  

    pfffftt...who cares

    identicon
    Jack, May 19th, 2006 @ 7:18pm

    every laptop i have evr used gets quite hot on ur lap. it would have to be a pretty shitty computer not to get hot, or it would have to be massive and have lots of fans and heatsinks

    its not as if its touching ur bare skin anyways, unless ur wearing really short shorts or ur naked or something.

    all the thnkpads i use get hot, apples gets hot, and theyre the only laptops i would use, so its sorta a fact of life for me

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  17.  

    Re:

    identicon
    Jeff, May 19th, 2006 @ 11:43pm

    I agree with Don. We need more guys like Hannibal Lecter in the world! :-)

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  18.  

    Dells have been this way for years

    identicon
    Damon Alexander, May 20th, 2006 @ 12:40am

    I used to work in Dell's Major Accout Laptop support and we have been telling our customers to put there laptops on flat surfaces for years. It has been this way for awhile. I have an old CP laptop and it gets really hot. This is old news guys.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  19.  

    Cop out

    identicon
    China Law Blog, May 20th, 2006 @ 7:58am

    This is a cop out by Apple. Everyone I know (myself included) puts their notebook on their laps at times.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  20.  

    not all laptops are hot

    identicon
    SOAP, May 20th, 2006 @ 8:54am

    I have 2 laptops from dell, 1 pentium m and 1 core solo. Both run for several hours (upwards of 4) on my lap and never get more that mildly warm. So, while this may not be an Apple specific problem it doesnt mean that it hasnt been solved by other manufacturers

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  21.  

    laptops and other consequences.

    identicon
    markb in nj, May 20th, 2006 @ 4:54pm

    Hey. other things can happen on your lap.

    I personally was irradiated from a low sperm count to a ZERO sperm count by sitting in front of a UPS system for 18 months.

    I now do use my laptop (IN bed!) and it only gets warm.
    but I know I shoot blanks now, and dont care about irradiated testicles

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  22.  
    identicon
    Rey M, May 20th, 2006 @ 8:09pm

    well you can always use Laptop Desk: http://www.laptopdesk.net/

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  23.  

    Re: hmm

    identicon
    Inso, May 21st, 2006 @ 5:49am

    typical windows user....

    I personally use windows and mac os x (tiger)......windows for gamming only....mac for my djing....

    my mac os x has never crashed on me, period....my windows xp pc crashes every now and then...

    for a long time i have always thought apple products suck, why you ask? Because it's proprietary, and way over price...

    Well, after using the same programs on both windows and mac os x (tiger)....my conclusion is apple is better for what i do...

    windows is good for my gaming, and mac is good for my djing...

    remember mac is designed for artistic reasons example: graphic designing, music, photography

    my father in-law uses apple because apple products are best for photography..he teaches photography at a community collage.....he uses 35mm and digital

    so don't sit there hiding yourself behind a keyboard and mouse stating apple sucks and not explain yourself why it sucks....

    besides, your comment had nothing to do about the topic in the first place....

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  24.  

    Not all that novel

    identicon
    Jennifer, May 21st, 2006 @ 3:27pm

    Heat problems have always been an issue with laptops. Why does this seem surprising?

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  25.  

    permenant effects?

    identicon
    jp, Jun 29th, 2006 @ 6:25pm

    I realize that the heat from a laptop can cause a decrease in sperm count, but is this effect permenant? If one were to quit using the laptop on his lap, would it fix itself in time? Also are there any other side effects of such a use?

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  26.  

    Re:

    identicon
    mekdim, Sep 25th, 2008 @ 2:10pm

    I recently bought my Macbook and stupid me, it never cross my mind it has a health impact or side effect. most of the time I was working on the laptops by putting it on my laps. Now I realized the I'm having a pain on my bladder and kidney side. I kinda freaked out it might be the laptops because i 'm a very health young man with no medical problem history. Guys, besides burning skin it may affect internal organs too.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  27.  

    I love it.

    identicon
    Joshua Martin, Dec 2nd, 2008 @ 12:49pm

    On a cold winter night, you cant beat sat in bed with one of these babies on your lap. And turning up the heat is a easy as turning on a load of useless, CPU draining app's. Its awesome. Plus, in college, I find that a fun game to play with your mates/ colleagues is to see how long you can keep your finger on the strip of metal above the keyboard when its at its hottest.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  28.  

    Re: hmm

    identicon
    unknown, Dec 3rd, 2008 @ 6:22pm

    What do you have against apple

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  29.  
    identicon
    Softmod Wii, Nov 29th, 2010 @ 7:30am

    More like a Notebook? All I need is something luggable.... Most "desk tops" are Under desk anyway

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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