High ambient temperatures + Fine dust environment – Which Mac should I buy

[Walter2u]

Well I'm looking to buy a new Apple Mac computer ( not iPad / phone )

I have recently moved to a rural location in Cambodia , The rooms in the accommodation have no air conditioning only ceiling and floor mounted fans. The accommodation is located in a very dusty environment surrounded by open fields . The fine earth dust from the fields gets into all the rooms . The room temperatures can become quite high during the day time .

I am looking to purchase a new Apple Mac , but I'm concerned about the combination of a fine dust environment and possible high ambient temperatures .

I would prefer portability if possible . Any recommendations as to which Apple Mac computer would be best suited to the above environment ?

The Apple Mac will be used for general web surfing / emails / light photoshop / some games / nothing intensive

Thanks

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

The MacBook is the only fanless Mac you can buy, which would be one way to keep the dust from getting inside. Apple's website says it has an operating temperature of 10-35C (can be stored up to 45C), though I suspect it will get really warm during use. They do make chill-pads that you can put under your laptop, and those are basically just fans that move the air from underneath. A chill-pad is cheap and much easier to service/replace. The only negative to the MacBook is that it's not going to be the most powerful Mac, but I get the feeling that it will be your best option if dust is a big concern.

 

[Maxx Power]

My main concern is with the new butterfly keyboards which appear to not tolerate dust and heat very well. As for the ventilation system, I have seen quite a few Macbook Pros deployed in the field in dusty climates like in Africa. Generally these systems hold up really well. It is actually in North American homes with a lot of forced-air heating, animal fur and clothing fibers that laptops tend to get clogged.

 

[Attonine]

I lived and worked in Saudi, Libya, UAE and Mauritania over the past 20yrs. Always used MBP (or the previous interations). No environmental problems at all. Had a few hiccups that needed AppleCare service, only once did the technician call me. She assumed I worked in a logging factory because of the dust (sand) buildup, not an issue as she’d already done the fix.

Trust me, MBP can handle years in the Saudi desert and Libyan desert based oil fields, Cambodia won’t even touch them, it has nothing like a Shamal or Gibli to throw at you, and ambient temperatures don’t even register compared to the Arabian Gulf/North African deserts. The only concern I had (and you should too) is that if there is a problem, it will be slightly harder to get fixed, though I’m sure Cambodia has lots of handy little technicians nowadays.

 

[canuckRus]

Well I'm looking to buy a new Apple Mac computer ( not iPad / phone )

I have recently moved to a rural location in Cambodia , The rooms in the accommodation have no air conditioning only ceiling and floor mounted fans. The accommodation is located in a very dusty environment surrounded by open fields . The fine earth dust from the fields gets into all the rooms . The room temperatures can become quite high during the day time .

I am looking to purchase a new Apple Mac , but I'm concerned about the combination of a fine dust environment and possible high ambient temperatures .

I would prefer portability if possible . Any recommendations as to which Apple Mac computer would be best suited to the above environment ?

The Apple Mac will be used for general web surfing / emails / light photoshop / some games / nothing intensive

Thanks

Ever consider a Panasonic Toughbook?