Just got my MacBook , so sorry if I am a bit worried ..can someone with more experience help me with some peace of mind?

[Hoppityhiphop]

MacBook Pro M1

1) how do MacBooks deal with humidity?

My room is very small and gets both very hot and very ‘humid’ easily (can’t keep the windows open because it rains most of the time) ..sometimes there can be a towel drying up on the radiator too, but the windows don’t fog up ..just the air that gets heavy

2) following up the previous question, using my MacBook for an hour while in a car with other people (windows up as it rains outside, it’s UK) and the windows fog up, anything to worry about?

3) I place my MacBook on my bedside table but I accidentally hit the table with the door this morning (the room is very small).. although the MacBook didn’t get hit, will the shock damage anything internally? The door was slammed kind of hard.. I guess the shock is comparable to as if it dropped

Sorry for the long questions, any peace of mind on how much these pretty MacBooks should be babied is much appreciated

 

[ApfelKuchen]

From the technical specs for the current MacBook Air (you didn't say what model, so I took a guess):

Operating temperature: 50° to 95° F (10° to 35° C)

Storage temperature: −13° to 113° F (−25° to 45° C)

Relative humidity: 0% to 90% noncondensing

Noncondensing means that water droplets do not form (like windows or mirrors that fog-up). It has to get pretty steamy for the relative humidity in a room to rise above 90%, so I wouldn't sweat it (so to speak).


There's no posted specification for mechanical shock/vibration.

Chances are, the bump you described was not as strong as you think. Further, the Mac wasn't fastened to the table, so it probably moved a bit when you hit the table (or more precisely, the table moved but due to inertia the laptop tended to stay in place - a body at rest tends to stay at rest) - there was no direct, mechanical coupling between the table and the laptop, so most of the force was not transferred. It would have picked up some force as there was some friction between table and laptop, but it would have been a small fraction of the total impact force.

Overall, modern laptops are built very solidly - literally, as they have solid-state everything. In the old days, when laptops had spinning hard drives, a shock while the drive was spinning (as opposed to when its read/write heads are "parked" during a power-off) could do damage to the drive. However, now that all Macs have SSDs, and in the case of many models, soldered SSDs (and RAM)... fewer and fewer ways something can get knocked loose in an impact.

Yes, you have a new, relatively expensive piece of electronics, and you're worried. It's natural to be worried. But these things are engineered to survive all the bumps and thumps that occur during shipping and portable use. Manufacturers do not want the expense of repairing/replacing these things during warranty, and especially when fresh out of the box.

Every time someone complains in a forum about how their new Mac can't be upgraded... the connectors and sockets and design features that make computers upgradable also make them more susceptible to damage caused by bumps and thumps. So don't worry, be happy!

 

[Hoppityhiphop]

wow, thanks for the amazing reply ..I really appreciate it!
Is everything you wrote valid for the latest MacBook Pro M1?

the air in my rooms tends to get ‘heavy’ because it’s small and the breathing + the wet towel drying on the radiator don’t really help.. but there are not any water droplets I know of, but should there be, do you think it’ll be still fine?
Like in the example of being in a car with other people, while raining outside, the windows of the car fog up quickly and that is I’m guessing ‘condensing’ .. would that be something to worry about?

And I really appreciate the information you provided regarding the shock, it really is a relief!

 

[Toutou]

how do MacBooks deal with humidity?

Hello from cozy central Europe! I understand how important the our-weather-sucks part of your national identity is, but remember that it's even worse in many parts of the world, and people there use MacBooks too. Don't worry.

will the shock damage anything internally?

It'll first damage it externally (dents, bends).
The only moving part in your Pro is the fan and in order to damage its bearing by the shock alone you'd have to throw the machine against the wall with the fan running at full speed or something.
I've had the pleasure of dropping a my older (2013) MacBook Pro multiple times, and it's still running like a champ.

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

Where in the UK are you living that it rains "most of the time"? We just had historically really dry April, it didn't rain here in London for weeks!

 

[Expos of 1969]

Where in the UK are you living that it rains "most of the time"? We just had historically really dry April, it didn't rain here in London for weeks!

He said UK but it sounds more like somewhere in Asia.

 

[Hoppityhiphop]

Where in the UK are you living that it rains "most of the time"? We just had historically really dry April, it didn't rain here in London for weeks!

Well you see ahah

 

[monokakata]

I've lived for years in places with high humidity (the Solomon Islands, the rainy side of Hawai'i island) and what I've done for my photography equipment is to store it in small plastic tubs just large enough to fit, and to keep silica gel packets in those tubs. When I'm not using the stuff, it stays in the tubs -- this is less trouble than you might think.

You could get a container big enough for your MacBook and then -- let's say -- when you're done for the day you pop it in the tub and leave it there until you need it.

In the US anyway there are packets of silica gel that you can dry out in a microwave.

That might work for you -- at least give you peace of mind.

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

Well you see ahah

To be fair the London forecast isn't too dissimilar for the next week

 

[Lihp8270]

With regards to point 1. Drying wet stuff in small spaces with no ventilation is bad for your health and promotes damp and mould growth.

Id consider sorting your drying and ventilation out, not for your mac. But for your health

 

[BrianBaughn]

One thing to consider is if your laptop gets cold and then you bring it into the humid environment…condensation will occur on the device everywhere it can.

You might consider getting a small dehumidifier for the room.

 

[KaliYoni]

If you have space in your room, you could set up a "dry box" for storing your computer overnight. As mentioned above, you could use a plastic bin and moisture absorbing packets. Or, if you want something a little more elaborate, put a low wattage light bulb inside of a cupboard or cabinet that has doors. Both of these are time-tested methods used by photographers who work in damp or humid places.

 

[trevpimp]

All I gotta say is you sound like an Apple caregiver. And I am a caregiver of Apple myself been taking care of my Apple stuff since I was 15

What I do is I keep my MacBook in a case so if anything it will always be protected. As much don't constantly handle your MacBook around the house treat it as a workstation that you move instead of constantly picking up (going up stairs, living room, bedroom) I know constantly handling it one day could make for a slip or accident. Don't bang your MacBook on anything though your MacBook is sturdy and durability is expected just try not to hit it with stuff. As for the humid I would say don't leave it on too much when it's cold or by your Windows. I don't want the insides to moisten up either.

I leave my MacBook on my bed and then sometimes take it down stairs. I keep it as a workstation that I barely move.