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Macbook in Bed

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Buckles474

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 22, 2008
16
0
I searched but couldnt seem to find anything on this topic.

I often want to bring my aluminum macbook into my bed for casual use. I heard that resting the macbook on the bed is a bad idea because it messes with the cooling or venting system. I wanted to know if this was true, and if it would be O.K for me to rest it on the box that it came in, in my bed.


Thanks!
 
Yes, it's true (however, I think we've all done it from time to time).

Yes, resting it on a box (or any other hard, flat surface) would be better.
 
Same thing goes for any laptop, it's not just exclusive to a Macbook. All you'll get is temps raised a few degrees which won't harm it unless you're trying to render video while its on your bed (which anyone probably won't EVER be doing :p). Don't worry about it.
 
Using my new alu Macbook in bed at this very moment!

Can't say I can see a difference in temps, at least looking at iStat.
 
Oh blah! It's a notebook, not a baby (though I know it basically is for some of us :D). I jest, I jest... Take it into your bed and enjoy your macbook ;). Don't worry, it's a durable little thing.
 
I hit 75C when watching movies in bed XD

Gets better when I put a book under it to get better airflow
 
I've used it i bed all the time. So far the highest temp I reached was 90*C when I was encoding a video and playing an iTunes movies at the same time.

Normal use barely goes above 75*C in bed.

Have the Al MacBook...
 
jav6454 said:
I've used it i bed all the time. So far the highest temp I reached was 90*C when I was encoding a video and playing an iTunes movies at the same time.

Normal use barely goes above 75*C in bed.

Have the Al MacBook...
Click to expand...

I got it to 88 using an iLap while sitting in a chair while video encoding. It has nothing to do with being in bed. It just gets really hot before the fans kick up to 4000 RPM and cool it down.
 
They make a pad which you can put under the laptop that is supposed to absorb the heat. Its like 20 bucks at Best Buy if I remember.
 
Well first of all, I don't see why it would mess with the cooling vents in the aluminum macbook, because there are NO cooling vents on the underside of the macbook. The cooling vents blow upwards at the base of the screen. The only reason I could see it raising the temp, is by transferring your body heat to it by resting it on your legs or something.
 
bluesTank said:
Well first of all, I don't see why it would mess with the cooling vents in the aluminum macbook, because there are NO cooling vents on the underside of the macbook. The cooling vents blow upwards at the base of the screen. The only reason I could see it raising the temp, is by transferring your body heat to it by resting it on your legs or something.
Click to expand...

AFAIK, some of the heat leaves the computer through the aluminum and the under casings, regardless of vents or fans or whatever. Putting a blanket underneath it is just insulating the case and causing it to get quite hot.
 
resting a laptop on any soft surface isn't the best idea because

1) it will block the vents, partially or fully, unless the vent is on the top of the computer.
2) heat is dissipated primarily through the vents and through the bottom of the computer. The surface the laptop sits on (ideally) acts like a sort of heatsink, and sitting on a flat surface also helps airflow under the laptop.

it's not a big problem with macbooks since you won't be completely blocking any vents, but it's still better to prop it up on something.
 
It won't hurt it... If it somehow manages to block the vents the computer shuts itself off before it can damage itself from heat.
 
Don't worry about it. Using it on a soft surface will raise the temp by not more than 5-7C.

If your computer somehow overheats (100C+) it will shut itself down to prevent damage.
 
Buckles474 said:
I searched but couldnt seem to find anything on this topic.

I often want to bring my aluminum macbook into my bed for casual use. I heard that resting the macbook on the bed is a bad idea because it messes with the cooling or venting system. I wanted to know if this was true, and if it would be O.K for me to rest it on the box that it came in, in my bed.


Thanks!
Click to expand...


Take it out to dinner first, it should cool down:p
 
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