Macbook Pro in lap?

[Tritons]

Hei
I know MacBook Air is perfect for browsing net and doing stuff while it's sits in lap but how is this with Pro (13'' to be precise) I'm considering weight and how hot it gets. Thank you.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

It is okay for normal day use and if you don't block the vent (under the hinge), then it should be fine. If you use an application with high CPU usage though, or watch Flash videos (which use a lot of CPU), the CPU gets hotter of course and it is up to you, if you can stand the head or need some kind of cushion or similar object to put between your lap and laptop.

 

[miles01110]

It's fine on both counts.

 

[negativzero]

If you're a guy, you need to protect your nuts, also if you're doing anything intensive, you might risk getting lap-burn since the aluminum is supposed to act to conduct the heat away from the internals.

 

[basesloaded190]

When the fans get crazy it can get very hot on bare skin so be aware of that. If you are just doing normal browsing and what not, it's not a problem

 

[Tritons]

Thank you guys. Still even with SSD why Macbook Pro get's so hot since Macbook Air really dosn't. (Or I have never pushed it to the limits?)

A bit of offtopic question - what is this hardware sound when you turn Macbook Pro on?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Thank you guys. Still even with SSD why Macbook Pro get's so hot since Macbook Air really dosn't.

High CPU usage.

(Or I have never pushed it to the limits?)

Probably.

A bit of offtopic question - what is this hardware sound when you turn Macbook Pro on?

Depends on what sound and MBP, as there is the startup chime, the HDD access due to reading from it and on some older models the checking of the optical disk drive (ODD), if there is a medium inside it may need to read from.

 

[Tritons]

Depends on what sound and MBP, as there is the startup chime, the HDD access due to reading from it and on some older models the checking of the optical disk drive (ODD), if there is a medium inside it may need to read from.

I have watched lot of unboxing videos and when they turn it on there is some kind of noise that Macbook Air dosn't have.
Something like this - http://youtu.be/ZrEE6Wy1Fmw

 

[simsaladimbamba]

I have watched lot of unboxing videos and when they turn it on there is some kind of noise that Macbook Air dosn't have.
Something like this - http://youtu.be/ZrEE6Wy1Fmw

While the answer is in the comments, I will repeat it here.
It is the optical disk drive (ODD) checking itself for any inserted medium. If you insert a medium into the ODD, you will hear a similar sound, but newer MBPs don't make that sound anymore, due to a firmware upgrade I suppose.
My 2009 MBP does not make that sound, my 2008 MB and MBP did make that sound and my 2004 iBook did make that sound too.

 

[tersono]

I use a 17" MBP on my lap a lot - not a problem, but it does get pretty warm after a while. Certainly wouldn't want to be wearing shorts (or using it that way on a seriously hot day!).

 

[Spink10]

I had a 13 MBP - I liked using it on my laptop - a few times it would get a little hot.

 

[iforbes]

While the answer is in the comments, I will repeat it here.
It is the optical disk drive (ODD) checking itself for any inserted medium. If you insert a medium into the ODD, you will hear a similar sound, but newer MBPs don't make that sound anymore, due to a firmware upgrade I suppose.
My 2009 MBP does not make that sound, my 2008 MB and MBP did make that sound and my 2004 iBook did make that sound too.

On my late 2011 13" I still hear the optical disk drive noise on startup (original question) but not on lid open. Are you saying that the ODD should never make the noise due to firmware update?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

On my late 2011 13" I still hear the optical disk drive noise on startup (original question) but not on lid open. Are you saying that the ODD should never make the noise due to firmware update?

That I don't really know, I just remember hearing about some firmware updates removing that check on some MBPs.
As the noise is not harmful, I never sweat about it, thus I never investigated the complete story.

 

[Tritons]

Thank you guys for all of replys.

 

[IngerMan]

On my late 2011 13" I still hear the optical disk drive noise on startup (original question) but not on lid open. Are you saying that the ODD should never make the noise due to firmware update?

I think they all make that noise. My early 2011 does on a power up only.