Computers

[NuggyBuggy 0]

And fyi, all laptops get hot.

Not all. My wife has an iBook G4 that will not burn your skin. It gets warm. My last computer was a Vaio which only got warm. The Macbook Pro (not sure about the plain Macbook) was designed so as to use the bottom of the metal casing as a heat sink. One of the retarded consequences of this is that you can't use it on your lap. As per the user's manual, you can't even put it on a pillow on your lap, because then the computer won't be able to cool itself properly. So forget about using that computer on the train, on a beach chair in your backyard, waiting for a plane, on your bed, on the sofa in front of the TV, or anywhere else you can't set it on a table, unless you want to burn yourself and possibly damage your computer prematurely.

[Vapor 0]

A couple of my friends have MBPs and they all say that since one of the fireware upgrades their computers have been running smoothly. I use my macbook on my lap, and it is fine.

The iBook and the Vaio did not have a dual core intel processor, which runs very hot, that would explain the heat.

[NuggyBuggy 0]

A couple of my friends have MBPs and they all say that since one of the fireware upgrades their computers have been running smoothly. I use my macbook on my lap, and it is fine.

The iBook and the Vaio did not have a dual core intel processor, which runs very hot, that would explain the heat.

I know that those computers had a much less powerful CPU, and that of course the CPU does not generate as much heat. But that doesn't diminish the fact that, in order to avoid having a noisy fan running as much, the MBP design brings that heat to the casing itself, which can consequently burn skin. Vapor, I'm sure you know that the heat issues of the MBP are well-documented. I've gone through all the firmware updates to see if the issue will be rectified, to no avail. Apple told me the same thing the last time I complained.

Anybody who designs a computer like this, which cannot be used on your lap, deserves a hard kick in the crotch. Anybody who is thinking about buying one, should be warned and buy from a place that will let you return it without restocking fees if the thing ends up scorching genitals. I think my Apple store will charge a restocking fee but I could be wrong.

You say you can use your Macbook on your lap. I take it that is a regular Macbook. I understood that computer has a plastic casing, not aluminum like the MBP, and thus the case is not designed to be used as a heatsink. This would explain why your computer is fine on your lap. Yours might run a little noisier if it uses a fan more, but at least you *can* use yours on your lap.

Also the feeling of metal watchbands rubbing against the aluminum case is sickening, almost like dragging fingernails across a blackboard. I know of several users who take off their watches when using it. I would have opted for a plastic case if I had the choice.

[Vapor 0]

Oh of course I have heard of the scourching MBPs. You can even cook an egg on some of the MBPs :). And trust me, a lot of my friends who have MBPs were complaining about how hot their systems were. They said recently they have been running cooler. Did you look to see if a piece of plastic was blockign the vent below the screen? That was a problem on the original shipment of the MBPs. If not, try and download a 3rd party fan control program. There are many out there. You can set it to turn the fans on and off (and at certain rpms) at whatever tempeture you prefer.

[homexlife 0]

interesting because my powerbook got really hot for a long time and it wound up being one of the batteries they had to recall. i thought they had completely fixed the whole heat issue with the MBPs. Still the best notebook out there :)

[lesterhenson 0]

By the way Vapor, the macbooks use the core 2 duo.

[NuggyBuggy 0]

Oh of course I have heard of the scourching MBPs. You can even cook an egg on some of the MBPs :).

Unfortunately sometimes the eggs that end up getting cooked are the ones between your legs.

Did you look to see if a piece of plastic was blockign the vent below the screen?

Yup, first time I noticed the problem I searched the forums and found posts about the vents being blocked up. That wasn't my problem.

The heat actually isn't the thing I hate the most about my MBP. It's the fact that I don't trust the thing's power management. I commonly come to my computer after a few hours of disuse and found it shut down because the battery ran down - it never put itself to sleep until the battery was exhausted(yes, I checked the settings). A few times I have found that it didn't even do that - it just died without ever going into Safesleep, and whatever work I had was lost. I have gotten into the habit of manually putting it to sleep (control-apple-backspace or whatever ?) when I should be able to walk away and trust it to sleep in a few minutes.

Our IT director has even gone so far as to recommend that hibernation be disabled on Macs so that none of us get tempted to rely on it, lest we get burned down the road.

[NorthStar 0]

check out toms hardware or anandtech, read some reviews for computer related items.

[Vapor 0]

By the way Vapor, the macbooks use the core 2 duo.

not the original macbooks

[D-MaN88 0]

How are Lenovo Thinkpads, Toshiba Satellites, and another computer brand that has interested me lately, Alienware?

Thanks in advance!

[Vapor 0]

I wouldnt get an Alienware notebook, unless you want a desktop replacment, and thats gonna be very bulky and hot. The Thinkpads are nice, they are actually STILL branding them IBM, which is interesting. Toshiba makes some great notebooks, but I still prefer the thin and light X series from Lenovo over the Toshibas.

[Bazan110584 0]

As far as what computer's the best for you....really, I'd say talk to a sales rep about what you're looking for, since they can show you what they have available, and how much, etc.

[Vapor 0]

why limit yourself to what one store has? There are enough knowledgeable unbias (welll) peope on this board to help you choose the right computer.

[Chadd 916]

As far as what computer's the best for you....really, I'd say talk to a sales rep about what you're looking for, since they can show you what they have available, and how much, etc.

I don't trust anyone who earns a commission. I always had great luck with Toshiba laptops.