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r1400sch

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 10, 2007
33
0
I currently have an old powerbook and like to keep a piece of cloth (the stuff you use to clean glasses) between the keyboard and the screen so the keys dont mess up the screen. But a friend recently said it was actually not the best idea because of like fire hazards or somethin. Is there any truth in that? Or is it just a myth?
 
I would assume it's safe, as a few people have said they have been using the styrofoam thing that came with their macbooks, and I would assume it wouldn't be any different for the powerbooks.
 
If your PB gets hot enough to light a piece of cloth on fire, you've got other problems.
 
If your PB gets hot enough to light a piece of cloth on fire, you've got other problems.

Depend on what the material is, it might not take much to light something in that situation.

Just make sure you open the lid once in a while, and open the lid up when you do intensive stuff. You'll probably be fine.
 
unless your powerbook is video editing while its asleep, id say your fine.
 
don't run it in clamshell mode with the cloth there, but other than that you should be fine.
 
i've been running my PB 1.5GHz 15inch for years with closed lid and a iskin silicone keyboard protector. the PB is not cooled through the keyboard so there is no problem. the PB electronics dies long before a cloth starts to burn anyway. there was even a company selling some fabric to keep the screen clear from the keyboard when closed.

if there was a serious heat built up maybe my silicone keyboard protector would survive that but certainly not the screen. since my screen is fine i never had too much heat built up when operating my PB closed.
 
Depend on what the material is, it might not take much to light something in that situation.

My point is that the cloth is unlikely to actually catch fire unless the PB is already burning or at such a high temperature that it would melt.

Most oven mitts and potholders are made of cloth, yet don't flame up when you pick up a hot pan of cookies, which I think you'd agree is warmer than an average PowerBook. Unless, of course, you stick the mitt into the open burner flame.

Damn, now I want chocolate chip cookies.
 
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