MacBook Pro in closed lid mode - possibility of damage from heat?

[Ayjona]

The risk of damage from heat has been quite a common question for the past weeks, since more and more people have discovered they can use their MBP/MB/PBs in closed lid mode without putting them to sleep, thus giving them the option to use an external display without keeping the laptop open all the time.

For me, the closed lid mode is especially useful, since my Cinema Display can be run at a resolution of 1600x1024, while the MBP display supports only smaller resolutions. If I keep the MBP's lid open, I either have to set the Cinema as the display with the menu bar, and deal with some windows only showing up on the MBP display and the pointer occasionally leaving the edge of the Cinema screen, or mirror the two displays, but be prevented from utilizing 1600x1024, since the MBP display will limit the Cinema in mirrored mode.

However, since receiving my new, shiny MBP yesterday, I've been worried that the heat which the MBP gives off will somehow damage the screen when used in closed lid mode. One of the hottest parts of the MBP is the edge just above the keyboard, and when the lid is closed, the metal of that list almost touches the display.

Does anyone know if this has ever happened? The unusual heat which the MBP produces have never normally been reported to damage the computer from what I've heard (instead, it leaves burn marks on people's legs :-D ), but it wouldn't surpise me if it did happen when the computer is active and running in closed lid mode, considering the proximity of the hot metal to the surface of the MBP display.

Need I worry about this? It would be the only time this wonderful machine would ever cause me anything but joy and fulfilment ;-)

 

[jsw]

It should be OK and would be covered under warranty if not.

 

[gekko513]

I haven't had any problems so far, and I run it with a closed lid quite often. It's not enough to guarantee anything, of course.

 

[Ayjona]

Yah, yer right. Warranty should cover it. And good to know at least one other MBP user has done it without any apparent problems. My thanks.

But since surrendering my MBP to Apple's technicians would mean a few weeks without my computer (Apple service in Sweden is slower than one of the most computerized countries in the world should warrant), I want to be absolutely sure that this will not harm my baby before I make it a habit...

After all, I'm not sure laptops were meant to be run constantly for days and weeks with the lid closed, which is what my MBP will be doing, now that it serves full time as desktop computer solution duty...

 

[jsw]

Well, you could always put a fan near it. I didn't realize it'd be closed so long... but it shouldn't matter. I am, however, curious why you didn't just get a 20" iMac if you're not going to move the MacBook Pro around....

 

[gekko513]

Get one of those pads with cooling fans if you really want to be sure. I have a Notepal by Cooler Master. It works well, but it is a little bit too small for the MBP. I have taped two coins to the surface of it to keep some space between the pad top and the MBP.

 

[CoMpX]

It should be fine, because unlike the iBooks, the MacBooks do not dissipate heat through the keyboard. Notice, the iBook has a removable keyboard with a vent under it, whereas this does not exist in the MB. It was designed to be run closed.

 

[Ayjona]

@jsw: Oh, I will be moving it around quite a bit. Going back and forth between different locations and such. But it might come to do heavy desktop computer duty in between. And the MBP is just so much more... sexual :-D

@gekko513: Had no idea those existed. My thanks!

@CoMpX: Was hoping it would be designed for that very thing. But then, I wasn't sure Apple had predicted it would be used like this for weeks. But I'll just trust you fellas, and then tell Apple Support that while I might be the first to report this problem, I will not be the last... ;-)