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So hot, can we call it a Lap top?

YunusEmre

YunusEmre

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 11, 2005
119
0
Santa Clara, CA
I checked out the 17" MBP in an Apple store at the weekend. It was running with the power connected and there were a few apps opened, but none were actively running (as far as I could see) and it was very hot to touch. I mean any hotter it could burn you. You cannot use it on your lap, not for long anyway. I guess when it is running on battery power the CPU is running slower so it will not heat as much. I wonder how hot it gets when it is working hard with the power connected. I would not be using it on my lap so much, but I am wondering if it is going to get so hot even when running on battery power. Is there a way to dial down the CPU power and avoid the heat build up? What are your impressions of this?
 
YunusEmre said:
I checked out the 17" MBP in an Apple store at the weekend. It was running with the power connected and there were a few apps opened, but none were actively running (as far as I could see) and it was very hot to touch. I mean any hotter it could burn you. You cannot use it on your lap, not for long anyway. I guess when it is running on battery power the CPU is running slower so it will not heat as much. I wonder how hot it gets when it is working hard with the power connected. I would not be using it on my lap so much, but I am wondering if it is going to get so hot even when running on battery power. Is there a way to dial down the CPU power and avoid the heat build up? What are your impressions of this?
Click to expand...

I had a 15 inch before i returned it and got a iBook again since it had needed to be repaired 3 times. they run hot ALL THE TIME.
 
do we really need annother thread on this?

if it bothers you do the thermal paste mod otherwise either bitch to apple or deal with it, nothing more is to be said on the matter.
 
Apple says these are not laptops, but portable computers. They recommend running them on flat surfaces such as furniture for extended periods of time.
 
Hector said:
do we really need annother thread on this?

if it bothers you do the thermal paste mod otherwise either bitch to apple or deal with it, nothing more is to be said on the matter.
Click to expand...

I have not bought one yet. I am trying to decide if I should get one. This forum is just for that purpose. So either give some useful advice or keep your flames off this thread as it is already pretty warm.

cnakeitaro said:
Apple says these are not laptops, but portable computers. They recommend running them on flat surfaces such as furniture for extended periods of time.
Click to expand...

Aha, that makes sense, Apple would be in trouble if they called it a lap top.
 
cnakeitaro said:
Apple says these are not laptops, but portable computers. They recommend running them on flat surfaces such as furniture for extended periods of time.
Click to expand...
That's good, because it almost sounds like people wanted to start calling them crotch top cookers.
 
YunusEmre said:
I have not bought one yet. I am trying to decide if I should get one. This forum is just for that purpose. So either give some useful advice or keep your flames off this thread as it is already pretty warm.
Click to expand...

pointing out a dupe is not "flames" this has been covered to death in multiple threads.
 
Hector said:
pointing out a dupe is not "flames" this has been covered to death in multiple threads.
Click to expand...

Yes there are several threads here and there that mention the heat problem. I've read some of them. But are you saying we should never create a thread as long as we can dig one up that mentions the issue? I am asking why call it a lap top when it is a more like a cook top. Did anybody else ask that question before?, may be I do not know, may be someone did, but I did not read all the posts on all threads to find out.

The way you came out, it sounded like flaming, telling me to return it or bitch to Apple, you did not even read my post otherwise you'd not have assumed I own one. So kindly take your hostile advice to elsewhere.
 
i was educated here that Apple never made laptops. whoever looks for a laptop from apple is stupid becoz they only make portable computers. :eek:
 
EricChunky said:
i was educated here that Apple never made laptops. whoever looks for a laptop from apple is stupid becoz they only make portable computers. :eek:
Click to expand...

I'd have felt very stupid if I had bought one without knowing how hot they get. Now I can make an informed decision.

buryyourbrideau said:
the heat issue with the MBP is simply ridiculous. why they tell their manufacturer's / techs to use so much paste is beyond me.
Click to expand...

Yeah, if it is simple as reducing the amount of heat sink compound why can't Apple say, "yeah, some MBPs may have this problem, if you think you have it take it to a store or send it in..." And I bet less than half of those who have the problem will take/send it in. The other half may do something if they get an email or letter from Apple. Anyhow, I just cannot understand why Apple stays so slilent with sych problems.
 
cnakeitaro said:
Apple says these are not laptops, but portable computers. They recommend running them on flat surfaces such as furniture for extended periods of time.
Click to expand...

I think it's sad that it has come to this. I can run my ibook on my lap for hours without it getting uncomfortably warm (not that I do... :eek: ). Screw "portables;" I like laptops! :p
 
For a few days I was getting ready to order the 17" MBP but now I decided to wait more. May be there will be an upgrade to 15" MBP out soon. If not I'll wait for the next rev. of the 17". If that does not work out, may be I'll buy a Dell, Lenovo or HP Laptop and install Linux on it. That would mean I need to be able to dual boot into windows also as I have software that only runs on a PC or a Mac :mad:
 
There's the subtle difference of "portable" computer and also, few, if any firms refer to them now as Laptops.

Notebook [computer] seems to be the preferred term. "Notebook" computer doesn't really hit the mark in the way "Laptop" computer does though.
 
YunusEmre said:
How do other Core Duo powered laptops/portable computers compare with the MBPs in terms of heat?
Click to expand...
We have Dual Core 2.0 T60s (ThinkPads) at work, so I did a test. After 15 minutes of a full CPU load .. nowhere on the ThinkPad casing could you feel any heat. The entire casing (top/bottom) was room temperature.

That's when I made the decision to return my MBP for a refund. :(
 
Kind of neat how a Google for "apple laptop" returns Apple.com as the top link, but nowhere (visible) on the linked Apple pages is the word "laptop". :cool:
 
AlBDamned said:
There's the subtle difference of "portable" computer and also, few, if any firms refer to them now as Laptops.

Notebook [computer] seems to be the preferred term. "Notebook" computer doesn't really hit the mark in the way "Laptop" computer does though.
Click to expand...

You might have thought that the word 'book' would imply something you can hold in your hand and on your lap. But I guess not, there is some kind of a distinction that I've never notice before. Or perhaps we can say a notebook is a laptop unles it gets too hot.
 
YunusEmre said:
You might have thought that the word 'book' would imply something you can hold in your hand and on your lap. But I guess not, there is some kind of a distinction that I've never notice before. Or perhaps we can say a notebook is a laptop unles it gets too hot.
Click to expand...

Maybe, but the inference is clearly on portability, not the fact that you can have it on your lap.

Personally I think the Mac laptops get stupidly hot compared to non-Apple machines. The few times I use the PowerBook on my lap, it has a magazine or something underneath it. Who knows how many people have suffered Apple's non-invasive vasectomy... :p
 
the ironic thing is, the instruction of macbook pro is "do not use on the lap for prolong period, or it might result in a possible burn". The AppleStore stuff refer this to me when i was returning the macbook pro.

my response:

try to use it on your lap for 60 seconds, and i'll keep it.

Geniuses dont have the balls ;)

so i have my refund.
 
aristobrat said:
We have Dual Core 2.0 T60s (ThinkPads) at work, so I did a test. After 15 minutes of a full CPU load .. nowhere on the ThinkPad casing could you feel any heat. The entire casing (top/bottom) was room temperature.

That's when I made the decision to return my MBP for a refund. :(
Click to expand...

What is the CPU speed on those? I cannot imagine Apple design is flawed causing it to run hotter. I guess/hope Apple has not ironed out all the kinks in their manufacturing yet (i.e. too much heat sink compound issue). But I wish they come out and own up to it so I can order one knowing it will be fixed properly if I have the problem and will run cooler once it gets back from Apple service.
 
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