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dcarmich · Sep 20, 2003, 10:37 PM

I've got a PB17 (revA) and I've been experiencing a sort of tingling sensation with the PB on my lap in normal use. Anyone else experience that? Could it be a grounding problem?

--Douglas

spalding12 · Sep 20, 2003, 10:48 PM

i think it's just the excitement over the sheer amazement of owning and using one.

ledmirage · Sep 21, 2003, 01:20 AM

I get that feeling with my hands with my PB 12" and it worries me. I experienced it with iBook as well. It almost feels like my hands are being electrocuted and they feel buzzy and fuzzy even after the use of my PB. I get similar effect with cellular phones as well. My hand goes numb and I always get a terrible headache.

I keep my hands off the laptop as much as possible and never use it on my laps for this reason. Whatever it is, I don't enjoy it.

dcarmich · Sep 21, 2003, 01:31 AM

What's strange is that I have _not_ had this problem at all with my
2 previous laptops (a ThinkPad A22p and a NEC Versa LX.)

Should I call Apple about it?

--Douglas

docholiday · Sep 21, 2003, 01:33 AM

Can you provide some more details about what type of a tingling it is and what the pattern of it is over time?

That might give us some insight...

HouseSold · Sep 21, 2003, 01:47 AM

My recently departed Ti800 Powerbook did exactly that when I used an Apple USB mouse and the edge of my thumb (right-handed) would graze the edge of the case (not the trackpad) It was annoying and more sensitive in the morning and if the air had more humidity. Tops of legs and bottoms of arms (bare) seem to be more sensitive to this.

Every time this occurred was when the power adapter was plugged in while operating.

I don't notice this phenomenom on the new aluminum books though.

Misanthrope · Sep 21, 2003, 02:14 AM

I can almost promise that it's a grounding issue.

Go to the local hardware/electronics store, and pick up a prong adapter that turns a two prong electrical plug into a three prong one.

Either that, or hook it into a surge protector that has three prongs.

Then again, if you have any devices hooked up to the laptop that carry some kind of voltage, make sure that too is grounded.

Sosa · Sep 21, 2003, 02:15 AM

I'm familiar with the sensation, it happens with my iBook. When I use it lying in bed with the side nearest the palm rest on my stomach, after a few minutes I get s distinctive and rather painful tingling sensation. Really feels like a hot pin is being stuck in. Well it doesn't always happen, but with enough frequency that I'm forced to put something between the laptop and my skin.

spalding12 · Sep 21, 2003, 05:16 AM

could it have something to do with the aluminum casing of the unit?

has anyone ever heard of another manufacturer's notebook giving the same "sensation" to others?

has anyone talked to APPLE directly about this phenomenon?

greg

Grrr · Sep 21, 2003, 07:29 AM

I too have experienced exactly this issue. But.. I have an iBook 600 (Soon to get a powerbook). And I tell you, if it's on your lap, you certainly dont want it to be too near your, (ahem) gonads! Or that can get really uncomfortable and it can cause them to ache for days afterwards. And that does worry me quite a lot.
Obviously the laptop causes it, I am in no doubt about that. But what exactly is the laptop doing to cause it!?
Oh, and if it's relevant, i do use AirPort.

schk · Sep 21, 2003, 08:52 AM

I remember seeing posts about this in the past, and it's most likely a grounding issue like some have mentioned. Are all your laptops plugged in to the AC adapter while using it? If you are using only the 2 pronged AC cord, try using the 3 pronged one instead. That should fix the problem, but I don't think you should be getting any sensations with the laptop running off battery.

dcarmich · 12:13 PM

I have it plugged into a 3-outlet tap on the wall. I'll try to see if the tingle goes away having it plugged directly into the wall. (I _am_ using the 3-prong cord.)

all2ofme · Sep 21, 2003, 09:30 AM

It's not just down to having a three-pronged plug - some of the Apple adapters have a metal ring and corresponding metal lug for the replaceable piece which one can swap out when travelling. This gets rid of the sensation on my 17" PB.

To my knowledge unless this is present the third prong on the plug does diddly-squat.

dcarmich · Sep 21, 2003, 09:32 AM

Also, I have no outboard devices hooked up to mine (well, except for a set of Beyerdynamic DT250-80 headphones.)

I do use AirPort.

dcarmich · Sep 21, 2003, 09:35 AM

And mine does have the metal ring/lug...

MacNStein · Sep 21, 2003, 10:40 AM

<Austin P. accent>

It's just making you horny baby!

</Austin P. accent>

Seriously, it's a grounding issue. Attach the 3 prong cable adapter that came with the PB and plug it into an outlet of same type. That should fix it.

HouseSold · Sep 21, 2003, 11:49 AM

Sometime later (latest Books?) Apple revision adapters went to the beefier adapter extension power cord that clips on and extends the power adapters reach and includes this grounding feature which probably eliminates 'tingling'. It is probably not available separately for those without.

Then we're only left with the tingling of the excitement of using an Apple that we're supposed to get, versus using that 'other' boring stuff.

schk · Sep 21, 2003, 11:59 AM

Also of note to dcarmich, try other outlets in your house. There's always the possibility that the outlet you are testing on is not properly grounded. Just because the outlet has 3 prongs means nothing. My parents just had some remodeling done and re-wiring just to find out their entire upstairs bedroom/bathroom plugs were not grounded at all.

PBG4 User · Sep 21, 2003, 12:10 PM

I would say to try switching off bluetooth / airport and try again.

I know I can't sit close to my Rev. A. airport basestation when it's plugged in without getting a headache.

Alternatively, you might want to get a coolpad or some kind of lap pad to keep the laptop from actually coming in contact with your body.

cdhostage · Sep 21, 2003, 03:46 PM

I don't think it's necessarily an electrical thing - I noticed the same thing after extended use of my Pismo. It's a hot device vibrating on your gonads. Let me rephrase that - it's hot, and the hard disk and optical drive are buzzing quietly against your skin.

JEB · Sep 21, 2003, 03:53 PM

Originally posted by dcarmich:
I've got . . . I've been experiencing a sort of tingling sensation . . . Anyone else experience that?

--Douglas

Besides a positive experience with some shampoo in the past, I did have this happen to me with a digital camera. I have a Canon S40, and for the first few months, it seemed my thumb would get a pain (kind of like when you go bowling once a year, and that night your thumb is sore).

I knew it was from electrical discharge from the camera. It was too obvious.

Some little solutions are:

1) Get a "lap table" . . . it's like a little board with a bean-bag sewn onto the bottom ( for reading in bed or writing on a couch ) Bookstores / drugstores probably will have for about 10-12 bucks.

2) I always use a laptop on a couch cushion (with above) to prop it up to eye level anyways. Anything is better than directly on the lap (which I think health-wise is UN-wise) . . .

3) Put rubber "bumpers" (sticky feet) under your laptop, to raise up and allow more air to cool under it. About 2 bucks, and grips better to surfaces.

4) Plugging in (seems) to sometimes keep cooler.

5) Shut off a few apps -- processor / ram will keep cooler.

Keep Cool!!

dcarmich · Sep 21, 2003, 04:14 PM

Still getting the shocks/tingles even with the
machine plugged in and not on my lap (it's on a wooden table now.)

Temperature: 118.2-118.4 degrees F according to Temperature Monitor..

(I even switched outlets, it's still there.)

HouseSold · Sep 21, 2003, 04:23 PM

Are you using a 3 wire/prong connector plug to the outlet coming from the Apple power adaptor?

Try to borrow/try one if possible.

Apple store or Apple reseller nearby?

Power adaptor is most likely culprit if happening while plugged in.

If not, your house may be located near some UFO.

Just kidding...

dcarmich · Sep 21, 2003, 04:38 PM

Yes, I am using the 3-wire plug/adapter....

cdhostage · Sep 21, 2003, 05:01 PM

Maybe it's your hands.

OzAl · Sep 21, 2003, 05:56 PM

Originally posted by dcarmich:
Yes, I am using the 3-wire plug/adapter....

The 3 wire plug solved it for me. See this thread: pb17 static electricity weirdness

nobitacu · Sep 21, 2003, 07:08 PM

Hmmmm... weird, but no, I'm not having this kind of problem/feeling at all.

Ming

nagromme · Sep 22, 2003, 11:31 AM

I have gotten that electrical feeling a bit from metal floor lamps occasionally, and from metal-framed aquariums! Never painful, and never from my laptop... but it's a plastic-clap Lombard. But vibration can cause numbness and tingling too after a time--so that also sounds like a good theory.

(I don't recommend posting serial numbers here.)