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offbalance · Oct 19, 2003, 05:46 PM

Anyone else feeling woozy after using their new powerbook for a while? it's from a combo of being a new machine and sitting directly over it, breathing in the fumes. i try and ventilate my place as best i can, but i still get the fumes. i hope it finishes burning-off soon.

Anemia · Oct 19, 2003, 06:33 PM

whatever that "new computer" smell is, i love it. it's probably killing my brain cells, but i love it.

machem · Oct 19, 2003, 06:50 PM

I think if you are so excited you are nauseous, you need to get out more.

brachiator · Oct 19, 2003, 06:58 PM

If you are feeling ill from fumes being put out by your Pbook, sounds like there is something wrong with it. Unless you already know that you are a person sensitive to otherwise-benign smells, like perfumes. But since you posted, you probably are not.

Maybe you should return it -- there are a lot of toxic chemicals that go into manufacture... remember all the workers that it looks like IBM and others have made sick through exposure during manufacturing.

cdhostage · Oct 19, 2003, 09:52 PM

PowerBong

djjava · Oct 19, 2003, 10:43 PM

uh, that is crazy....

literally nauseous huh?

offbalance · Oct 19, 2003, 10:44 PM

i'm surprised no one else has gotten dizzy off their new machine. this also happened when i got my B&W G3 years ago. the new monitor got me nauseous the first couple months. this is from sitting close to it for hours with little ventilation. guess i just gotta sit closer to the window.

Skaar · Oct 20, 2003, 09:50 AM

I had the exact same experience a couple of years ago with a 500Mhz iMac. My wife couldn't be in the same room as it, she would get ill, and I noticed the smell throughout the house. Apple 'captured' the iMac and sent out a new one, which wasn't a problem. They also sent us the MDS sheets on all the chemicals used in manufacture and packaging.

I just got a new 1GHz Ti a week ago, and noticed a strong odor, makes my eyes watery. It's pretty much disapated now. but I have to wonder what the chemicals are that are causing this, they can't be too healthy.

PoisonTooth · Oct 20, 2003, 10:16 AM

Originally posted by offbalance:
i'm surprised no one else has gotten dizzy off their new machine. this also happened when i got my B&W G3 years ago. the new monitor got me nauseous the first couple months. this is from sitting close to it for hours with little ventilation. guess i just gotta sit closer to the window.

You have the constitution of a newt.

machem · Oct 20, 2003, 11:45 AM

Originally posted by PoisonTooth:
You have the constitution of a newt.

Well, he is clearly having some problems here, whether it is vision-related (probably not with an LCD), or chemical-related. I was actually a wise-ass previously, but there certainly are things involved in the manufacture of CPUs that can make people ill. If an airing or cleaning step was missed, I could see it making someone sick.

I have a very sensitive sense of smell, but I am not particularly chemically sensitive (good thing, I'm a chemist). Apple seems to be sensitive to the issue, and in general, companies and manufacturers are, because the threat of litigation is large. It is easier to be considerate and try and satisfy a customer than to increase the likelihood of later problems.

If the machine is making you sick, call Apple, and see what they say. Good luck.

cdhostage · Oct 20, 2003, 12:09 PM

Some people are allergic to themselves.

offbalance · Oct 21, 2003, 10:51 AM

Originally posted by PoisonTooth:
You have the constitution of a newt.

yea but it's better than having the mind of a sheep eh? (no offense to the sheep out there)

maybe i overstated because it's not like i'm falling over and vomiting, i just get dizzy after sitting directly over the new powerbook. especially when it's on highest setting. but i do think i have some sensitivities to chemicals. think i'm just used to living in mountains with tons of trees and fresh air.

hey skaar, you don't happen to have those MDS sheets on the chemicals used you could send to me would you? i'd be interesting to see what actually was used.

Dougmc · Oct 21, 2003, 01:26 PM

In the unlikely event that your Powerbook results in your demise, would you mind drawing up a quick will leaving it to me?

Sorry, just kidding, er, well, sort of.

Seriously, if you do feel that there is something seriously out of the ordinary, you certainly discontinue using it and take it in for a professional to check out. Your health really isn't something you want to fool with, is it?

amazing · Oct 21, 2003, 01:38 PM

If you know you're sensitive, there are obvious ways to mitigate the exposure: For example, have you got a fan nearby, constantly blowing fresh air towards you? Are you careful not to use a new machine in a stuffy room? Better yet, just leave a new machine on 24/7 in a separate room with good ventilation, to allow the fumes to dissipate.

You can probably think of other methods, from your own experience. Presumably, you're also sure that nothing else new was introduced to your environment other than the new laptop?