[vixi]

I've browsed for the answer, but didnt see anything.. so please forgive me if this question has been asked before.

I am about to buy an ibook, my first apple product.. my first laptop i've ever bought for myself. I plan on using it while sitting on the couch, or laying in bed.. I usually lay on my tummy.. laptop sitting on the bed. Is this a bad idea? I've heard from a few people that running my ibook while it sits on my bed will cause it to overheat.. preventing cool air from getting to it. Is this true?

- vixi

[Cadaver]

I rest my laptop on my chest/abdomen all the time (like right now even) and have no issues with heat.

Sitting it on big, thick blankets however can easily obstruct the air vents and trap heat along the bottom. While most iBooks don't run quite hot enough to really be an issue, I wouldn't use it like this for too long, and I wouldn't try to charge the battery, burn a CD or make heavy use of the hard drive without decent ventilation around the machine.

I've used my 12" iBook and 12" PowerBook resting on the mattress for short periods (say 30 minutes or so) and do notice they're pretty warm after that. Once in a while, I doubt it'll do too much damage. Daily for hours on end like that, and you'll cook your 'book in to an early grave.

[Cadaver]

Oh, one other thing. If I'm using it on the couch (i.e., the 'book itself is palced on the cushion) for any significant lengh of time, I'll usually put the computer on a thin, hardcover book instead of direcly on the cushion. This way, it's virtually no different than using it like its sitting on a table.

[Chito]

I use a Podium Coolpad from Targus. Check it out here
http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=PA251U

[ccsccs7]

That's practically how I use my iBook all the time. (Probably 8± hours a day.) I do alternate between my legs and the bed. I try to keep the covers smooth, so that they don't obstruct the vent. This iBook is now over 2 years old.

[Kirkland]

When I had my 700mhz G3 iBook I accidentally fell asleep with it on my bed, woke up the next morning and it was completely dead, had to send it in to get the motherboard, and hard drive replaced. Now I've got a 1Ghz G4 iBook and whenever I use it on my bed I put it on the iBook box or a notebook or something flat, I also run a program called "Temperature Monitor" (fancy that) because now I get paranoid about it

If you set the Energy Saver to use the lowest amount of CPU or automatic I don't think it should be a problem, just make sure its getting air.

[vixi]

Thank you all for your imput!@ I am wondering if a lapdesk may be a good solution. It's a flat surface hard surface with a beanbag kind of bottom on it. I'm glad I asked instead of winding up with a dead hooker... er I mean laptop in my bed. :>

- vixi

[Cadaver]

Originally posted by vixi:
I'm glad I asked instead of winding up with a dead hooker...

I hate when that happens

[Dave N]

I have a beanbag-bottomed lap desk, but I find that it is kind of big and the styrofoam beans make my legs hot.

I use an EZ-LAP laptop pad, which fits the 12" ibook perfectly. It has ridges that allow air flow and has a very small form factor. Check it out:

http://www.cyberguys.com/templates/s...sp?T1=141+0367

[jyshiow]

When I use my ibook on my desk for burning CDs or even playing games, the ibook gets real hot, around 60degrees....
Normally when i do word processing, presentations it will only go up to 49 - 53 degrees, is this normal?

[ginoledesma]

At night, I use the iBook in bed as well, lying down, with the iBook resting against my legs (folded). I don't feel too comfortable with the iBook resting on my chest, as it puts my eyes in a rather strange angle (not to mention my hands when typing).

The only thing to watch out for is that the iBook can be unbearably hot (scorching). I usually have to face the airconditioning unit during those times, or put a pillow in between the iBook and my legs.

[Link]

if you put your laptop on the bed where your pillow would normally be (this is what I'm guessing by what you're saying) -- that would mean putting it on top of the bed's sheet not the covers, right?

As long as your bed isn't extra soft.. shouldn't be a big deal unless ibooks get THAT hot o_O I never once thought laptops got that badly hot

BTW just a thought but using a laptop on a bed is just painful. I've done it before and sadly, it's like reading a book in bed.. not fun.

My favorite thing to do was lay on my side and put the laptop sideways

**keep in mind if you do that that you're not blocking any vents by doing so!!!**

[ccsccs7]

Originally posted by Link:
…I've done it before and sadly, it's like reading a book in bed.. not fun.…

I love to read a book in bed!

[vixi]

I'm a "lay on my tummy and read/type" person and I have a feathertop bed. The EZLap look like a great idea! I think I might purchase it now, even though I can't get my ibook until late June! The podium coolpad look neat, but I think it might be too bulky for what I am looking for.

Everyone here is so nice!@#

- vixi

[Link]

If you're using a 12" ibook, the cheapest solution might simply be a clip board

No guarantees they're big enough, though I like that foam-bottom table myself

CCS: Yeah it's the hard cover books that are a real pain though. In the end I usually just ended up using my ipod since I didn't have to deal with those books and the awkwardness of holding them open heheh. Hrmmm

[sniffer]

I've never worried about having my 'book in bed. Perhaps when it was new I was a little more careful, but. My iBook has the old IBM G3 750 which is an extremely cool cpu. I think the only times I've heard the fan turn on have been when I've had it in bed, that is deeply buried on top of a soft tick blanket. Just don't leave under a pillow or something and give it some air if the fan turn on, and I think you should be safe.

edit: typo

[Chewn]

I use my ibook half the in bed, i use a small board that is the size of the ibook. Its a bout 1/2 an inch thick. But heres caution, my ibook has fallen off my bed twice on to hard wood floor!!! ahhhh.. I wake up and i see an ibook closed lying on the floor. YIKEs... but its still working purrfect...hehe....knock on wood...heheheheh

[freakboy2]

depends what else is goin on in the bed..

the ibook will tell you if its too hot to work.

[finboy]

Originally posted by vixi:
Thank you all for your imput!@ I am wondering if a lapdesk may be a good solution. It's a flat surface hard surface with a beanbag kind of bottom on it.

- vixi

That's what I always use. Just a cheap lapdesk -- that's all you need to keep the ibook on a smooth surface. Makes it more stable, too.

[ginoledesma]

Hrmm, let me clarify. I prefer to use my iBook while lying on my back, not on my tummy. Its easier on the back and the shoulders, as lying down on the tummy for prolonged periods can give me back-aches.

A simple ASCII illustration:

Lying on back: o_x^.
Lying on tummy: x o__/

(o = head, _ = body, x = 'Book, ^ or / = folded knees)

If you really want a solution designed for bed-use, go over to Laptop-Laidback.



It looks clunky, but that looks like it was really designed for people who want to use their laptops in bed.

[jon l. dawson]

oh my goodness, that's hilarious