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Heat and fan noise: MacBook vs MacBook Pro vs MacBook Air
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Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: midwest
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I want to purchase a new Mac portable because my family keeps borrowing mine. I want to use it on my lap (some vent blockage) without burning my nether regions and I do not want to listen to whirring fans.
Of the Mac portables currently available, which one will give me the most comfortable experience? MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air?
My current MacBook is one or two years old -- a 2 GHz Intel Core Duo with 1 GB of RAM. I am satisfied with it though it does get a bit warm occasionally (YouTube). My typical apps: FireFox, Cisco VPN, (Microsoft) Remote Desktop, Word, Excel, and the bash prompt for scripting. I don't mind if the fans kick in to high gear for the occasional game (Warcraft 3) or Parallels (Windows) session... but I'd like to do some quiet light web browsing without burning my biscuits.
Thanks gang.
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: in front of my Mac
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The current MB will have the lowest case temperature. OTOH in my experience the fans on the MBP (once they reach higher RPMs) don't make quite as much noise as the MB fan.
In any case I'd get smcFanControl. It will allow you to set the level of heat/noise you're willing to put up with at any time yourself.
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Last edited by Simon; Jul 20, 2008 at 04:41 AM.
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Forum Regular
Join Date: Feb 2007
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My MBA always runs hot. Heck a lot of times one core will shut down.
I would only get an MBA if you really need the portability.
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Forum Regular
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Wisconsin
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I don't have much experience with the MBA, but comparing my MBP and my brother's MB, the MBP gets much hotter, but the fan noise is probably a little louder from the MB.
I've also had numerous fan problems with the MBP (have had both replaced twice). First time they started getting really loud (bad bearings) and the second time they just stopped working all together. The MB, on the other hand, has had no problems in almost the same amount of time.
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Administrator  Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
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I've never felt uncomfortable with my MBP on my lap, but I always put it on my Incase sleeve when it's on my lap. No vent blockage (the vents aren't on the bottom), and no added noise, either.
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Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
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Forum Regular
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: infront of my lousy 4 year old 1.4GHz PC!
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First of all: If you want to use it on your lap and have it portable and you wouldn't be doing high-tech stuff...
GET THE Macbook: its fan is not loud and it produces the least heat.
The Macbook is the most comfortable to have on your lap as it isn't loud, hot, or big.
I would recommend the Macbook for you.
I hope this helps you. 
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Suffolk, VA
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I have a Macbook Air and do not really notice it getting hot. FWIW, I have never put a laptop on my lap. It's always on the table. I guess it wouldn't really matter to me, it is just a decision if you want a bigger screen or not as to what you buy, either the Air, Macbook, or Macbook Pro.
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Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: May 2007
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I have a MacBook.
When surfing the web, running iTunes and using other basic apps I can surf for hours and the fans will stay on low RPM and I will barely feel the heat.
Its a really nice machine for this.
However for gaming it does get hot and the fans will get louder, but for the price I think its an excellent machine; with great performance, keypad, design, size....actually its perfect.
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MacBook Pro 17" 2.2 GHz quad-core, 2x4GB 1333MHz RAM, 750GB Hard Drive, Intel HD Graphics 3000,
AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 1GB GDDR5, Mid 2011
MacBook Air 13" 1.7 GHz dual-core Intel i5, 4GB RAM, 128GB Flash Storage, Intel HD Graphics 3000, Mid 2011
iPhone 4 32 GB, Mid 2010
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Moderator  Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Polwaristan
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MacBook Pro 2.16 GHz C2D.
When watching movies or other videos, its bare metal case bottom gets too hot for bare legs. Something has to be between it.
I also don't like all that heat against my junk.
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Suffolk, VA
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I thought I saw an article over on tom's hardware that said that porn movies make the bottom of the laptop case hotter than normal.
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Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: May 2008
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You can also get a cooling pad for $15 or so which will help tremendously with heat issues.
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Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Jul 2008
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MBP is hot as a mother****er. You will need asbestos trousers.
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Forum Regular
Join Date: Feb 2007
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I find that I block the vents if I am working on my lap with a MBA.
If you are doing a lot of lap work, I'd get a cooler pad
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
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Originally Posted by chichow 
If you are doing a lot of lap work, I'd get a cooler pad
My ex-girlfriend did a lot of lap work.
That is why I got rid of her and got a macbook pro - which is a lot hotter on my lap.
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Administrator Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
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Originally Posted by calverson
My ex-girlfriend did a lot of lap work.
That is why I got rid of her and got a macbook pro - which is a lot hotter on my lap.
Cold. Point well taken, but cold anyway. 
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Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
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