Comments on: The Targus Laptop Chill Mat is a piece of crap http://boredzo.org/blog/archives/2008-03-30/targus-laptop-chill-mat The personal weblog of Peter Hosey. Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:23:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Peter Hosey http://boredzo.org/blog/archives/2008-03-30/targus-laptop-chill-mat#comment-183467 Peter Hosey Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:06:15 +0000 http://boredzo.org/blog/?p=662#comment-183467 <blockquote>And really, it's only uncomfortably hot if you actually use it directly on your skin for extended periods at a time. The heat from my MacBook is reasonable as long as it's only been in my lap for 30 minutes or so, …</blockquote> That has a plastic case. The metal notebooks have better heat dissipation through the entire case—good for the computer, but bad for the human it's resting on. My MBP can grill me even through my pants.

And really, it's only uncomfortably hot if you actually use it directly on your skin for extended periods at a time. The heat from my MacBook is reasonable as long as it's only been in my lap for 30 minutes or so, …

That has a plastic case. The metal notebooks have better heat dissipation through the entire case—good for the computer, but bad for the human it's resting on. My MBP can grill me even through my pants.

]]> By: Simone Manganelli http://boredzo.org/blog/archives/2008-03-30/targus-laptop-chill-mat#comment-183447 Simone Manganelli Thu, 10 Apr 2008 03:47:05 +0000 http://boredzo.org/blog/?p=662#comment-183447 Oh, jeebus, ssp, again with the histrionics. I'm sorry, but there's no way in hell that I'd want to go back to computer technology from the 20th century. It was excellent for the times, but I prefer pre-emptive multitasking, fast wireless connections, Exposé, and iTunes to anything that the 20th century had to offer, thanks. And really, it's only uncomfortably hot if you actually use it directly on your skin for extended periods at a time. The heat from my MacBook is reasonable as long as it's only been in my lap for 30 minutes or so, but by then I usually change positions and it's not on my lap anyway. That's not to say that it's not a problem, but I question the need for active heat dissipation. What do you suggest be done about the problem? Should Apple hold constant the performance of its laptops for a year or two? Or should Apple magically come up with some material or Intel come up with some magical processor technology that magically dissipates heat in some magical way without it magically heating up your legs, too? Oh, jeebus, ssp, again with the histrionics. I'm sorry, but there's no way in hell that I'd want to go back to computer technology from the 20th century. It was excellent for the times, but I prefer pre-emptive multitasking, fast wireless connections, Exposé, and iTunes to anything that the 20th century had to offer, thanks.

And really, it's only uncomfortably hot if you actually use it directly on your skin for extended periods at a time. The heat from my MacBook is reasonable as long as it's only been in my lap for 30 minutes or so, but by then I usually change positions and it's not on my lap anyway. That's not to say that it's not a problem, but I question the need for active heat dissipation.

What do you suggest be done about the problem? Should Apple hold constant the performance of its laptops for a year or two? Or should Apple magically come up with some material or Intel come up with some magical processor technology that magically dissipates heat in some magical way without it magically heating up your legs, too?

]]> By: Peter Hosey http://boredzo.org/blog/archives/2008-03-30/targus-laptop-chill-mat#comment-178782 Peter Hosey Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:21:20 +0000 http://boredzo.org/blog/?p=662#comment-178782 ssp: Part—not all, but part—of the problem is that computers like the MBP and MBA have metal cases, which dissipate heat faster—basically turning the underside of your laptop into a griddle. Good for the computer, but not for your legs. But since even the plastic MacBook will grill your thighs eventually, I suspect we may be stuck with this problem for awhile yet. ssp: Part—not all, but part—of the problem is that computers like the MBP and MBA have metal cases, which dissipate heat faster—basically turning the underside of your laptop into a griddle. Good for the computer, but not for your legs.

But since even the plastic MacBook will grill your thighs eventually, I suspect we may be stuck with this problem for awhile yet.

]]> By: ssp http://boredzo.org/blog/archives/2008-03-30/targus-laptop-chill-mat#comment-178671 ssp Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:37:45 +0000 http://boredzo.org/blog/?p=662#comment-178671 Sorry for sounding bitter but wouldn't the real question be when TF they'll simply start selling computers again which don't become uncomfortably hot? This is supposed to be the 21st century and so far we've been doing worse than in the 20th… Sorry for sounding bitter but wouldn't the real question be when TF they'll simply start selling computers again which don't become uncomfortably hot? This is supposed to be the 21st century and so far we've been doing worse than in the 20th…

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