Laser radiation? Can i be harmed by opening disconected cd drive?

It only applies to devices that are powered and are actively producing a beam.

http://web.princeton.edu/sites/ehs/laserguide/index.htm

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/laserhazards/

A drive that is disconnected from power is nothing more than an assembly of benign parts (except for sharp edges).

It's conceivable albeit unlikely that the laser itself, if activated, could cause a burn. Certainly some of my optical drives carry a warning. Of course if one is taking it apart it's not likely the laser would be activated. But, as they say on Seinfeld - "It could happen."

I think the warning represents an uncommon use of the term "radiation." Technically all light is a form of radiation, but I think the first respondent was thinking in terms of nuclear radiation which definitely is not present in a laser. Obviously lasers emit their radiation in limited spectra most of which tend to be visible light wavelengths in consumer devices.

That's a good observation, Kappy. All light is a form of radiation. But I think a computers users greatest threat is from, if they have one, an optical mouse like mine. I've had that red beam hit my eyes a few times and my eyes don't appreciate it at all. An optical drive powered off, I would think, is emitting no light at all. Still, if one happens to see the light, don't look at it. That probably can cause damage to ones eyes.

The word I hear is that Vancouver is one of the finest cities in the world, what's your take?
Sorry, I just had to slip that in. 🙂

He was in danger from your sharp parts, not the drive's apparently. So far I've yet to see an optical drive pick itself up and dash at someone. Hmm, that's a though, invent an assassin drive...wahahaha!

"Laser radiation" is referring to the emission of light from a working laser - a laser being nothing more than a special light source. To the extent that light is radiating from its source, 'laser radiation' is being properly referred to but as such exists only while the laser is connected to a power source and on. In the case of an optical drive laser, your only real danger is from (prolonged) exposure to the eye. Radiation, in its traditional usage refers to the emission of ionizing particles - as in nuclear radiation. There is no such danger from an optical drive.

Lol. Granted that would have been my fault, sharp edges and all. As to drives picking themselves up and hurling themselves at someone, well, you've obviously never lived in NJ. Everything is just darn mean here. 😉

Vancouver is a delightful city. Relatively compact with a high population density - higher than NYC or any other city in the US. It approximates the population density in Tokyo or Hong Kong. Being from Jersey you might find yourself feeling almost like home, except there's not so much really old stuff here. Vancouver is a "condo" town. Condos are the only "affordable" housing. Even a modest and common SF home on a "standard" 40 x 60 lot will go for around $1,000,000 in today's market (which is a down market even here.) "Luxury" condos with 2 BR and 2 BA, 850 sq. ft. will sell for $350,000 at the low end and $850,000 at the high end (mostly age and location dependent.) Vancouver has some wonderful sights, is truly multi-cultural, has some outstanding educational facilities, and some of the best eating in the world - or at least in the Americas. For a "northern" city the weather is clement even in wintertime. Although it has snowed the last two winters, snow is very unusual in the winter because it doesn't get cold enough most of the time for snow. It is drizzly and gray, however. Summers on the other hand are much cooler than Florida which is why we come here at the time of year. Today we're having one of the hottest days since we arrived on May 2nd. The high today should hit 76º F! For Vancouverites this is a heat wave!

I live in a lovely development located in the UBC (Univ. of British Columbia) endowment lands directly across from a national park area (but no water view.) We are considered to be in the "suburbs." It's a 15-20 minute walk to shopping which is considered a long walk. Two years ago before the "recession" newly built condos were selling for around $800 per sq. ft. There are still some high rise top floor units (12-20 stories) on the market at about $1,000 per sq. ft. Unfortunately very little housing is air conditioned, so when it gets warm - it's really warm inside. Only the high rise buildings may have air conditioning if they are relatively new.

Apropos the Discussions there is one Apple Store and several certified Apple retailers in the area.

The high today should hit 76º F! For Vancouverites this is a heat wave!

Lol.

Thanks Kappy, that was a great talk on the city. Surprised at the population density but I guess many others have found it a gem as well.
I had to ask because I always thought Toronto was the nicest city in the world, I thought it was just great when I was there. But another fellow on the boards said it didn't hold a candle to Vancouver, so I sought more info. A shame about the housing prices, but even here they are completely outrageous. Hard to believe that a house my parents struggled all their lives to buy for $19,000 goes for almost $350,000 now. Incredible, and obscene.

Well, thank you very much, I apologize for being so off topic. Hmm, how can I redeem this... I bet with the cooler weather there, one's Mac is in less danger of overheating. Unless one focuses a laser beam on it... 🙂

Edit: Are you a teacher by any chance?

Message was edited by: Samsara

I've been to Toronto (been a while) and really like it. Loved those street-vendor hotdogs. They were terrific.

I think Toronto is more spread out than Vancouver as I recall. The restaurant scene in Toronto is probably better than here but not by much. I guess whether you think Vancouver is nicer than Toronto or vice-versa is mostly a matter of opinion. Overall Vancouver seems less "busy" than Toronto maybe because it's on the West Coast. But that's changing gradually with the increasing Asian population.

Still based on my experience Canada is still behind the US in many areas. Although some would argue they are ahead of us. Canadians pay more taxes, do not have full access to all the goods and services produced in the US, pay higher costs for many products, and have a "free" health system that's gradually failing. They hate that we have guns and violence, yet they love all of our most violent TV shows and many of the Canadian TV shows were forerunners of our "violent" television. Drugs are now becoming more a part of Canadian culture and with it is increasing violent crime. As has been said, "Life imitates art."

I am a retired college professor - taught finance and real estate in the business school - USF in Tampa, FL.

college professor

Had a feeling that was the case for awhile now...

I live about 30 minutes drive from Manhattan, closer to Newark... When I went to Toronto, not only was I surprised by how pretty a city could be, but the people, incredibly nice, everywhere. Maybe that's because they were all Canadians though. Lol.
Americans are generally getting more kind I think. 911 started it, in a bad way since at that time we weren't so nice for the Bush years afterward, but Obama is the proof of it. In the meantime I hope our rough edges aren't floating northward, though it sounds like they are.

If Canadian comics are any sign of the times, they do a lot of criticism of the dysfunctional sides of Canadian culture, politics, world relationships, etc. They can be pretty "nasty." But they still think Americans are rude, unfriendly bullies who think they're better than the rest of the world. I try to explain to them that there's a good reason for that: We are better than the rest of the world! When you have the biggest military, political, and economic sticks you tend to use them.

Bush was an idiot who didn't have a clue. Obama isn't an idiot.

Toronto is more spread out and getting more spread out every day. It was 31 years ago tomorrow that I visited my future in-law's cottage for the first time. Driving through Toronto on the 400 and switching to the 401 was a breeze and no more than 20 minutes after that I was back among the farms. The next city of any size, Barrie, was about 90 minutes away. Today if you are smart you won't try to go through Toronto, you'll take the 407 bypass to avoid the bumper to bumper traffic. And it is almost not an exaggeration to say that Toronto has spread to Barrie.

Having just returned from Vancouver a couple weeks ago (we spent a few days there, took the VIA Canada to Jasper where we spent a few days, and then on to Winnipeg and Toronto) I had the distinct impression that the energy level of Vancouver was much higher. Of course that's just my impression of downtowns too, as a whole perhaps Vancouver is less go go go. This last trip the city really did remind me of Hong Kong in many respects.

Canada's single payer health system has problems but at least it is more honest about its rationing system. Here in the States it is rationed by your income and employer whilst in Canada it is rationed by who is in the worst shape and the hard decision of what is a year life worth in relation to the treatment cost. If the cost is $50,000 to extend life 6 months, should it be paid for? Meanwhile here in the States we have people asking more basic questions: If I buy my blood pressure and glaucoma medicine which bill don't I pay this month, the electric or the water? I have a harder time defending our system than theirs.

And then I heard a horrible clunk from my optical drive. <grin>

I think the denser nature of Vancouver's downtown makes it a much more vital downtown than in most other parts of the world. But downtown Vancouver is not yet a 24/7 downtown and they don't have those great hotdog vendors like Toronto. This year was the introduction of Japadogs - a hotdog street vendor operation selling hotdogs with an Asian influence.

I'm not surprised you liked Vancouver. It's a city that's really hard to dislike. I think it's more laid back because it's on the West Coast. But street traffic is awful. No freeways go through the city. Six lanes of traffic come into the city and funnel into two lanes, then into one. The traffic planners call this "calming." Well it may calm the flow of cars but not the nerves of the drivers! Ten days ago I went to Blaine to have lunch with a friend in Bellingham. Blaine is just across the border - 1 mile. The drive from my condo to the border crossing is 32 miles. Took me five hours for the round trip of which 1:45 in line at the border crossings.

Canada's health system is not all that honest if you believe the complaints lodged, bills submitted to the legislature, and law suits on the rise. I may sound terribly calloused, but where does it say anyone is entitled to anything? Life is a series of economic choices. This is just one aspect of evolution in action - survival of the fittest. If you feel sorry for those less fortunate you can choose to make a charitable gift to help out. In any event ours is still a system of choice which is far better than no choice in my opinion. But personally I would rather be seriously ill in the US than in Canada.

Maybe President Obama will earmark another 10 trillion dollars for national health care in the US. That's only $300 from every single person in the country or about $750 per household. Money wise I might be happy because I pay ten times that in medical insurance (and I'm on Medicare!) But I think I'm unwilling to give up my ability to choose my doctors and hospitals regardless of the savings. Of course I have no doubt national health care will cost more than $750 per household. We can only lay off so much debt on the Chinese and the Japanese. We could have a national lottery and use the proceeds to defer the costs of the national health care. I like lotteries because they appeal to people who are mathematically challenged. They'd rather lose money than pay taxes, and invariably they would have been better off paying taxes!

We are better than the rest of the world! When you have the biggest military, political, and economic sticks you tend to use them.

Better, no. People are a mix everywhere but culture often tilts the balance. I was also showed immense hospitality when I was traveling through Europe. And since I had little money, and it showed, it wasn't because I was an American. The real Americans that people abroad don't usually see, from my experience are from the Midwest. Perhaps anywhere except our coasts, which impact negatively on all our lives, here and abroad. I'm thinking about the Northeast and Southern Cal primarily.
I think in the Midwest there was a time when people were very scarce and miles away from each other. Therefore other people weren't taken for granted and it was a joy to see others when it occured. In the Midwest, people say Hi to total strangers. Try that in NYC and you get stares.

And yes, we're the biggest and the baddest, but what have we done with it. We've assassinated other countries leaders so we can put our own puppets in their place. Our actions around the world, and not just recently, have led to thousands of innocent deaths. And for what? Money. The richest country in the world kills for more money. And for who? Not the American people who are ashamed of it, but for Dole, and Exxon, and hundreds more.

The greatness of America has always been it's people. Rough, brash, but always willing to help a neighbor, here or overseas. We're not so quick on the take as people from other countries are, but once we get the point there is no stopping us. Finally, after a very long time we've elected a leader who at least says the things that Americans understand and have always understood. I know people have problems with his specific policies, but I dare say few Americans disagree with his call for decency and honor.

And now I know why the Discussions should revolve mainly around Macs... 🙂