Is use of a 'laptop fan' recommended for Apple MacBooks?

I'll asks the hosts to move this from the Tiger OS forum to the McBook forums since this is really a hardware question and would be easiest answered by other MB owners.

An external cooling fan certainly could help.

More importantly, you want to keep the computer on a hard stable surface. Don't use it just on your lap, on your bed, a blanket, a pillow (I think you get the idea!) without something hard in between--like a book or a binder.

Apple computers tend to run a bit toasty, and I've really noticed this with my MacBook. If you're doing anything that involves Flash (streaming video, some games), more of your processor will be in use, which creates heat, which will make the fan kick in. There's not a whole lot to be done about that, aside from Adobe fixing things so Flash doesn't inhale resources like a child does Halloween candy.

As for which cooling fan to use, I had a Targus Chill Mat, and it shorted out within a few months. I have this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-F5L001-Laptop-Cooling-Pad/dp/B000NWIOM6/ref=sr11?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1254328489&sr=8-1

And I really like it, though I don't use it with my MacBook. I use it with an iBook and an older Toshiba notebook which have troubles keeping themselves cool.

~Lyssa

As Lyssa indicated... the machine runs toasty.

I wouldn't worry too much about the heat's effect on your machine. My MacBook Pro (first generation, purchased March of 2006) runs pretty darn hot and has for over three years. It still runs like a champ!

The cooling mats certainly help, I find keeping the unit well ventilated, on a flat hard surface, is typically adequate enough.

Can a cooling pad also help?

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