Heat Unbarable

Apply the SMC firmware update. It helps with the heat... a lot!

MBP Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Well that explains it...

You bought it from Fry's and it fries your lap 😉

Just take it back to apple and ask for a full refund. You most likely will get a store credit though but at least you don`t have to pay the restocking fee. I did the same after 3 MBP`s and I got myself an fully loaded 20" Intel iMac with wireless keyboard and mouse, an iPod, Airport Express with money to spare. I`ll be going back to check out what else I can get 🙂
I might just add a litle to the store credit and get the MacBook aswell.

nope.

You cant even return one to the apple store if you bought it from Apple online...

X(

For those who haven't read the user guide, page 107 states that the MacBook Pro should not be used in one's lap, as it will be uncomfortably hot. And the computer needs an air space under the case bottom, or it may overheat.

Such a warning is typical these days from all manufacturers of notebook computers (they don't call them laptops, by the way).

That's why there's an after-market for laptop trays, such as the iLap. I use another one that I like, the KoolSink.

I have no problem working for hours using the MacBook Pro in my lap on top of a laptop tray, even when I've been working it hard and the case bottom gets very warm.

And this is nothing new. Apple has issued the same guidance on the entire series of G4 PowerBooks. My 5-year old TiBook's case bottom got hot when I worked it hard.

So if you want to use a MacBook Pro in your lap, be comfortable and keep the computer from overheating, use a tray.

If you don't want to do that, return it. Don't expect any changes or fixes that will prevent the case bottom from getting warm with heavy and extended use.

that's the dumbest thing ive ever heard. if i cant use the macbook on my lap i might as well just carry an imac around with me.

Portable computers generate heat. They offer great benefits to those who want or need to be mobile. I've been using portables for more than 20-years and the heat issue isn’t anything new. I recommend that you exchange your MBP and get an iMac or some other desktop.
Regards,

Sure, they generate heat. My Dell laptop gets very warm on the bottom. The problem with my MBP 17" is that the upper surface gets extremely hot as well (over 120F on some parts) making it uncomfortable to use even when I'm essentially at <5% CPU usage. (this is while on a desk with proper ventilation, etc.) I can't wait until someone just recommends to deal with the heat and use a USB kbd/mouse.

I believe my MBP has three issues.

1) The thermal paste issue. This is well documented.

2) The cooling fans don't throttle up when the MBP gets hot. If I hold my face up to the rear I can BARELY feel air being vented. This pretty much means heat is getting trapped inside the MBP and radiating out through the case surfaces instead of the heatpipe and exhaust ports.

3) The processor doesn't idle at 1GHz but instead idles at 1.6GHz (max of 2.16GHz). Of course this information may be wrong as each core can idle at a different speed. Both cores have independant on-die temperature probes as well. Perhaps CoreDuoTemp is to blame as it isn't reporting the temps/speeds of each core. shrug

Apple's webpage for the MBP 17" even talks about a "Cooler design." It starts off talking about thermal design and how other laptops "simply raise the flag of surrender" while the MBP "innovates its way to a better place." Perhaps they are talking about a "cooler design" in the sense of aesthetics.

MBP 17 Mac OS X (10.4.6)

ensert13: But I said that I DO use the MBP in my lap, and I don't have to complain about the heat. And I do so in accordance with Apple's recommendations.

So it's not a dumb thing.

if i bought my MBP 2 months ago and i hate the heat and am really not happy, will they still take it back for store credit?

what are the rules on that?