heat so bad it burned my wife's leg and Applecare says "RTM"

how dumb is your wife to keep the macbook pro on her
lap and let it burn here leg?? i mean seriously...
when you feel it's getting overly hot.. shouldn't you
take that S@#$ off your lap? to me thats just common
sense

No need for personal attacks.

It is very common to get burns from laptops, since they heat up gradually and the pain receptors in the leg are not as sensitive as those in the hands.

And it's very easy to use the MBP while in one's lap and also comply with Apple's guidance.

Just use a laptop tray. Google that term and you will find there's a big aftermarket selection of them for PC and Mac notebook computers.

A laptop tray will preserve an airspace under the MBP and help avoid blocking the exhaust vents, allowing cooling and protecting the user from contact with the bottom of the case.

I like the KoolSink as when it's flipped over the MBP fits inside it and the two together fit in my carry bag.

Well being a creative professional, I know quite well where they use their computers. I even admitted sometimes I use mine in my lap, however I have the common sense to have something flat between it and my lap. I also use it at coffee shops (on a table), on the couch (on my table, or on my koolsink on me), and on the floor (on the koolsink). However, anytime Im doing some serious design work I get behing my desk, and yes, sit up straight.

It really isnt hard to find a flat surface for the book to be on.

If you really wanna argue that this machine is not apple's "professional" line, go for it, no one will listen to that nonesense.

No need for personal attacks.

It is very common to get burns from laptops, since
they heat up gradually and the pain receptors in the
leg are not as sensitive as those in the hands.

personal attack? okay maybe a little

but how about questioning one's ability to acknowledge when something on your lap is going from cool > warm > hot > burning skin?

common sense anyone?

I came from the Windows world just recetly.. So I am a switcher. I've already acknowledge that the apple "laptops" are referred to as PORTABLES as apple states... sure you can use it on your lap, what person wouldnt right? but i thinking common sense plays an immense role in this situation

like Randall Jenkins said... is it that hard to find a flat surface?

Also like stated above.. buy a "laptop tray"

I bought a targus chill pad for mine, does wonders!

I understand these computers get overly hot, but not EVERY SINGLE macbook pro gets hot, only some do... and i've ready that in some of the macbook pros, the thermal paste they put on the CPU was done slopply or something like that... and there is a how-to on the net on how to properly take it apart and reapply PROPRELY the thermal paste on the CPU..

matter of fact, here is the link - http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/85.1.0.html

althogh apple will not warrant an end user performing this task as it will void all warranty on the portable

I've been burned by my daughter's:
Hairy dryer
Curling iron

My wife's George Foreman grill(s)

My exhaust manifold on my new Scion.

The only one that wasn't on my lap was the exhaust manifold, so the others are my fault, and none of them said to NOT put them on my lap. I guess common-sense should have told me not to put those things on my body.

Scott

And you're the reason we have mattress tags that are 8-inches long and are illegal to remove (by penalty of law)
And warning labels on HOT COFFEE cups.
And "Don't stick your hand in a running blender" stickers.
And "Don't put your car in drive while unattended" in the owner's manual.

It goes on and on.
Let's guess what's next: Class-action lawsuit? That would rock. Gather all the idiots up and make them pick lettuce.
Mmmm, lettuce, nice and cold on a leg burn.

el capitano,

Everyone from the first year this type of computer was designed has put it on their lap. This is the first time in the History of Laptops that I have heard this statement. So everyone who rides the train with me in the morning should relearn what has been ingrained in our heads from day one.

AAPL I am saddened by your responses ... are you actually insinuating that this was somehow this guys wife's fault. Put yourself in the other persons shoes for a moment. Its a Laptop it goes in your lap. For someone who has used laptops and My G4 PB (Which I love) it has never gotten hot enough to burn...even when playing Halo non stop. To expect anyone to KNOW ....NOT to put it in your lap is,,, well I wont say it..

Are you saying that the system does not get that hot and his statement is False or are you defending the faith?

I bought a TiBook 500 MHz in February, 2001. Guess what: Apple's user guide warned against putting it in my lap. With good reason. The case bottom often got hotter than the case bottom of my MBP gets.

That was when I learned a lesson that stood me in good stead, and still works for me. Use a laptop tray. That works a lot better than having a false preconception about "laptops".

A good many PC "laptops" were designed with cooling air intakes on the case bottom. Putting one of those in your lap would make you realize why they weren't supposed to be used that way. They could reach levels of heat that make the MBP seem like an ice cube in comparison.

To be honest that really doesn't look like a burn at all. I would say it more closely resembles heat rash and is more likely the effect of a warm laptop causing sweat to be trapped against the leg and becomming inflamed and irritated than anything else. I believe if the latop had actually burned her it would be a solid pattern radiating out from the source of the burn not something that would appear so blotchy. I mean there is not little dimed sized hotspots underneath the laptop so I think if it were actually a burn it would have a much more solid pattern to it. You know like if an iron or a grill burned you it would leave a burn pattern much more solid and conforming to the surface that burned you..just mho.

Yes, it was her fault - period.
When I feel something getting too hot for my skin, I actually move it - I know that sounds like a stretch, and I guess I'm just "defending the faith" but I actually see it as defending Darwin.

Scott

Sean,

If I want to watch an episode of LOST on the Train or Play some Itunes Videos. How hot does the bottom of the MBP pro get? This is what I do most of the time. Will I need a lap pad if I'm wearing jeans?

Thanks

Maybe I will take a trip to the Apple Store in NYC... its opened 24hrs.... (its amazing to me)

My honest opinion is no. I wouldn't say you would need one but you may be more comfortable with one. I use my MPB on my lap a lot with long pants on despite Apples warnings to the contrary while watching DVD's etc. It is on my lap atm as I type this with just thin dress slacks on. Does it get warm? Certainly.

I tend to cross one leg over my knee and kind of prop it up that way so that the bottom center is not in direct contact with my legs and airflow is provided or sit with my knees apart so again there is airflow underneath through the center.

I would definitely not place it on my bare leg for any length of time though not because I think it would it would burn me, but because I am sure it would become uncomforable and irritating.

While I have even gone as far as placing the underside of my wrist at the hottest spot underneath for an extended period to see how hot it gets and if it was actually capable of burning (maybe I am a little nuts) it has only resulted in my wrist getting hot and sweaty. I image if I left it there long enough it would probably get very irritated and blotchy as well. Make no mistake it will make you sweat, but you know what...my old Dell M50 got pretty toasty underneath as well. Not sure if it was the quadro video card it had or what, but it is not a new experience for me.

Now that aside I make the disclaimer that you should always follow Apples recomended instructions as far as use and placement of your notebook computer and if you follow my statement about using it on your lap without something underneath you may get burned, go suddenly blind, grow hair on your palms, begin speaking in tongues, and become steril (likely). So always follow their advice, don't listen to or sue me <g>

Its a Laptop it goes in your lap.

I don't know where you heard this but its wrong, these are not laptops but notebooks. They are certainly not always intended to be used in ones lap. As I have mentioned before, the case on my Sun laptop gets as hot as some of the hottest processors you people are complaining about, easily melting rulers or anything else touching the case. Would you put this on your lap as well? Just because something takes on a portable form does NOT mean that it can be used in any place in any way.

Laptops are not for laps -- certainly not in this age of processors that have the speed these do. Honestly people, do you expect dual 2.16 GHz processors to work at high capacity for hours and not generate a considerable amount of heat. The top of my case is pretty cool, but the bottom size is not, nor would I expect it to be. These computers should be called compact desktops not laptops -- then maybe people wouldn't put them on their laps -- especially when wearing shorts or a miniskirt 😉