Can Heat from a Laptop Permanently Discolor Your Skin?

Chris Pirillo — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 01:14:47 +0000

A laptop is designed to sit on your lap, right? Who would ever believe that such a device could be dangerous to the very place it was intended to rest – your lap! I know, I know – very few of you out there actually ever place the device there, anyway. It’s kind of difficult to type that way, eh? I personally have only rarely ever used my laptops in this manner. It’s just not comfortable. Comfort – or lack thereof – isn’t the only issue you could face by resting your machine on your legs. You could actually hurt yourself.

If you thought that your laptop could never harm your skin over time, you are sadly mistaken. The odds are actually much higher than you would guess. Balancing your laptop on your knees could cause permanent discoloration of the skin. The heat generated by the computers can cause a nettle sting-like rash – a condition named ‘toasted skin syndrome’.

In a recent case, a twelve-year-old boy suddenly developed a weird sponge-patterned skin discoloration on his left thigh after playing various computer games every day. He played on the laptop, balancing it on his knees for a few hours at a time. “He recognized that the laptop got hot on the left side, however, regardless of that, he did not change its position,” Swiss researchers wrote in the medical-journal Pediatrics.

The temperature underneath a laptop can reach up to 125 degrees Fahrenheit (52C). When looked at under a microscope, affected skin will often resemble skin damaged by long-term sun exposure. Researchers are saying that in some rare instances, prolonged exposure to this type of skin damage from a notebook can cause cancer.

Toasted Skin Syndrome can also effect people involved in professions whose jobs involve being exposed to heat, such as with firemen, bakers and silversmiths. Major computer makers (Apple, Dell and HP) warn in their operations manuals that you should avoid placing your laptop directly onto exposed skin for extended periods to protect against possible burns.

The next time you actually need to place your laptop in your lap, consider using a cushion or desk made to help keep you safe.

Can Heat from a Laptop Permanently Discolor Your Skin?

Do You Need to Cool Your Laptop Computer?

Chris Pirillo — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 03:59:23 +0000

Do You Need to Cool Your Laptop Computer?

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I had a Targus laptop cooler that was working ok, but I just didn’t like the look of it. It was encased in cheap plastic. So, I did some research and found what I feel will be the perfect laptop cooler for me. The best part is that several people have recommended this one lately. It’s a Zalman ZM NC1000 Notebook Cooler.

The Zalman NC1000-B Notebook Cooler is an aerodynamically designed notebook cooler with minimized noise and enhanced user convenience. The Rubber Grip Strip prevents the notebook from sliding. Ergonomically designed to minimize user fatigue. 679 high capacity vent holes evenly distribute the flow of cold air to cool the entire notebook. Optimized ventilation structure and aerodynamic design provide excellent performance even during low noise level operation. Cools the notebook allowing its internal fan to operate quietly at low RPM, making it ideal for quiet environments such as libraries and offices. Powered by the notebook’s USB port, eliminating the need for a separate power adapter.

It’s aluminum instead of plastic. I like that, and the sleek design. It’s also super quiet, which is great. Unboxing it was fun, as usual. While I was pulling it out of the box, I launched some CPU-intensive applications on the Macbook, to get the temperature up a little. It’s hard to believe how thin this thing is. It’s powered by USB, which is very cool. I have too many things plugged into the wall as it is.

As I set the Macbook on it, I immediately noticed that the angle is perfect, as well as the height. Rock on! The little rubber grips on the bottom make an awesome sound on the desk as I move it around. How much fun is that for an added bonus?

Most importantly, it started cooling the Macbook immediately. I noticed a difference within two minutes, which is fantastic. The look is sleek and clean, which you all know I prefer. So if you’re in the market for a new laptop cooler, you should definitely take a look at this one.

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Do You Need to Cool Your Laptop Computer?

Chris Pirillo » laptop-cooler

Can Heat from a Laptop Permanently Discolor Your Skin?

Do You Need to Cool Your Laptop Computer?