Possibly not such a clever idea...?

Spikey Horse · Post by **Spikey Horse** » Thu May 08, 2008 6:22 pm

Can some one please verify if macbooks draw air in through their keypads as part of their cooling mechanism?

The reason I ask is I had a slight scare in a really hot rehearsal room tonight (with no fan or A/C). After the session I noticed the macbook fan was very loud. I have been using a rubbery keypad cover to protect against filthy rehearsal spaces/ stages/ drinks spills etc

But this effectively seals the keypad airtight!

So I'm not sure if I am risking serious overheating now instead by using this cover ... has anyone got any thoughts on this?

Gravity Jim · Post by **Gravity Jim** » Thu May 08, 2008 7:57 pm

AFAIK, Macbooks draw air in through two vents in the front of the machine, and blow it out from the vent just under the display hinge. No air is drawn through the keyboard... but you can cause heat problems if either the front intakes or the outlet vents are blocked.

robstudio · Post by **robstudio** » Fri May 09, 2008 3:46 am

Hi Spikey,
I can only speak regarding my g4 notebook... the mac books may be different... My powerbook has passive cooling as well as the fans... lines & heatsink type stuff under the keyboard and front top, under the display, has all kinds of passive cooling type stuff going on... IMO while you're not blocking fan airflow, you are effectively disabling the passive cooling with the rubber keyboard thingy. .. hence the fans running full bore... better than having a drink spilled in it, but I'd not cover the laptop in a hot rehearsal room. The other thing you can try... I have 2 rectangular styrofoam blocks that I use to 'prop' up my laptop... just to set it on something that will still allow airflow underneath will help with cooling as well. Good luck, don't spill a drink at your next rehearsal!
Regards, Rob

Gravity Jim · Post by **Gravity Jim** » Fri May 09, 2008 5:29 am

Macbooks don't vent through the keyboard. The fan was the result of running in a very hot ambient, with bad ventilation... not much different than leaving your Macbook running, and closed, in a sock drawer.

http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/06/appl ... s-blocked/

http://forums.macrumors.com/archive/ind ... 45242.html

http://www.apple.com/support/macbook/care/

If you use a keyboard skin, then remove it before closing the computer., other than that, all reports indicate that it won't harm the machine.

My approach to keyboard cleanliness is to make sure I don't eat, drink or perform landscaping chores near my computer.

robstudio · Post by **robstudio** » Fri May 09, 2008 7:24 am

Jim,
I agree there is not direct airflow through the keyboard... however, if the rubber is laying over the case, you're choking the heatsink aspect... does the macbook pros case get warm around the keyboard as my g4 does? I suspect it would...

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/MacBook ... Upper-Case

... the tin looking stuff under the keyboard appears to me to be a large passive heatsink...

"the fan was the result of running in a very hot ambient, with bad ventilation..."

and the fact the case which normally likes fresh air flow over it (some ventilation, enough to let the heat rise away from the machine) was choked off...

Airflow or not, passive heat radiation is an important part of keeping things cool in ANY electronic system. The cooler it runs the longer it will last. I'll keep my mac out the sock drawer, thanks

Regards, Rob

Spikey Horse · Post by **Spikey Horse** » Fri May 09, 2008 9:07 am

Gravity Jim wrote:AFAIK, Macbooks draw air in through two vents in the front of the machine, and blow it out from the vent just under the display hinge. No air is drawn through the keyboard... but you can cause heat problems if either the front intakes or the outlet vents are blocked.

I don't see any vents on my MB - are you thinking MBP maybe? This is why I am thinking it must be the keyboard as there doesn't seem to be any other inlet - just the keyboard and the back vent...?

Anyway some interesting links and comments - but there does seem to be some vagueness in some of the linked discussions with macbooks and macbook pros being discussed together when in fact they each must work very differently.

I'm not quite sure what to do as without a cover it will get really filthy when used live/ rehearsing etc because stages are dirty, setting up gear is a dirty job etc .... It's not even a god idea to wash your hands excessively (or use any kind of cleansing wipe) before playing drums because without some natural skin grease/oil on your hands drumming tends to tear them to shreds.

This may all sound OTT but (to me) it's worth figuring out a set up that a) works well for any live/ session so I can concentrate on music and not gear!!! b) doesn't destroy or forshorten the life of your gear.

The best answer for onstage use I think will be to make customized flight case/ rack unit with some kind of cover/housing to protect the MB from spills, dirt, cable tugging (and theft!) as well as provide airspace/flow and then use an old external keyboard/ mouse (trackball) mounted on topthat can get as filthy as you like.... I guess if I used an old external keyboard I could even set fire to it at the end of every gig.