What’s New About Hot Laptops?

Andrea Wood | July 05, 2006, 10:23 AM

Over the years, we’ve heard a lot about hot laptops. Some reports attribute the problem to malfunctioning batteries, others to poor ventilation or smaller laptop size. There’s no doubt that overheating is truly a problem. But it seems like users forget the rules of use in many instances. An article in the Globe and Mail over the weekend focuses on a child who left his laptop unattended on carpet, which led to a fire. Sure, the laptop shouldn’t have gotten so hot that it burst into flames. However, the child and his parents could’ve taken steps to prevent the carpet fire and subsequent $15,000 damage. The owner’s manual for most laptops states that devices must not be left on plush/soft surfaces. This family is considering a lawsuit, but you’d think the manufacturer would be somewhat safe with the fact that the kid overlooked one key use suggestion.