LAPTOPS DO NOT BELONG ON YOUR LAPS, BEWARE!!!!

Laptops do not belong on your laps. Repeated heat damage to your skin by placing laptops directly over your legs for several hours a day can cause ‘Toasted Skin Syndrome’.

Swiss researchers recently reviewed 10 cases of this permanent lacy mottled discolouration on one or both thighs of laptop-generation youngsters. Early temporary skin changes can be reversed by avoiding further heat damage.

Protect your legs by placing a laptop case, cushion or lap desk under your device.

Too much heat can cause a lot of computer problems, particularly in portable machines. While manufacturers go to great lengths so their products will stay cool, there are still factors that cause computer temperatures to go beyond normal, resulting in more need for laptop repairs

But how can you tell if your computer is getting too hot?

 indications of overheating include the appearance of BSOD (Blue Screen of Death), freezing, and randomly shutting down. You may also notice a decline in performance – your computer may be running much slower than usual, for instance, or there is increased incidence of it restarting automatically. These may occur while your computer is performing one or several demanding tasks, since heavy apps tend to make your CPU and GPU work more. You may, of course, feel that your laptop is a bit hotter than usual, but if you want a more precise temperature check, you can use a temperature monitor.

If you’re familiar with using your BIOS, you may be able to see your unit’s temperature in the BIOS screen. You can also use software programs and hardware devices to observe your unit’s heat level , such as HW Monitor , Core Temp , SpeedFan , and Temperature Monitor for Mac . However, your computer must be equipped with thermal sensors in order for these to work. You can also use devices like a heat probe and a temperature gun

But rather than waiting for your computer to heat up too much, it’s recommended that you take steps to keep your laptop cool , including:

Letting your laptop breathe. Make sure that you use your computer where there is enough air flow. Using your machine on a pillow or mattress, unfortunately, obstructs the cooling system, so it’s not advisable to use it in bed. If you do wish to use your computer in bed, then place it on something that will allow cool air to get in and hot air to get out. Also, if you think it’s getting too much heat or too much dirt in your favourite location, such as by the window where it’s getting too much direct sunlight, you may need to move your area of work

There are cooling pads designed with fans to blow air on the underside of your unit. You can also opt for cooling mats that draw heat away from your machine.

Keeping your computer clean. One of the most common causes of overheating is accumulation of dust and dirt. Make sure to regularly dust your unit, especially the ventilation openings, and regularly take it to a service technician for internal cleaning if you’re untrained to do it yourself.

If you suspect that your computer is always getting too hot, then it’s a good time to back up your files, if you haven’t been doing so already