Hi

Serious: No doubt everyone has heard of the potential but as yet unproven danger of mobile phones. I have heard tell of danger from using a laptop on one's lap relative to men (er - so to speak). As a mum with a son who has a laptop, does anyone have any knowledge or links about this?

The reference I read was that it's best always to use the laptop on a table (no comment as to whether wireless or hardwired). Any knowledge or links?

Much appreciated.

Thanks

M

Dont have any links but try the BBC website coz that's where I think I read about it. Men are meant to fire blanks if they use a laptop for a long period of time.

Dont know how true it is though

Heat is the enemy. And tight pants... They just need a bit of a cool breeze, thats all

The full article can be found at

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/12/16/laptops_cause_infertility/

Here is an extract. Oh no - I'm typing this using a laptop on my erm lap :eek: :eek: :eek:

Scrotal hyperthermia has been identified as a risk factor for male infertility. Laptop computers (LC) have become part of a contemporary lifestyle and have gained popularity among the younger population of reproductive age. LC are known to reach high internal operating temperatures. We evaluated the thermal effect of LC on the scrotum. METHODS: Right and left scrotal temperature (ScT) was measured in 29 healthy volunteers in two separate 60 min sessions. ScT was recorded from thermocouples on a digital datalogger every 3 min with the working LC in a laptop position and in the same sitting position with approximated thighs without LC. RESULTS: ScT increased significantly on the right and left side in the group with working LC (2.8

I'd be impressed if anyone can keep a new laptop on their lap for long enough to cause any harm - certainly mine (and my last one) got hotter than the sun after 15 mins of use so I tend to use it on a table more than my lap! Although after reading the Register's article, I think I might have to get my thermometer and check

Chris

TBH using a laptop on your lap is bad for your back too.

Definitely don't keep it on your lap. If you have to have 'it' there, get one of those pillow/table things, I dunno what they official word is, but it's also handy to plonk your food on when you're having some grub whilst watching tele.

I tend to drop the lappie on the armrest of the couch, seems to have two benefits: number one, I don't melt. Number two, cool air can reach the laptop air intake thus reducing the chances of it reducing its speed to avoid 'burning up'

I often use my laptop on my lap but always right at my knees so that there is penty of room for air to circulate both around the laptop and in other medically crucial areas

Certainally my Toshiba has only one hot spot on the underside just below where the fan is. This is right on the edge and hangs off my legs.

Having said all this it probably depends heavily on how long you use it for - my laptop is only used for 30mins every couple of days so I'm not too concerned about it.

I suspect sitting at my desk at work, legs together wearing jeans is likely to cause more damage. Perhaps I should wear a skirt?

The reference I read was that it's best always to use the laptop on a table (no comment as to whether wireless or hardwired). Any knowledge or links?

As previously mentioned, it's nothing to do with electromagnetic radiation (as is the common purported risk of mobile phones) - it's the heat generated that is the risk, as scrotal burns are never a good thing, even if it does result in nurses applying soothing lotions...

Generally you'll find a lot of manufacturers are now referring to them as "notebook computers" rather than laptops, so that people have no legal reason to assume using them on their laps is a safe thing to do...

Rob.

As I can't get to my desktop PC at home due to the piles of junk in the office - sorry, bedroom - I use my laptop for most tasks. I sit it on my knees. It doesn't get very not - it's a Toshiba with a 1.5GHZ Celeron M. My wifes laptop, however, is a 2.8GHZ Celeron and gets *very* hot after a short time. :eek:

Not that infertility is an issue now anyway

Hi

If it ain't one thing, it's another, and my thanks indeed for the wisdom and clearing up the mysteries of this one.

Hmmm :rubchin: Best take his laptop and keep it for myself she says, wearing skirt of course

Seriously, thanks again.

Mo

Its even worse if you have bluetooth in your laptop because studies have found that its even worse than mobiles, which frankly i dont believe do anything anyway

Sorry to hijack the thread, but can any of you laptop gurus suggest how much I should expect to pay for a Dell Latitude CPi D266XT, 64MB RAM, 3GB hard drive, Win98 SE2, Office 2000? I've been offered one, and I don't want to cheat the seller, or be cheated. It's all in pretty good nick, nice clean screen, etc.

TIA.

Sorry to hijack the thread, but can any of you laptop gurus suggest how much I should expect to pay for a Dell Latitude CPi D266XT, 64MB RAM, 3GB hard drive, Win98 SE2, Office 2000? I've been offered one, and I don't want to cheat the seller, or be cheated. It's all in pretty good nick, nice clean screen, etc.

If it's in "average" condition (ie. looks like it's been well used) then probably about

Does anyone know any where i can get a fan installed into my boxer shorts?? maybe one sucking and one pulling (air of course)

if i use my laptop its always on my knee...many hours at a time sometimes...not just my lap that gets hot but if use it long enought i really strat to sweat and have to open a window!

EEK

Joel

Does anyone know any where i can get a fan installed into my boxer shorts?? maybe one sucking and one pulling (air of course)

Not aware of any crotch fans currently in production...

If you do want a solution, look at something like the Lapinator or Laplogic's range of heat protection.

Rob.