MBP 13" Heat?

Hey, I have a late 07/early 08 15" MBP right now and am looking to get a new laptop. I'm looking for something smaller, lighter, cooler, and with better battery life, so I'm leaning towards a 13 or 14" computer. The 13" MBP checks off all the criteria I just mentioned, except I'm not sure about the heat.

Sometimes I am able to rest my current MBP on my legs/lap without a problem, but often times the computer is just too hot to do so comfortably. When it heats up (which isn't even always a result of doing something very intensive...I could just be browsing a few sites and have iTunes playing), the temperatures reach 40+ C and it literally hurts to put the computer on my lap.

I did a search in the forums about the new MPB 13" and a lot of the comments I saw about heat were about internal temp, whereas I am more concerned with the computer's bottomside temp. Can anybody comment on this? How hot does the bottomside get when you tax the machine?

Thanks!

 

the 13" runs MUCH cooler than the 15s and 17s.. even the older models.

when doing simple stuff like web browsing right now, the bottom is cool to the touch. When I push the machine very hard it will get warm enough you can feel the heat, but its never burning hot... unless you like stick it on a blanket for 10 minutes running it maxed out where the heat just keeps building up.

 

I agree... This is so far the coldest running aluminum-MB ever. My GF got one last week and I had the chance to play with it. I didn't even need to install SMCFan!

 

It gets warm sometimes, but nothing really out of the ordinary.

 

I've had my MBP 13" (2010) on my lap for some heavy apps like VMWare Fusion running Win 7 virtually and it gets warm. It's pretty good handling heat.

 

It got hottest when I was using Handbrake to convert some videos for my iPod Touch that came with my Macbook Pro!

 

Ok, thanks for the responses. akin, dbam, and chris, you all mentioned that it does get warm, but but not too bad. when it reaches its warmest, are you able to rest it on your lap or is it too warm for that? Thanks!

 

I have my laptop on my lap, and it's pretty safe there when running an intense app.

 

I too can rest in on my lap at it's warmest.

 

Awesome, good to know. Thanks a lot!

 

It doesnt feel like hot microwaved bowl hot or steam iron hot. It is just warm.

 

I just found this and thought it could contribute to the discussion. Hope it helps you dissipate some doubts .

Apple's 13-inch MacBook Pro (Early 2010) Reviewed: Shaking the CPU/GPU Balance - AnandTech :: Your Source for Hardware Analysis and News

Cheers!

 

It only gets hot when playing games. Thats why I sold mine I'm a gamer.

 

Thanks Arondel!Very helpful.