A8jm "lapability"

After weeks of agonizing over what laptop I should buy to replace my ThinkPad T41, it seems that hte A8jm/PortableOne MX is the best overall choice. I have two outstanding concerns, once of which I'll bug the guys at PortableOne about (having to do with the "Transflective" screen option). The other, I'm hoping all of you that own the A8jm can answer for me.

I often use my T41 on my lap. When I do so, I'm just doing light taks: email, browsing, text editing. I may spend several hours at a time with the notebook on my lap.

Short of getting a pad of some sort (annoying) or somehow mutating into the Human Torch, any chance the A8jm will be ok in this application?

It *will* get a workout at other times, as I'm a software developer and enjoy games (though I can obvously play few newer ones on my T41!). Heavy coding and gaming, though, is usually done on a desktop, so sub-MacBook Pro heat levels are acceptable during those times.

 

Notebook review's own A8jm review Scroll to about the middle for heat
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2984&review=Asus

Doesn't seem like it's a good idea for the a8jm:
"Some areas that I noticed getting warm after extensive were are the palm rests and bottom of the notebook. I wouldn't recommend having this on your lap for too long, as it got quite warm after using it for a little while. The ASUS user guide states "DO NOT PUT THE NOTEBOOK PC ON YOUR LAP OR OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY TO AVOID INJURY FROM THE HEAT", so I guess this wasn't meant to be a lap-top."

 

Yep, it was quite warm on my lap after awhile. Although not too too uncomfortable, I didn't want to use it for too long near certain parts of the body

 

Yup, I read that review, but as heat is a subjective thing (short of MBP pain-inducing levels), I was hoping for some additional feedback.

 

Thanks, Darrick. I found your review very helpful!

Since people have different perceptions (and expectations) of heat, I was hoping for additional opinions -- especially from those who have experience with other laptops for comparason.

 

I've got one. I'm thinking about whether to return it because it is heavier than I was expecting (closer to 5.5lbs than 5lbs). I can tell you my toshiba m55 (1.86 sonoma, integrated graphics) gets hotter than the A8JM, but that is only after ~30 mins playing Civ4 (maybe it'll get hotter with tougher/longer workout).

 

Pound for pound I don't think many other machines can touch it, power wise -- perhapse the w3j?

Was that lap use, or table top use? Does the a8jm heat up much just browsing the web for an hour or two?

Thanks for taking the time to offer feedback!

 

Hey Sindisil,
I'm an accounting student currently on an internship and to make my life a little easier I just purchased an a8jm two weeks ago. I agree with the other posters that the a8jm does get quite warm, but it's not nearly as bad as they make it sound. I use mine on my lap running great plains or excel quite often and it's no more uncomfortable than having a warm dinner plate on your lap. That should be quite similar to just browsing the web so if that doesn't bother you then you'll be fine!

 

the w3j runs a bit hotter than the a8jm..so as far as lapability goes..i use an ilap when im using it away from my desk...the truth is that any laptop with dedicated graphics on the level of the w3j and the a8jm will be warm on your lap..no ways around it except to use a laptop that is integrated as those usually run a lot cooler...for example the z62f idles around 40 compared to 48 for the a8jm and 50s for the w3j

 

Oh, and I forgot to mention, I bought a laptop cooler for CAD $23. It's quite thin, and if you put that under the laptop, then it's a possible solution, since it keeps your lap very cool.