Not letting your laptop overheat, keeping cooling vents clear!?

[Jimmie]

I use my laptop on my bed, should I be doing the following- putting it into hibernation mode when I leave my room? Putting it on a book was another suggestion, but mine is 15.5 inches, so wouldn't I need a really big book for that? Does the book then give space between the underside of the laptop and whatever it's sitting on, so allowing for cooling air to come in?

What about having it on your 'lap'? (That's its name, isn't it? )

[Danny]

First, when you leave your room, the best way to leave your laptop is with the TOP of the laptop (The one that has the brand in big letters/logo etc) face down so that the back of the laptop (Where the fan and stuff is is standing straight. This allows for the best air circulation as you can imagine.

Secondly, When using it, you can use a book to put it on and it is often best to have the book smaller than the base of the laptop so you can leave the fan uncovered.

[EliteGeek]

Don't worry about hibernation mode. I would get a designated laptop cooling pad. They have holes for airflow and extra fans to move the air. Then you can put it on your lap. If you look at the bottom of your laptop, you will actually see the places where air is supposed to move. Covering these with bed sheets or clothes could harm the computer. I attached a link to a cooling pad that Best Buy has.

[LoneWolf]

To be on the safe side get a designated laptop cooling pad.

[InV15iblefrog]

Despite the name, you should avoid using a laptop on a lap, since the cloth fibres etc can be sucked into the vents with older designs, and can cause hot air to gather inside the main 'chassis' of the base. A smaller book which doesn't cause the laptop to be unsupported at the sides can be used, or better yet, a piece of cardboard will suffice.
Quite probably your laptop has feet; keep them on a flat surface, so the vents stay open to the air.
A laptop on a lap can cause dust, or even trousers blocking the vents completely.

[InV15iblefrog]

Despite the name, you should avoid using a laptop on a lap, since the cloth fibres etc can be sucked into the vents with older designs, and can cause hot air to gather inside the main 'chassis' of the base. A smaller book which doesn't cause the laptop to be unsupported at the sides can be used, or better yet, a piece of cardboard will suffice.
Quite probably your laptop has feet; keep them on a flat surface, so the vents stay open to the air.
A laptop on a lap can cause dust, or even trousers blocking the vents completely.