Henge Dock; It ok to have a MBP be vertical?
I am getting a new 17" MBP soon and saw this on engadget and thought wow this will be awesome to hook my MBP to my HDTV: http://www.hengedocks.com/
(If i decide not to get the dock, i might just get this http://twelvesouth.com/products/bookarc/ but my question still applies to both)
But i am curious the opinion(s) of you apple owners/lovers. Is it ok to have your Macbook be on its side like that while using it? Will there be any issues with using the CD drive vertical like that? I've already been assured that heat wise, there shouldnt be a issue. That it will probably be just a few degrees hotter because of the lid being shut over the keyboard (which is a heat exhaust), but that overall it will be just fine. The website's FAQ brings out that they noticed a heat drop because it was only having one monitor in use, compared to having the laptop open and using both the monitor and a external monitor.
Side note: I noticed on the Henge Dock website you have to use the power supply cords that are straight for Macbooks ( http://store.apple.com/us_edu_53799/...co=MTA4MzY0NDM ), not the ones that come with the laptops now which are at a 90degree angle. ( http://store.apple.com/us_edu_53799/...co=MTc1NDczODg ) And it very much seems the straight ones are of HORRIBLE quality. So i think because of that alone i will go with the Book Arc.
(If i decide not to get the dock, i might just get this http://twelvesouth.com/products/bookarc/ but my question still applies to both)
But i am curious the opinion(s) of you apple owners/lovers. Is it ok to have your Macbook be on its side like that while using it? Will there be any issues with using the CD drive vertical like that? I've already been assured that heat wise, there shouldnt be a issue. That it will probably be just a few degrees hotter because of the lid being shut over the keyboard (which is a heat exhaust), but that overall it will be just fine. The website's FAQ brings out that they noticed a heat drop because it was only having one monitor in use, compared to having the laptop open and using both the monitor and a external monitor.
Side note: I noticed on the Henge Dock website you have to use the power supply cords that are straight for Macbooks ( http://store.apple.com/us_edu_53799/...co=MTA4MzY0NDM ), not the ones that come with the laptops now which are at a 90degree angle. ( http://store.apple.com/us_edu_53799/...co=MTc1NDczODg ) And it very much seems the straight ones are of HORRIBLE quality. So i think because of that alone i will go with the Book Arc.
Comments
Now that i think about it, I may even get one myself, just in case the company goes out of business.
Steel vs injection moulded plastic... it's obvious which one i like better
But anyway, to answer your question...
With laptops in general, it's fine unless the machine has had it rough, i.e. multiple drops, industrial use, in which case the ball bearings for the hard drive may be shot as well as some other damage... and that may be cracked solder joints, shifting components, smashed internal connections.. Stuff that causes surprise issues that are hard to diagnose.
Since your machine is new, i wouldn't worry. Just be careful about inverting it while burning a data DVD. DVD tracks/bits are so small, that even a tiny grain of dust or bad vibration can corrupt a file while burning.
Most hard drives on the other hand have a solid state read/write buffer, so if the HDD skips/pauses while you dock the machine, nothing'll happen.
As for watching a DVD, that's a much higher speed, which compensates for track skipping and poor readouts, so you won't notice a thing there...and discs themselves don't shift, since they are anchored tight.
Hope that helps
Dan
Ooo... the Book Arcs look sweet!
Now that i think about it, I may even get one myself, just in case the company goes out of business.
Steel vs injection moulded plastic... it's obvious which one i like better
But anyway, to answer your question...
With laptops in general, it's fine unless the machine has had it rough, i.e. multiple drops, industrial use, in which case the ball bearings for the hard drive may be shot as well as some other damage... and that may be cracked solder joints, shifting components, smashed internal connections.. Stuff that causes surprise issues that are hard to diagnose.
Since your machine is new, i wouldn't worry. Just be careful about inverting it while burning a data DVD. DVD tracks/bits are so small, that even a tiny grain of dust or bad vibration can corrupt a file while burning.
Most hard drives on the other hand have a solid state read/write buffer, so if the HDD skips/pauses while you dock the machine, nothing'll happen.
As for watching a DVD, that's a much higher speed, which compensates for track skipping and poor readouts, so you won't notice a thing there...and discs themselves don't shift, since they are anchored tight.
Hope that helps
Dan
Yeah that really helps, really informative. So im guessing by what you said, the Book arc is the one made of steel you were talking bout? yeah im leaning towards the Book Arc too, yeah i might have to plug in power and HDMI adapter myself, but it looks sleeker and is more open.
Yeah that really helps, really informative. So im guessing by what you said, the Book arc is the one made of steel you were talking bout? yeah im leaning towards the Book Arc too, yeah i might have to plug in power and HDMI adapter myself, but it looks sleeker and is more open.
Yeah, that is what their web site says. The henge guys don't say anything, but i can see seams in the closeup pictures, so it's more than likely plastic. And in white they look a bit like something you'd normally find at walmart. With the henge dock, i'm more worried about it tipping over, but the arc looks heavy enough, and the machine is parked in a way that it's the wide side down...center of gravity should be low enough...
Dan
Yeah, that is what their web site says. The henge guys don't say anything, but i can see seams in the closeup pictures, so it's more than likely plastic. And in white they look a bit like something you'd normally find at walmart. With the henge dock, i'm more worried about it tipping over, but the arc looks heavy enough, and the machine is parked in a way that it's the wide side down...center of gravity should be low enough...
Dan
Yeah i completely agree. Henge supposedly says they extensively tested its "can it be knocked over" so that and where i'd put it, i wouldnt be worried, but i still like the Book Arc much more.