I'm not sure I agree. The Duo is not flat on the bottom. It has a concave indention as well, sloping up from the front and then diving down to meet the back approximately where the CPU sits above. My Pismo is lower than the Duo in this same area. The concave area in front of it may be a little higher, but it is not much higher if at all than the highest part of the Duo. The Pismo leaves a very warm rectangle where it's been sitting too. I will try a side by side operational test of the two for comparative warmth, but I still find this an unlikely reason for the absence or presence of feet. Afterall, if more airspace under a laptop makes it run cooler, then feet are good even if you've added an extra couple of millimeters of airspace in newer designs. Why remove them, then. The 3400/G3 (1) PB's incorporate them very effectively and unobtrusively. You don't have to use them if you don't want to and they don't distract from the design. You wouldn't even know they were there if you didn't know they were there. But air in of itself is a poor conductor. The feet-cooling idea relies heavily upon the idea that you'll have good circulation for convection, not terribly reliable, particularly on a hot plane ride in a crowded coach section. Regardless of the ergonomic proponents of proper keyboard angle, the reality is 99% of all keyboards have an inherent incline to them with the ability to incline them more. A quick look through a PC catalog reveals that most PC laptops also are designed to elevate in this fashion as well. I think the feet were there, because most people are used to the traditional inclined computer keyboard. In fact, page 129 of Apple's 2300 User Guide states under the "Health, Safety, and Maintenance Tips" section: "If you prefer, you can adjust the angle of the keyboard by lowering the elevation feet until they snap into position." Immediately following this section it discusses safe operating temperatures, but does not mention elevating the computer to help cool it. On page 11 of the manual under "tips for using the trackpad", it recommends that you "Extend your PowerBook's elevation feet when it is placed on a flat surface" to give "your fingers better access to the keyboard". In fact, very few pictures in the manual depict the Duo with its feet extended. Usually, only in pictures where they need to show the port access. Most of the time it is sitting on a flat surface. The index does not even list "heat" as a topic and "temperature" only refers to safe operating & storage temperatures. If heat dissipation were really an issue in using the Duo's feet, it would be discussed, particularly give Apple's problems with the first 2300s literally melting before they installed the heatsink overlay (lucky for Apple 5300's were exploding to divert attention). Anyway, I think my point is made. This whole feet-cooling thing is really a myth. It's all about key angle and I like my keyboards inclined (and therefore I like feet, damnit!), ergonomics be damned! Marc Sira wrote: > The issue is really whether air can flow under the computer when it's on a > flat surface. Duos (and previous Powerbooks) are flat on the bottom, so > placing one on a table without the feet leaves little space for airflow. > The 2400 actually has a concave curve on the bottom, which essentially > takes the place of the feet, especially when combined with the little > nonslip nubs at the peaks toward either side. You can actually feel warm > air escaping from the front and back of the 2400 when it's in use on a flat > surface. Your average wooden or laminate table is a pretty poor conductor > of heat, and ventilation is among the better ones. > > I would occasionally put my PPC Duo on a table with the feet raised, and it > did leave quite a warm rectangle when the computer was removed. The 2400 > does better on the same table, despite the overall higher temperatures > inside the case. ---------- Duo/2400 List, The friendliest place on the Net! A listserv for users and fans of Mac subportables. FAQ at <http://www.themacintoshguy.com/lists/DuoListFAQ.shtml> Be sure to visit Mac2400! <http://www.sineware.com/mac2400> XRouter | Share your DSL or cable modem between multiple computers! Dr. Bott | Now $199.99 <http://www.drbott.com/prod/MIH120.html> PowerBook Guy is | Click here! Everything PowerBook! | http://www.powerbookguy.com Midwest Mac Parts ][ <http://www.midwestmac.com> After-market parts for Macs. ][ 888-356-1104 ][ MacResQ Reader Specials: 2.5GB Seagate SCSI: $119, 4GB IBM SCSI: $199, Norton Util. 4.0: $29, Mac Parts, Systems & Repairs <http://www.macresq.com>
