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Keep Laptop Lid Closed or keep open when docked?

post #1 of 4
7/26/06 at 12:25am
Thread Starter 
I cant seem to get a consistent answer to this and wanted to ask you folks on this board for any thoughts. I have been keeping my lid open while I have it on the Dell docking station and yet that just seemed to cause more fan noise than when I keep it closed. When I went to my office the other day, many people had their laptop screen closed and said they have done that for years, yet I have also heard/read that the heat from the keyboard causes damage.

What are thoughts on whether if I keep it closed I need to worry about it at all?

Thanks

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post #2 of 4
7/26/06 at 1:49pm
yustonuser,

If your laptop is turned off, it draws no power and creates no heat regardless of whether the lid is open or closed.

If your laptop is turned on, it uses more power when the lid is open and everthing is running, including the lcd, thereby creating more heat. If the laptop is turned on and the lid is closed, it goes into standby mode and turns off the lcd, thereby using less power and creating less heat.

If you are constantly on and off your laptop and constantly opening and closing the cover, you inflict more wear and tear on the hinges and the lcd monitor cable. This is avoided if you leave the cover open.

Depending on your own usage, there are trade offs for either choice. For most people it is probably six of one, half dozen of the other and the only advantage one way or the other would be to turn it off when not in use for extended lengths of time and close the cover to protect the screen from impact and the keyboard from spills.

RBB53
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post #3 of 4
7/26/06 at 3:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by yustonuser
I cant seem to get a consistent answer to this and wanted to ask you folks on this board for any thoughts. I have been keeping my lid open while I have it on the Dell docking station and yet that just seemed to cause more fan noise than when I keep it closed. When I went to my office the other day, many people had their laptop screen closed and said they have done that for years, yet I have also heard/read that the heat from the keyboard causes damage.

What are thoughts on whether if I keep it closed I need to worry about it at all?

Thanks

I've used a docking station + monitor stand with my Inspiron 8200 and now my D820. Having the monitor stand forces you to keep the laptop closed when docked. Keeping the lid closed does absolutely nothing to the Laptop to damage it. In fact it saves the life on your LCD's backlight. LCD backlights ARE lightbulbs and lightbulbs do LOVE to burn out. It's really more beneficial to have the lid closed when you're not going to be using the integrated LCD.
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post #4 of 4
7/27/06 at 12:22am
Thread Starter 
Thanks gusy - Mr. Evil, your answer was what I am looking for. Maybe my question was confusing to the other person who answered.

I have my LCD turned off since I am using an external monitor and have it switched to output to that vs. screen so the screen is off. But it sounds like what you are saying is that even though heat builds up and it gets very hit, it shoul dnot damage the inside of the keyboard by keeping the lid closed. I actually notice that the fan is not on as much with the lid closed vs. when I have it open a little bit to let air flow. Interesting
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