Strange Machines
I've been having problems with my laptop overheating. Nothing disastrous - it's not going to melt or anything - but it's disconcerting to have the thing's internal fans come on high when I'm in the middle of working on something.
The weird thing, though, is this: when I'm working at a desk or on any flat surface, even with the machine propped up for ventilation, it starts whirring after just a few minutes. When I sit it in my lap, where it arguably gets less ventilation and is warmer from body heat, it doesn't overheat at all. The fans don't come on.
It's a striking difference - I can have it on for literally 5 minutes at home on the table, using just Firefox, before the fans come on. But when I sit with it on my lap for 2 hours straight while watching a movie, they don't come on once.
What in the world??