ibook+humid climate= bad?

May 23, 2006 8:14 AM

Should I leave my ibook in an unairconditioned apartment in muggy Hong Kong while I go to China for a week? Not worried about security; paranoid about humidity damage. It's hot and humid here. Walking around is a bit like taking a sticky bath. Leaving the a/c on is expensive and wasteful. Not interested in taking the laptop with me on vacation. What should I do?
posted by typewriter to Computers & Internet (20 answers total)

Insulated inside something moisture-proof, and put inside the fridge perhaps? (I am not sure of the results of that)
posted by vanoakenfold at 8:16 AM on May 23, 2006

Just vac out the keyboard incase their are crumbs there that could get moldy and leave it.
posted by Good Brain at 8:20 AM on May 23, 2006

If you put it in the fridge, you'll have condensation issues when you take it out. Probably the best thing to do is put it in something sealed (iBook sized plastic bin), put that in the darkest corner of your apartment, and then throw a blanket or two over it.
posted by nathan_teske at 8:40 AM on May 23, 2006

It'd be fine one way or the other. But if you're really concerned you could place it in its computer case (which is hopefully nylon and relatively water proof) and then slide it some place cool - like under the bed/mat or in the bottom of the closet.
posted by wfrgms at 8:41 AM on May 23, 2006

would you expect to find condensation collected on anything when you got back? if the answer is no, then chances are you'd be okay, but it certainly couldn't hurt to leave the ibook in a protective case or something anyway. chances are you could just leave it in a closet in a box, and that should prevent any problems, I'd think.

if you DO expect to find things slick with condensation when you got back, then do no under any circumstances leave it there. leave it with a friend or something.
posted by shmegegge at 8:42 AM on May 23, 2006

Response by poster: shmegegge: My watch and glasses have condensation on them as I type this. And the a/c is on! And it is only going to get hotter over the next few weeks! I think I will need to find a nice place with A/C to leave it. I am too paranoid to do anything else I think.
posted by typewriter at 8:49 AM on May 23, 2006

Buy a big ziploc bag and seal it in there while the room's air conditioned.
posted by rxrfrx at 8:54 AM on May 23, 2006

Response by poster: rxrfrx - That's what I thought too but won't the moisture in the bag condense as the room heats up?
posted by typewriter at 8:56 AM on May 23, 2006

What rxrfrx said, but include some silica gel (actually a powder) in the bag. You can buy silica gel at craft stores and sometimes flower shops. (It's used to dry flowers.)
posted by ereshkigal45 at 9:09 AM on May 23, 2006

typewriter-

1. you're starting with air-conditioned air, which is dry.

2. as things warm up, moisture will evaporate, not condense. you've got it backwards!

3. you could use silica gel to be extra careful... you get a packet in every package of nori seaweed, or jar of Japanese xylitol gum.
posted by rxrfrx at 9:18 AM on May 23, 2006

Ziploc + silica gel (or just a source of dry air into the bag) would be fine. The laptop will take the moisture just fine (remove the battery) you just need to make sure it's dry before turning it back on again.
posted by defcom1 at 9:29 AM on May 23, 2006

Do you have a friend who could keep it in their air-conditioned apartment while you're gone? Do you have an office with a desk you could lock it in?
posted by Hildago at 9:32 AM on May 23, 2006

I think the ziploc and silica gel would be pretty good. Just make sure to turn on the AC for a while after you get back and let it sit before you turn it on.
posted by jefeweiss at 9:33 AM on May 23, 2006

I used to put my iBook in my underpants drawer when I went on vacation. It was safe, I knew where it was, and it wasn't out in the open in case someone broke in and thought they wanted a laptop. Unless you've got some weird things going on with your underpants, I'd imagine it's also less hot/humid than the rest of your apartment.

I highly recommend it.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 9:43 AM on May 23, 2006

According to Apple's website, the MacBook's maximum storage temp is 113F, with a 90% relative humidity. Couldn't find the iBook, but it's probably about the same.

I'm not sure about using a desiccant-- I've found that with changing humidity a dessicant can suck up a lot of moisture and then sweat it out again atop whatever it was sitting on.

I'd just leave it out (or in grapefruitmoon's underwear drawer).
posted by justkevin at 10:54 AM on May 23, 2006

I, too, was going to recommend the silica gel, those little "Do not eat" packets that come in various things you buy. (If you were a total packrat like me, you'd probably have some around still.)

I'd suggest that you NOT use the fridge, as I can only imagine things would get worse.

A really bizarre idea, but I had read about someone who stored things in his oven to protect them from fire. (The logic is that if it kept the heat in when cooking, it'd also keep heat out for quite a while in a fire.) I'd imagine it would work fairly well in terms of humidity too. (Just make sure no one accidentally turns it on!) I've never tried this myself, though.
posted by fogster at 11:22 AM on May 23, 2006

Best answer: I wouldn't sweat it (no pun intended) My PowerBook sits on in my un-conditioned room on 100+ degree days with 90% humidity here in the Southeast US with no problems over the past five years. I'd be more worried about the dust from the gel (actually a powder) in a bag than possible humidity.

If you're really worried about it, I'd leave it on and plugged in to keep it warm (and moisture free) rather than off with possible condensation issues. It is also possible that just keeping it plugged in would warm it up from charging the battery and keep it dry inside.
posted by 1f2frfbf at 11:45 AM on May 23, 2006

the MacBook's maximum storage temp is 113F, with a 90% relative humidity.

You left out a word there: noncondensing.

I'll bet it's fine either way as long as you don't turn it on while it's slathered in droplets of condensation, but I like the ziploc bag + silica gel idea.
posted by trevyn at 12:16 PM on May 23, 2006

Why not put it in between some blankets or clothes in a dark closet? Even in hot environments it doesn't tend to be particularly hot and humid in dark closets. I can't see how it could possibly get in trouble wrapped in a blanket in a closet.
posted by wackybrit at 2:22 PM on May 23, 2006

Response by poster: Thanks all.

1f2frfbf - re: living with the humidity. I guess that's what I kinda wanted to hear. I'm just being uber-paranoid. There must be loads of laptop users in non a/c apartments and humid conditions! I'm only visiting Hong Kong from relatively less humid Canada, so dealing with humidity and computers is quite new to me. I'll likely purchase a good sleeve for it and stick in the darkest, coolest corner.

fogster - lots of HK apartments don't have stoves!

grapefruit moon - I don't think that I could get my laptop to you to put in your underwear drawer in time before I leave. :)
posted by typewriter at 6:14 PM on May 23, 2006