Will my Laptop survive the Burn?

Intubater69 · Post by **Intubater69** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:32 am

I plan on taking my laptop along with me on the trip, burning music on the way while i make my wifey drive, bwah hah hah haahhh, watching DVD's in the roach motels we will stay at on the way out and back, checking the net etc, stuff like that.

However, once we get to the playa it would be locked up in its case in the truck. I am not worried about dust, but I was wondering about the heat. Does anybody have some imperial wisdom that they can bestow upon me, and other noobs that may being contemplating doing the same-o same-o.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:47 am

Don't do it unless it's a beater machine. Treat like a camera.

brickmaster · Post by **brickmaster** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:56 am

It should be fine as long as it is well insulated and as low as possible in the truck.
If you put reflective material in the windows it'll stay even cooler

hsdavis · Post by **hsdavis** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:41 am

I usually bring a laptop with me and try to keep it away from the dust. I always have to blow it out when I get home, but it never got damaged. As far as leaving it in the car, I have a bunch of laptops that are left in hot vehicles for my work. As long as they are not in direct sunlight you will be fine. Keep the laptop in a case and cover that with a towel.

EspressoDude · Post by **EspressoDude** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:12 am

Playa dust is corrosive and hygroscopic. Dry, it will get in places you can't imagine; then back in the default world it attracts moisture. The alkaline properties eat metal...steel, copper pc boards, etc. often 6months after the burn.

don't bring it if it's a good anything...

Intubater69 · Post by **Intubater69** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:38 am

the heat is my main concern, I had already planned on sacrificing space blankets to cover the windows, and store it under the seat. The towel thang I hadnt thought of, and i will plan on sealing it in a big ziploc bag.

damn, duty calls.....

Marscrumbs · Post by **Marscrumbs** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:56 am

I just had to get into a small keyboard organ that had dust blocking off the contacts from last year, months after I returned. So yes dust can creep in and cause problems. It works fine now.

Last year we had wifi available at camp. I know as one of our earlybirds emailed us our themecamp locations. Take your laptop if you plan on using it. Else seal it in a plastic bag and cover it to insulate. Laptops get warmer while turned on than in a protected space. Batteries are the most heat sensitive item, I'm guessing

phil · Post by **phil** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 11:34 am

Be careful with your CD player - the playa powder can wreak havoc with moving parts that are exposed to air (and you know dust in in the air).

Consider using Glad Press and Seal on your keyboard (moving parts) and to cover your CD player when not in use.

Louise and I have used our laptops on the playa for years without ill effect, but your mileage will vary.

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 1:09 pm

The heat is no problem. It's actually cooler than many US cities, it just feels hotter because you can't duck into an air conditioned building whenever you like.

The only concerns are physical trauma as you're loading in/out, playa dust, and theft. Sounds like you have the first 2 taken care of, and if it's not in plain view the 3rd is pretty remote.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 4:01 pm

My cameras, laptop, etc all survived the full week plus with no issues last year.

All I would suggest on storing your laptop in the heat of the car would be to pull the battery and store separately as a just in case option for rupture.

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 6:00 pm

If properly stowed and cared for, your laptop will survive the playa. If you throw it on the fire, it will not survive the Burn.

MrMullen · Post by **MrMullen** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 6:28 pm

Seal the laptop in a zip lock bag (You can get big ones) and you should be good. The WiFi becomes unusable at 10:00a. Get up and check your email, if you must, at 6:00a.

Intubater69 · Post by **Intubater69** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:58 am

Goodly answers all

I hadn't planned on using it once we got out on the playa, just out and back from southeast michigan. I already figured the dust would playa (bad medic, bad bad medic!) havoc with it so I was planning on leaving it stashed. To much other stuff out their to occupy my limited attention span once I get out there. So, sealed, stashed, and locked up is the plan of action. Not letting Mrs Bucky through it into the burn barrell is also of utmost importance

Terlin · Post by **Terlin** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 5:43 am

[quote="Intubater69"]I plan on taking my laptop along with me on the trip, burning music on the way while i make my wifey drive, bwah hah hah haahhh, watching DVD's in the roach motels we will stay at on the way out and back, checking the net etc, stuff like that.

However, once we get to the playa it would be locked up in its case in the truck. I am not worried about dust, but I was wondering about the heat. Does anybody have some imperial wisdom that they can bestow upon me, and other noobs that may being contemplating doing the same-o same-o.[/quote]

I am a noob myself but I have camped extensively in the arrid West Texas desert where like yourself I only use my laptop on the way to and the way home. I found that the 5 day ice chests (in my case an Igloo brand) did not hold ice for the advertised days but if properly pre-chilled and the frozen milk jugs removed...made a great cold storage area for my laptop.

steveboy · Post by **steveboy** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 3:20 pm

I gigged out there with a laptop last year and only had a problem in direct sunlight. I have a [url=http://picasaweb.google.com/djsteveboy/BurnproofALaptop]photo album[/url] up showing how to playa-proof your laptop. It's a bit of effort, but if you want to leave with a working laptop, you need to do some work.

Will my Laptop survive the Burn?

Will my Laptop survive the Burn?

Laptops for lapdancing.

Re: Will my Laptop survive the Burn?