Laptop and keyboard cover... Any thoughts?

[Leaper]

So I’ve been using a plastic keyboard cover over my laptop; it keeps the hair and other random dust from getting in.

But just now, I lifted it up, and discovered moisture condensed on some of the keys. I have no idea how this happened, but it’s obviously concerning, as a pretty clear possible source of damage.

Anyone know how to keep this from happening?

[BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed]

Dunno if it’s how you want to solve it, but I do it because I hate laptop/non-full-size keyboards: I use a USB keyboard. Then I drape a thin cloth (hanky material) over the entirety of the laptop keyboard. I don’t even take it off to close my screen. Seems to work pretty well at keeping the dust out. Then you can either change the cloth or give it a shake every week or whatever.

[flatlined]

picks my keyboard up, knocks it upside against my desk. wipes the mess up with pledge. 8 year old keyboard, all is good.

[Leaper]

Laptop.

[ZipperJJ]

Isn’t the keyboard a major source of airflow for a laptop? If the exhaust fan is on the bottom, it needs to draw air in from the top.

I’m not much of a laptop user but I would never cover up one of the major points of airflow in one of my desktops.

I think you should ditch the cover and get yourself a can of air, and just dust that baby out once a week. IMHO next to virus protection, proper airflow is the most important thing you can do to keep your computer running right.

[Leaper]

But wouldn’t a can of air blow the dust into the underneath of the keyboard?

And IS the keyboard a major airflow source for a laptop? Anyone know? Because if so, the condensation would make sense, considering the warmth of the past few days.

[Leaper]

(Oh, and in case it matters, I have a Macbook Pro… DOES that make a difference for this question?

[ZipperJJ]

From this forum post:

…How does air flow through a Macbook? How does it keep cool enough to run?

The vast majority of air coming in comes through the keyboard opening, and exits out of the hinge opening between the keyboard and screen.

To add to what idrinorbarsaku said I cringe everytime I see a keyboard cover on a MB knowing that it has to limit airflow.

From this blog post:

Both the MacBook and MacBook Pro use the keyboard as a way to aid in the dissipation of heat, keeping the machine in clamshell mode reduces the cooling efficiency so be sure that the MacBook/Pro has adequate ventilation otherwise.

You’re cooking the insides of your laptop.

[Leaper]

Geez, I never thought of that… How/why do they keep selling them, then?

I hope I didn’t do any permanent damage…

[AaronX]

@Leaper

So I’ve been using a plastic keyboard cover over my laptop; it keeps the hair and other random dust from getting in.

But just now, I lifted it up, and discovered moisture condensed on some of the keys. I have no idea how this happened, but it’s obviously concerning, as a pretty clear possible source of damage.

Anyone know how to keep this from happening?

I have exactly the same situation. 15" MBP, silicone keyboard cover (now on my third one), “condensation”.

I noticed it happens near the top left of the keyboard (WASD). I don’t think it’s water though. Thought it might be something oozing out of the cover. Washing didn’t help much, that’s why I changed covers.

I don’t think the keyboard is used for ventilation, there’s no way for air to flow. I think the air in/out is all along the hinge. I like this design, it’s the first laptop that doesn’t vacuum dust from your table through the bottom of the laptop.