[joosters]

I'm surprised it turns out to have an ARM processor - I wouldn't have guessed that it would need active cooling. When you consider that many phones would use this same CPU, in a smaller package with less airflow and smaller heatsinks, it seems even more surprising that a fan is required here.

[Narishma]

The reason phones can do that is because they throttle heavily after a couple minutes of heavy CPU usage. That wouldn't be very good for a laptop.

[falcolas]

The success of the Macbook seems to be arguing the opposite. Most tasks we perform don't require sustained CPU usage.

[8note]

macbooks are giant passive heat sinks though; a wooden laptop doesn't conduct all that well