Vibration dampening for laptop computers

[Stevenb2560]

Has anyone out there have the same problem and/or solution for a vibration dampening pad for the laptop work station in the passenger area of their Thor MH? When we’re going down the road my wife loves the computer work station in our ACE and spends a lot of her time working and socializing from her laptop. However most of the highways we travel are quite bumpy to say the least! Especially the bridge gaps and expansion joints. She is always picking up her laptop when she sees a bridge coming or signs for bumpy roads ahead. It becomes a real pain for her( and me as she complains) to work on some stretches of roadway we travel.

I have done all of the suspension upgrades for handling on the MH except for the shocks and am quite happy with how the rig rides, and it wouldn’t even be an issue except for her spending long hours working at the computer while we drive. I have done searches on the internet for vibration dampening pads for laptops and haven’t found a commercially available product as of yet?

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated!

Steven B.
2017 ACE 30.3
S/W Florida

[JamieGeek]

Is she worried about damage to the laptop (a hard drive crash?) or is it simply just too bumpy to work?

I wouldn't worry about a hard drive crash as most laptop these days have accelerometers in them that detect excessive force and retract the heads to prevent damage (unless her laptop has a solid-state-drive in it--if it does I doubt anything short of a real crash could damage it).

[vkb]

I usually haul my laptop with me when we travel...but, have an iPad which I am on constantly when moving down the road...I seldom use the work station unless I am looking at a paper map or atlas, to be honest.
At night, I bring out the laptop and download photos, and do any work, work.

Depending on what she is doing while on the road..if reasonable to her needs, she might consider getting a tablet of her choice.

Good luck ! Kay

[Bob Denman]

Just pick better roads...

...or give her a three-inch foam cushion; with a cut-out that the lap-top can nestle into!

[Chance]

Originally Posted by Stevenb2560

.....cut.... I have done searches on the internet for vibration dampening pads for laptops and haven’t found a commercially available product as of yet?

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated!

Steven B.
2017 ACE 30.3
S/W Florida

Not trying to be a smart @$$, but you may get additional hits if you search for vibration damping pads. You may increase chances of finding commercial products even more if you also search for vibration isolation pads.

It may be semantics to most of us, but to many vibration-related companies that make these products the word dampening probably means getting things moist or wet. A Google search may correct for the difference but I'm not sure.

[Stevenb2560]

Hey guys, thanks for the responses. I don’t think she is specifically worried about her laptop crashing, although on some roads it does get beat up prett bad!
She does design work using graphs, lines etc. It is extremely difficult to do this type of stuff while the unit is bouncing all over the place. She isn’t able to use any kind of soft foam or pillow type stuff or the unit will overheat. Laptops need air circulation underneath them to stay cool. I did find these cooling pads on Amazon with several fans in them for use while using them in your lap. I’m thinking that I could then put a soft foam under the cooling pad to provide the shock absorption and stability needed? Not sure if this will work or not. I will keep researching it. The idea on commercial vibration dampening did provide some ideas on types of materials that may work.

Thanks again

Steven B.
2017 ACE 30.3
S/W Florida

[Bob Denman]

Easy solution to overheating: Cut out the bottom of the foam where the fan outlets (or inlets) are...

[vkb]

Originally Posted by Stevenb2560

Hey guys, thanks for the responses. I don’t think she is specifically worried about her laptop crashing, although on some roads it does get beat up prett bad!
She does design work using graphs, lines etc. It is extremely difficult to do this type of stuff while the unit is bouncing all over the place. She isn’t able to use any kind of soft foam or pillow type stuff or the unit will overheat. Laptops need air circulation underneath them to stay cool. I did find these cooling pads on Amazon with several fans in them for use while using them in your lap. I’m thinking that I could then put a soft foam under the cooling pad to provide the shock absorption and stability needed? Not sure if this will work or not. I will keep researching it. The idea on commercial vibration dampening did provide some ideas on types of materials that may work.

Thanks again

Steven B.
2017 ACE 30.3
S/W Florida

About 15 yrs ago, I purchased this Targus Wedge, it has 2 fans .. usb port powered ..works well and bottom of laptop stays well ventilated ! On a regular basis, I check the cooling grid on the bottom of my laptop to blow out any dust accumulation...

Targus® Laptop Chill Mat several models available...Office Depot, Best Buy...etc. around $40

one exactly like mine on Amazon $23
Targus Lap Chill Mat for Laptop, Black/Gray (AWE55US)


newer model : Targus Space Saving Lap Chill Mat for Laptop up to 17-Inch, Gray/Black (AWE80US) ** I like this one ! I may have to replace mine with this ! Appears to be adjustable in angle.