5 ways to protect your laptop during tropical travel

In both near and far journeys there is always mobile equipment and many people don’t just take their phones. A laptop is an increasingly common complement to holiday luggage. The laptop allows more room for manoeuvre both at work and in leisure. It is not always possible to get completely free from work during your holiday. The overdue design, the need to catch up with side tasks, but also the ability to stay in touch with the wider world more conveniently – all this makes the laptop go on a trip with its owner.

The impact of heat on the condition of the equipment

The high temperature of everyday life is able to quickly bounce off the equipment. Tropical countries where the heat is pouring out of the sky also have high humidity. Under such conditions, the equipment is exposed to many harmful factors, which can at best slow it down and at worst (and more often) eliminate it from operation.

Below we have prepared 5 issues, which you should pay attention to when taking your laptop to warm countries. This short guide will allow you to keep your equipment in optimal condition and avoid the prospect of visiting your nearest service centre when you return.

1. Do not block the air outlets

Long exposure of a laptop to heat quickly affects its functionality and can lead to serious failures. Blocking air outlets (cooling) simply blocks ventilation, so it’s worth checking beforehand where the inlets are. They are usually located on the bottom or side. Do not place your laptop on soft surfaces such as blankets, duvets, bed, carpet, etc. When the air temperature reaches 30 degrees and more, this is the best way to turn it into an electronic smokehouse. The best way when you don’t have a cooling pad with you is to place the laptop on a hard surface and gently lift the laptop up to improve the heat drain.

2.Wait a moment when entering/leaving air-conditioned rooms

A sudden change in temperature and humidity can instantly damage your laptop. Taking your equipment to an air-conditioned hotel lodge after e.g. sitting with it outside by the pool causes condensation inside your laptop. One drop is enough for the equipment to immediately refuse to obey. The best way is to wait a few minutes after the transition to the new conditions for the equipment to acclimate – only then you should press the power.

3. Do not leave your laptop in sunny, hot places

Sounds trivial, but most users forget about it. Suddenly leaving your hotel room and leaving your laptop on the table where the strong sun will soon operate for several hours is not the best strategy. The battery is the most vulnerable to damage in such a situation, but other components are also seriously compromised. So let’s protect our laptops from the sun, especially if they have a black case. We point out for the sake of clarity that no, a cream with a filter is not a good solution to the problem 😉.

4. Watch out for insects!

When going to tropical countries you have to be very careful of small, local fauna, which make a nest out of our laptop. The prospect of greeting an ant on the keyboard every day after turning on the equipment is not very encouraging. Insects attract to the equipment most often food leftovers left on it. Any crumbs should be blown out of your laptop quickly, and the risk of the laptop becoming an object of interest for the various local worms will be greatly reduced.

5. Dirt, sand and dust

These three elements pose the greatest threat to the equipment. When using a laptop on the beach, the user appreciates freedom, but a gust of wind is enough to cause numerous damages. During the touring trips, it is impossible to avoid the dust that settles on the equipment and penetrates into it. There is nothing left for us except regular compressed air cleaning and appropriate protection when you do not use your laptop. The best way is to keep it in a separate, sealed bag or cover.

Author:Leszek Jasiński