Your laptop might make you infertile. For dudes, at least.

We've always just assumed we were sterile given the huge electromagnetic field all the gear at Engadget HQ must be bathing us in on a daily basis, but this clinches it: researchers at the State University of New York at Stony Brook say that actually using your laptop on your lap for extended periods of time could cause an, "increase in scrotal temperature [that] is significant enough to cause changes in sperm parameters," and over the long-term might result in fertility problems. Just be conformist and start working at a desk or get a Lapinator or something.

[Mark @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Yeah, but if you're the type of person that keeps a laptop in your lap that much, what are the odds you'll get laid anyway. :-)

[mkat @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

What about girls? I always have a laptop on my lap. :T

[Nate @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

I see this as a positive; no need to worry about any accidents. "Protection? We don't need that, baby, I've been using my laptop."

[Eric Newman @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Users of Apple laptops should be especially susceptible, given that Mac OS X is built on UNIX.

[Uncle Chachi @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Baby, I'm not ignoring you - I'm preparing for later!

[Peter @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Great advertisement for tablet pcs!

[Scotto @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Wear a condom!
http://www.lapinator.com/

[george @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

> Just be conformist and start working at a desk

conformist? everyone and their jerkoff brother has laptops these days. id say youre rebellious if you DONT sit at the local coffee shop with your nut-warming computer and an overpriced chai.

[randomwalk @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

go buy a cool running laptop running a transmeta processor... get rid of your centrino and pentium machines...

[Brian Behrend @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Scotto, have you actually used a Lapinator?

The fact that they post "...our laptop did seem to run cooler" as if it was some sort of glowing endorsement is a little worrisome.

[JoeSo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Or not...apparently these "researchers" have never heard of
hot tubs, Japanese hot baths, saunas, bastus, banjas, and any
endurance athletic activity in which men wear Spandex such as
bicycling, all of which cause heat buildup in the testicular
region.

[Joey Geraci @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

transmeta's are crap and the company should just die, seriously, who needs more than two companies putting out consumer computer cpu's

[Keller @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Eric (#4),
That took me, quite literally, a few minutes to get, but its eff-ing hilarious.

[Blue_Nile @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Other Studies found women with laptops were more likely to be hit on by geeks

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

How ironic...I'm watching porn on my laptop but won't be able to fully enjoy it.

[Anne Blaeske @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Hey, Brian . .

I don't know if Scotto has used a Lapinator, but I have had one for quite awhile now. It does work wonders in keeping your legs from getting burned from the heat, especially in those systems that vent from the bottom.

So, if you wang an endorsement, I give one. Also, they are listed on Amazon and it has gotten great ratings (including one from me).

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002Z2R0E/qid=1102719581/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl60/103-9052126-1652658?v=glance&s=home-garden&n=507846

And it is light and fits easily into my carrying case.

[Maikeru @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Maybe I should tell my ex-roomate about this. He's got a Saeger laptop that has so much power draw that the AC power supply has a laptop cooling fan in it that kicks in when it gets to a certain temperature.