Cigarette Smoke Protection

[cavebear2118]

I smoke. It's an evil habit and don't bother telling me to stop; I keep trying.

I used to use Windows PCs. The local shop would clean it every couple of years. When I switched to Macs in 2008, and was shocked to find the Apple Store (100 mile round trip) wouldn't touch it. I have a $3,500 Mac Pro that is just taking up closet space. So I bought a Mac Mini that lasted 5 years before the fan started making loud noises. Bought a new one and used Migration Assistant to transfer everything. Same problem happening with the newer one. Bought a replacement.

So if I can't quit smoking (and the ONLY time I smoke is at the computer), I thought maybe a box enclosure of FPR 10 air filters (for good air circulation) might solve the problem. FPR 10 filters catch smoke particles.

What do YOU all think?

 

[Cory Cooper]

Hello.

Yes, it is an evil habit. I am still a smoker myself, but down to 5-7 a day. Personally, I don't smoke in my house or vehicle, only outside.

Cigarette/cigar smoke can be VERY bad for electronics, especially those like computers that have cooling fans. Apple would only refuse to service the Mac of a smoker if it were very evident that it was exposed - i.e. noticeable yellowing of the external case, obvious odor of smoke, etc. It would fall under their biohazard policy.

I can't really comment on your air filter idea, as I am not in your situation, nor have I ever seen that.

I can only recommend that you don't smoke around the computer, as that is the best solution.

C

 

[cavebear2118]

Well, given that the only time I desire to smoke is when I'm sitting and thinking at the computer stuck in "writer's block", going outside to smoke is not going to work for me. I don't know quite what it is. I can have an open pack of cigarettes sitting around for days and have no interest in lighting a cigarette. But put my butt in the computer chair and hit a thinking blockage, and *click* bic lights a cig. I really only smoke when thinking hard.

Many great writers have been bourbon-fueled chain-smokers. Not that I'm a great writer, but my drive is the same. Nicotine seems to activate my mind quite well. Thankfully, I only sip at my wine glass infrequently.

Now, about the air filter box... It's not the odor of cigarette smoke or discoloration that concerns me. I don't notice the odor and the external case is easily cleaned with a barely damp cloth. It is the particulate matter from the smoke that gets into the fan that causes it to fail eventually. And I'm not a hardware guy.

So to ALL, has anyone tried making a smoke filter box around their computer? It seems to me that if I just set a filter enclosure around the mac mini, the fan would last forever. Just a 4" tall wood box around the sides with a FPR 9 air filter on the top. Plenty of air circulation. Is there a reason it WOULDN'T work?