Magnetic G3 Pony and Laptop?

[Cadence]

I just placed a G3 pony on top of my laptop (below the keyboard, to the right of the finger mouse pad & on top of the fingerprint sensor) WITHOUT thinking. Then I ran to another room for 30 seconds before coming back & realizing that I put the pony's magnetic hoof ontop of my computer.

Are the G3 pony magnets strong enough to cause laptop damage? (Or is 30 seconds too short to cause any significant damage?)

Has anyone put a pony (or magnet) near their laptop before and had (no) issues?

[ApertureScience]

Now that I think about it, I've done that too to take a picture of my orange ponies all grouped together.  I don't think it affects it that much; nothing happened to my laptop.  Actually, this happened like a month ago and I never remembered the magnets until you mentioned it!

[Cadence]

Now that I think about it, I've done that too to take a picture of my orange ponies all grouped together.  I don't think it affects it that much; nothing happened to my laptop.  Actually, this happened like a month ago and I never remembered the magnets until you mentioned it!

  Hahaha well then, it's a good thing I posted this to remind you!
Thanks, I feel relieved now.  The magnets gave me such a scare though, they're pretty strong compared to the ones on my fridge!

[RAMChYLD]

Well, the only damage you have to watch out for is hard drive data damage. Provided that the pony isn't placed directly over the hard drive, it's fine. And even if you did do so, the damage isn't permanent and can be fixed with a check disk scan, or at worst case (in case windows starts complaining about missing files and such), a windows reinstall (though any data on the disk not backed up is gone permanently :/ ). If you have one of those uber-exspensive uber-fancy solid state disk hard drives tho, then even magnetic fields won't damage your data.

[rybett]

Computer geek hubby flips if DD puts a G3 anywhere near a laptop.  Maybe overcaution, who knows with him. 

[hathorcat]

Personally it is not worth the risk. Whether the magnet is powerful enough to have an actual effect I am not certain - but I have heard too many stories and seen too many distorted monitors and screens to ever risk it myself.

I would urge caution but on the sensible [i.e. no G3 magnet ponies dancing along the top of your laptop] and not extreme [i.e dont decide never to use a laptop near a G3 ever again] side of caution.

[Kalavista]

My computer desk is also my customs workspace, so I have G3's within probably six inches of my laptop; no problems yet, but I never place them on my computer - just to be safe.
Though DH did put a G3 on top of my closed computer once. No damage, but I did kinda freak out

[Cadence]

Well, the only damage you have to watch out for is hard drive data damage. Provided that the pony isn't placed directly over the hard drive, it's fine. And even if you did do so, the damage isn't permanent and can be fixed with a check disk scan, or at worst case (in case windows starts complaining about missing files and such), a windows reinstall (though any data on the disk not backed up is gone permanently :/ ). If you have one of those uber-exspensive uber-fancy solid state disk hard drives tho, then even magnetic fields won't damage your data.

Whew, much thanks for the technical advice RAMChYLD! Good to know.

Personally it is not worth the risk. Whether the magnet is powerful enough to have an actual effect I am not certain - but I have heard too many stories and seen too many distorted monitors and screens to ever risk it myself.

I would urge caution but on the sensible [i.e. no G3 magnet ponies dancing along the top of your laptop] and not extreme [i.e dont decide never to use a laptop near a G3 ever again] side of caution.

I agree with you Hathorcat!  (Though lil' paranoid me will probably be taking "extreme" precaution from now on )

Rybett, Kalavista, it's good to have tech (well, magnet) savvy husbands.   (I would've freaked out too! )

[RAMChYLD]

I have heard too many stories and seen too many distorted monitors and screens to ever risk it myself.

Well, that only applies to the old-school CRT displays tho. LCD and LED displays are generally immune to magnetic gauss. Not sure about plasma displays, but I reckon they should be immune too.

Whew, much thanks for the technical advice RAMChYLD! Good to know.

YW Still, reinstalling Windows can ruin a whole day for one tho, so best to take precautions If you know where the hard drive is on your laptop, just avoid putting ponies there

[LadyMoondancer]

They are super strong magnets, I would not put them near any electronics you value.  I know members have put them on top of TVs before and had the screen go all wonky.

IIRC, there was actually a news story about a little kid accidentally messing up an older relatives pacemaker with a G3 pony.  :/  *hunts around*  Yep, here it is:  http://hallbuzz.com/news/breitbart.htm

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A small magnet in a toy may have disabled the computerized regulator in a woman's pacemaker; causing her death.
 
Kathy M. Williamson watched as her three year old daughter played with a toy on her grandmother's chest; within a minute Williamson’s 81 year old mother, Eleanor Roberts, went into cardiac arrest.   Cardiologist Russell Hughes suspects that the close proximity of a magnet in a foot of a "My Little Pony" to the pacemaker in Roberts’ chest caused the computer in the pacemaker to malfunction and produce an impossible heart rate, resulting in heart failure and death.  Hughes stated that magnets have been known to disrupt some pacemakers but are only dangerous if they are within four inches of the regulator.  “A small magnet would have to be in direct contact with the chest directly over a pacemaker to cause failure.” Hughes stated.
 
Paramedics arrived within five minutes, but were unable to revive Roberts.  Williamson reportedly was so distraught over the ordeal that she burned a collection of over 100 of the small plastic toys.

[Phekzhen]

It's generally a good idea to keep magnets away from electronics in general. They can also mess up CRT screens and monitors, too. A hard drive can be replaced, but data can't!

[RAMChYLD]

Paramedics arrived within five minutes, but were unable to revive Roberts.  Williamson reportedly was so distraught over the ordeal that she burned a collection of over 100 of the small plastic toys.

Ow.

Hmm... News dated 2008? Maybe it explains why Hasbro hastily reboot the franchise to G3.5?

It's generally a good idea to keep magnets away from electronics in general. They can also mess up CRT screens and monitors, too. A hard drive can be replaced, but data can't!

Agreed. Although, it should be noted that Speakers and headphones contain magnets too. So yeah.

[DoctorMowinckel]

I made a video demonstrating the strength of hard drive magnets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEG-s9XC0II

These are in EVERY HARD DRIVE. Unless it's a SSD. They are wicked strong and they are inside your hard drive. A G3 pony on a notebook won't do diddly.

[RAMChYLD]

These are in EVERY HARD DRIVE. Unless it's a SSD. They are wicked strong and they are inside your hard drive. A G3 pony on a notebook won't do diddly.

I should add that most modern laptops that are sensibly designed have shielding over the hard drive compartment to prevent magnetic data damage too. Still good idea to play safe tho.

[Cadence]

IIRC, there was actually a news story about a little kid accidentally messing up an older relatives pacemaker with a G3 pony.  :/

There really should have been more obvious "do not put pony near..." warnings on the packages... I'm glad they stopped putting magnets in hooves!

I made a video demonstrating the strength of hard drive magnets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEG-s9XC0II

These are in EVERY HARD DRIVE. Unless it's a SSD. They are wicked strong and they are inside your hard drive. A G3 pony on a notebook won't do diddly.

The video is set to private so we can't see it... But whew, what a relief!


Thanks for the tech advice everyone!