When I got my laptop I did some searching about safe ways to use it. The article I found said that they're engineered with little feet, and they elevate the laptop enough to keep it from overheating - if its on a flat surface. The article said never put it on fabric for very long, like a pillow or the bed becuase fabric clogs the vents the keep it cool. I use mine on a tv tray at the couch, and on a laptray in bed to keep this from happening. It gets warm but not hot that way.