The program would not be able to run if you close the lid before you move the laptop as it would be sleeping... If I were to steal a laptop, I would probably close it before moving it

What are the motion sensors for? I've looked around the MacBook Pro pages at Apple.com but I can't find any reference to them.

The motion sensors are used to detect when the laptop is dropped, so that it has a chance to do things like brace the hard drives for the shock and do some other things to minimize the damage inflicted on the laptop during a fall.

Oh, like the IBM laptops.

When did they start doing this? Is it new with the MacBook?

The first Powerbook update of 2005 had the sms.

The motion sensor came around in the last couple revisions of the Powerbooks I believe. They've been implemented for about a year now I think.

they are for if you drop the notebook, it will lock up the HD.

The motion sensor is to detect if the laptop is dropped and it parks the head on the hard drv3e away from your data so no data will get damaged in the fall.

To those who asked - These motion sensors are (as far as I'm aware) originally used only to protect the computer's hard drive in case of sudden motion. Basically, a hard drive has a moveable head that (we won't go into unnecessary depth) works like a needle on a record, only it uses magnetism to read and write, avoiding actual physical contact. This is the reason that hard drive platters don't become physically scarred and scraped like records - can you imagine, considering the fact that the avg. hd reads 100X faster than a record and runs fairly continuously, the amount of damage that would be done to the physical surface in even a SHORT time?

The Powerbook and MacBook sensors are used to detect sudden motions like falling or wild vibration, which would cause the free-floating head of the hard disk to strike the smooth surface, causing damage to particular sectors and making the disk (eventually, if not immediately) unreadable. This is the same reason that Laptops have a 'Sleep' function; the user's state is saved in RAM and the hard drive head is secured so that the motion of transferring the computer from one locale to another doesn't cause damage. In fact, moving your laptop (ya know, on a grand scale - once won't kill ya) while the computer is being used is asking for trouble. These motion sensors exist as an, to use common venacular, 'OMFG!' reaction which secures the head instantly to protect the disk's surface.

The fact that someone has devised this alarm is a great thing - I don't want to have to lock my laptop up every time I go to the restroom in the library, and alarms would deter most anyone from going through with the theft.

The motion sensor is used to put your hard drive in park before your MacBook hits the ground...

The Sudden Motion Sensor is designed to detect unusually strong vibrations, sudden changes in position or accelerated movement. If the computer is dropped, the Sudden Motion Sensor instantly parks the hard drive heads to help reduce the risk of damage to the hard drive on impact. When the Sudden Motion Sensor senses that the PowerBook position is once again stable, it unlocks the hard drive heads, and you are up and running within seconds.

In general, Sudden Motion Sensor protection does not change hard disk performance with regular PowerBook, MacBook or MacBook Pro operation. Occasionally, the Sudden Motion Sensor may be activated by unusually strong vibrations at a time when your PowerBook is writing data intensively, such as when recording video or audio. Should you experience dropped frames or sound elements in such a situation, make sure that your PowerBook is in a stable environment without vibration or abrupt movement.

Wow. That's 7 people awnsering a single question, but saying the same thing, except for the two who added in-depth info. If what you are going to say has already been posted, there is no need to post it again.

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Anonymous wrote:
The program would not be able to run if you close the lid before you move the laptop as it would be sleeping... If I were to steal a laptop, I would probably close it before moving it