The best place for a laptop computer isn't necessary your lap.
Although laptop computers are designed for portability and can actually be seated on your lap, that might not be the best place to put one. There are some issues you should be aware of if you choose not to set your laptop on a table while you're working on it. At minimum, it can affect your posture, so use a desk and chair that adequately support your back. You should also take frequent breaks and walk around a little bit to help your circulation, since being hunched over a computer can be tiring.
Damage
The most obvious risk you run when sitting a computer on your lap is dropping it. Whenever you shift in your chair, even if you feel like the laptop is stable, there's a chance that it will drop to the floor. If you have a drink on a table while balancing the computer in your lap, you could bump the table and spill the drink on your equipment, or accidentally drop the drink on the computer when taking a sip.
Fertility Issues
According to a study conducted by the State University of New York at Stony Brook, males who often sit laptops on their laps run the risk of fertility problems. Because the man's scrotum is subjected to the heat that radiates from the computer, the temperature of the scrotum rises, which wrecks havoc on sperm production. Men who want to become fathers are advised to use their laptops in a table instead.
Burns
Laptops seated in your lap won't just raise the temperature in your groin; they can actually burn your skin. The Injury Board Blog Network reports cases of people whose thighs developed mottled-looking patterns when they sat the computers on their laps for several hours per day, every day. In one instance, the temperature of the bottom of the computer was as hot as 125 degrees Fahrenheit.
Radiation
Although it has yet to be conclusively proven, some people fear that balancing a laptop on your lap increases your exposure to radiation. This is due to the fact that the antenna that's used to transmit signals for a wireless computer is embedded in the computer. According to a report from BBC News, this can especially be a problem for children, because they are more sensitive to UV rays than adults.
