My brother is always telling me about techno-gadgets. Things I can’t live without. Sometimes I listen, and sometimes I drag my feet saying, “Do I really need that?” For a year he’s been telling me about a device that cools down a laptop so that the computer doesn’t become too hot. Notebook coolers are designed to prolong a computer’s life. Imagine my surprise when he finally stopped talking about it ... and bought me one! That’s why I’m writing about the Antec Notebook Cooler (model # 75004).


Description

The Antec Notebook Cooler comes packaged in a slim cardboard carton with a plastic handle on the top for easy carrying. I was amazed how light this device is once I removed it from the box. It weighs just over a pound and a half. Part of the lightness is due to its aluminum surface.

The Notebook Cooler is an interesting shape. Imagine a rectangle with each side slightly curved toward the center. It measures 13" x 11 1/5" x just under an inch high.

Two double ball-bearing fans are inside the unit. There are two fan speeds, Lo and Hi, which can be chosen by a slide switch on the left side of the unit. The manufacturer says these fans are “extremely” quiet.

Easy to install, the Notebook Cooler connects to the computer via a USB cable. The USB adapter doesn’t steal a USB port either since it has a built-in USB slot on it so that another USB cord can plug into it. No batteries are needed.

This cooler comes in two colors. I own the black model (model # 75004), which has a silver top with black edging. This unit also comes in pearl, which is an all-over light color. It works with both PC and Mac computers.


Installing the Cooler

The cardboard box contains:

One notebook cooler
One USB pass-through connector
Instructions (one sheet)

This Antec Notebook Cooler took a few minutes to install.

First, turn the Cooler upside-down. There is a compartment on the bottom of the Cooler where the USB power cord is stored. The compartment easily opens to remove the cable. Close the compartment after the cable is removed, and set the Cooler on a flat surface.

It’s important to place the Cooler on a flat surface. Make sure that the vents on the far and bottom-right sides are not blocked. Set the laptop computer on the surface of the Cooler so that the computer’s feet rest on the Cooler’s aluminum surface. If you look, there should be a small gap between the computer’s bottom and the top of the Cooler.

Plug the cable into the left side of the Cooler. Then plug the USB end of the cable into a USB port on the computer. Once the two connections are made, the blower turns on and a blue LED light on the left side of the Cooler will glow.

The fan has two settings, Lo and Hi. The default setting is low, and a slider switch allows one to switch between the two fan speeds.

The USB cord allows another USB adapter to piggyback onto it. Note that the manufacturer states, “Your Antec Notebook Cooler requires up to 0.45A current (2.25 Watts power). If you connect another USB device to the USB pass-through connector, make sure that it does not require more than 0.1Amp of current or 0.5 Watts of power.”


My Experiences

When I first saw the size of the aluminum Cooler, I worried that my Toshiba laptop might not fit on it. I have one of the laptops that has the wider 15.4" diagonal widescreen LCD displays. However, the laptop’s rubber feet just fit on the surface. The back feet are fully on the Cooler while the front feet don’t quite fit all the way on it. When I peek between the computer’s bottom and the top of the Cooler, I do see a gap. The gap is important so that the fan’s air circulates.

The USB cord is a good size in that it travels from the side of the Cooler to the back of my laptop without a lot of extra cord dangling. I have not piggybacked another USB device into the pass-through connector since my laptop offers more than enough USB ports for my needs.

I tend to keep the Cooler fan at the low speed. It is very quiet. My laptop makes more noise than the Cooler fan. Even at the high speed, the fan isn’t too annoying. The higher speed rivals the fan noise of my computer. The fan emits a constant sound, whereas my laptop fan tends to turn on and off.

But does the Cooler work? Yes. Most definitely. My laptop computer never burned hot enough to hurt me when I touched it (a friend’s laptop does run that hot). When touching the bottom of my computer, it did feel warmer than I liked. I had heard that laptop computers could be harmed if they generated too much heat. There are times when I work on my laptop for half a day at a time. I think the longest time I’ve used the computer is for 6 - 8 hours without turning it off.

Using this Notebook Cooler helps my computer stay cooler. I’ve experimented with the fan on low and on high. The low fan speed works great. Not only is it quiet, but the bottom of the computer is cool to the touch.

Another nice feature is that this unit is lightweight and thin, which makes it portable. The USB cord can be stored in the compartment on the underside of the Cooler so that it does not become lost.


Purchasing

The Antec Notebook Cooler retails for $39.95. Amazon.com offers it for $29.99.


Summary

I’m pleased my brother bought me the Antec Notebook Cooler. Even though he talked and talked about this device, I never fully realized how well it would keep the bottom of my laptop computer cool. I believe he added life to my computer with this gift.


Update June 8, 2008

I replaced my Antec Notebook Cooler with the Targus Chill Mat. The Antec served me well, but the USB connection on the side of the cooler became so loose that often the cooler would not switch on. It was time for the Antec to retire.

I hope you found this review useful.

Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com


Additional Information

Fans: 2 fans 80mm x 15mm
Voltage: 5V DC
Input Current: low 0.30A / high 0.45A
Speed: low 1350 plus-minus 10% RPM / high 1800 plus-minus10% RPM
Input Power: low 1.50W / high 2.25W
CFM: low 8.5 / high 13
dbA: low 23 / high 27


Please read my other reviews:

Targus Chill Mat

Toshiba Satellite Notebook Computer with 15.4" diagonal widescreen

Logitech V200 Cordless Notebook Mouse

Logitech MouseMan Dual Optical Mouse

Logitech Harmony Universal Remote Control

Viewsonic 19" LCD Monitor

Philips Portable DVD Player with Screen

LiteOn DVD Recorder/Player

Canon PowerShot A400 Digital Camera



Copyright 2006 Dawn L. Stewart

Recommended: Yes