A Very Cool Accessory!
Written: Nov 24 '06 (Updated Nov 24 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Sturdy Construction, Great Thermal Performance, USB Cable Piggyback Plug
Cons: Louder than expected (from packaging), Irritating LED, Short USB Cable
The Bottom Line: If you're laptop is overheating or you just can't keep it on your lap anymore, this would be a good choice. It's light and portable and very effective.
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| zorrothepiking's Full Review: Antec NoteBook Cooler 75004 |
I have a Tohisha Terca M4, and I was having trouble with the bottom of that thing heating up. Under normal operation, it's not much of a problem, but if I'm doing anything intensive with the laptop on my lap, it gets uncomfortable. I picked this up to help deal with the heat.
What's the Point?
A laptop cooling pad has 2 main purposes. The first is comfort. I do a lot of working, surfing, and playing sitting on my couch. All of this is done on my lap, and my laptop was getting so hot that I really couldn't have it in direct contact with my pants. I ended up keeping a pillow under it on my lap, but this caused a problem, because it blocked the intake vent on the bottom of the laptop, which brings us to the second purpose: laptop protection...
A major destroyer of electronic equipment is heat. A desktop computer typically has a reasonable amount of space in its case, with one or multiple fans and good ventilation. A laptop, however, is much more crowded. There is usually just one place for air to come in, and this can get blocked by a leg or pillow. Keeping your laptop cool will prolong its life and improve its overall performance.
The Gear
The Cooler comes in a box that contains just the pad and some documentation (warranty info, instructions, and a survey request). The pad is a neat shape (can be seen in picture) which barely fits under my laptop. There's a small compartment on the back that holds the USB cable. The left underside has the switch for Low or High setting, an LED power indicator, and the USB port. The right edge and the edge farthest from the user have large air intakes. These intakes are kinda sloped inward, making it difficult to accidentally block them off. There is large rubber pad on each corner for stability. The top is a thin piece of aluminum with holes to promote air flow. Also, the USB cable has a second USB piggyback port on the back, although the manufactures says that you should not plug in anything there that requires more than 0.1 Amp (0.5 Watts).
Manufacturer Specs
13"x11.2"x0.8"
1.6lbs
15" USB Cable
0.31A (L), 0.45 (H)
2x80mm fans
8.5 CFM (L), 13 CFM (H)
23 dBA (L), 27 dBA (H)
Performance and Results
I find the pad very functional. The pad is thin and light, and I find it comfortable enough to sit with it on my lap. The bottom of the pad is perfectly cool, and even the bottom of the laptop is cooler, proving that not only is it providing the comfort I need, but it is also aiding the overall cooling of the laptop. The box says this cooling is achieved because the fans draw cool air and because the "Aluminum surface helps conduct heat away." This is not technically true. The computer sits up on it's rubber feet, which conduct almost zero heat. So technically, the laptop doesn't come into direct contact with the aluminum. Conduction requires direct contact, so it really doesn't matter what the material is made of, although I think the aluminum is a nice look and is more resilient than plastic would be.
The manufacturer's decibel claim seems a little low. It's about the same as my PSU fan when it's really blasting, but it's noticeable in a quiet room. Fortunately, it seems that just keeping the bottom vents clear and the pad on my lap keeps the temperature cool enough, so I can do that when the volume matters.
I really dislike the LED power indicator. It's a really bright blue that kinda hurts to look at directly. It's covered by my laptop when I'm working, but if I step away from the laptop, I can see it shining out from under. Also, the USB cable should be a bit longer. If had two USB ports on the left side of my laptop and one on the back right. The plug easily reaches the left, but I can't make it reach the one on the back right. This isn't a problem for me, but if all your USB plugs are on the back-right or right, you may have to use it backwards.
Conclusion
I'm pretty happy with this purchase. I'm going to have to do something about that LED light, and I was a little irritated that the box didn't have any pictures of the system actually hooked up with the cable. It does keep my lap and laptop cool, though, and that's why I got it in the first place. Also, the fact that is is ONLY USB powered might deter some potential buyers who don't to draw more power to cool the system.
UPDATE: I decided to see how well my mouse does when piggybacking on the cooler USB plug. I have a Logitech MX510 Optical, and I can plug it into the cooler cable without any loss in precision. That's the only USB accessory I ever use on my laptop (except now for the cooler pad), so I'm glad it works.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
zorrothepiking
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Member: Josh
Location: Huntsville, AL, USA
Reviews written: 59
Trusted by: 12 members
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