Average Customer Review:
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 fans work but nothing else Aug 24, 2006
If you are looking at this item, it is obvious that you would like a fan that offers USB ports. Well this is not your product. I bought it for the same reasons. I went through every cooling pad that amazon offered and Thanks to the half a page false review of some genious customer I was convinced this thing was IT. Low and behold the USB ports shorted out the first hour I had it, and now its just an expensive cooling pad. If you want it for a cooling pad, I guess its not bad, Im sure you can do better for the price, as for USB, forget it. Besides, the portals are very week on the USB side. There would be no way these ports can handle in and out use. My SD does work, I just don't use it enough to see if works on a regular basis.
20 of 21 found the following review helpful:
 Does EXACTLY what it claims... and more! Oct 23, 2005
Okay, for starts...
It really COOLS laptops. I mean your laptop fans might not go on again, unless you're burning dvd's. The 3 small 60mm fans work very well together to create great airflow over the base of your laptop. The sides are almost completely open and the rear slatted vents help to push warm/hot air away quickly and effectively.
Especially if you like to keep your laptop, uh, on your lap, this is a must have product. No more feeling like you spilled hot coffee just above your knees. Very comfy position with the slightly raised back on base.
Now...
The 8-in-1 reader. As far as I'm concerned it's just a plus. I might not carry this cooler AROUND with me while I'm out hauling my laptop and traveling (taking pics and downloading to my 'puter for instance), 'cuz it requires power outlet. At home, I'm just as likely to use my camera directly into my laptop (via cable). On the go, I have a CompactFlash reader PCMCIA card that goes in my available slot for quick d/l's. But it is nice to have in case I need to xfer some sD or MemStick things (I don't have a separate all-in-one reader).
Fits a 15" Powerbook with only a few mm's of the 'puter off each side and the base is about an inch deeper than the 'puter. The table pads are nice and grabby so it stays firmly where you put it while you type.
Oh yeah, another thing... It's GREAT to have the USB ports. Why? Because virtually EVERY laptop made can't handle a huge power supply (psu). That means for lots of peripherals, at least a 4-port POWERED USB hub is needed (wonder why you've had trouble getting that Zip drive, printer, or external hard drive running?). This cooler uses it's power source to power external devices. It even has a USB out port, so you could POWER a powered USB hub from this. That means if you have only 8 power outlets on your surge protector/UPS, then the hub plug can be removed. Outlet space can be a challenge with modem, printers, phones, 'puter, cell phone charger, tv stereo... All the valuables you wanna plug in on a surge pro.
Downsides:
I'm not sure this counts, but I don't understand why the rear 2" of the top surface has NO vents. This is where most heat is disipated from my 'puter. Maybe for stability, so it doesn't bend? Okay, no biggie.
The fan is adjustable, and that's a good thing. A really GOOD thing. Because at "max" setting, it's like a kinda loud whisper. Rotating the adjustment dial one turn to right (to about 70%-2300 rpm), since three turns is to lowest setting) reduces noise to almost its lowest noise setting (probably 18 dBA). That's generally where I leave it. At full, you'll have the noise drown out from your ears after a while, but if it's in your lap or you're sitting at it all day, it's a little loud, like when you turn it down or off; you'll think "oh, that's MUCH better."
Specs say:
1800-2800 rpm, 15-23 dBA, 24-30 CFM.
My overall feeling? Spend the money and buy it, it should almost be a necessity for the powerful laptops these days. Especially ones running 5400 or 7200 rpm hard drives. Heat kills computer equipment, haven't you heard? Put this on your lap and run your favorite dvd (like Snatch by Guy Ritchie) for an hour plus. Then take the laptop OFF the cooler. Feel the cool aluminum/Titanium/whatever alloy? Yeah, it's still COLD. That's why you buy this.
BTW, Pricegrabber has this usually around $35 or so, so shop around for a good deal. If you found this helpful (or not) please vote. Cheers.
4 of 24 found the following review helpful:
Lack of information Jul 05, 2005
I have a Dell XPS Generation 1 Laptop that consistenly overheats and autoshuts down, with no warning. Very frustrating. But my laptop has air intake from the bottom, and air output to the back.
The problem with all the laptop cooling stations is that they do not often tell you whether the air intake is TO or FROM the bottom, and whether the fans are reversible / or speed adjusted.
This particular cooling station has the dimensions in the metric system. Sorry, but I don't have time to convert to inches to see whether it's big enough.
Also, what's a card reader? I'm trying to cool down my laptop, and this station has a card reader with compatibility? Why would it need to be compatible? I just need COOOOL.
The one think I LIKED about this product, is that it has a fan in the TOP MIDDLE. This is KEY for placement as many laptops have the processor and / or video card in the back middle of the laptop. This is the section that overheats.
But until I find a desctription with reversible fans, speed adjust, and at least 3 fans, I'll keep shopping.
|
based on 3 reviews
