Cool Hand Laptop: passive laptop coolers

Dan Ackerman, Senior Editor April 6, 2009

The simplest laptop cooling devices are ones that require no moving parts or external power.

We put eight laptop cooling devices to the test, and among the passive, or unpowered, devices we tested, we were particularly impressed by the Xpad Laptop Desk--basically a massive chunk of ABS composite (the same stuff used for Lego bricks and plumbing pipes), that looked like a cutting board with a big "X" on it. A more inelegant computer accessory would be hard to find, but the Xpad was inexpensive, could handle large laptops, and was just as effective as our fan-equipped laptop coolers.

The two LapWorks laptop desks, one for midsize laptops and one for smaller systems, weren't particularly useful at cooling (although they will shield your legs from the heat), but have a textured surface on each end for use with a mouse. For the aesthetic minimalist, BlueLounge's Cool Feet are four simple rubber feet that attach to the bottom of your laptop and are better for giving your system a more ergonomic angle than cooling.

For active laptop coolers that use fans to blow hot air away, check out our roundup of USB-powered devices.