Cool Hand Laptop: active laptop coolers

If laptop heat is a major problem, it might be time to call in the big guns--a powered laptop cooling desk. These devices plug into a USB port on your laptop, which powers one or two fans designed to suck hot air away from the system. They can all be a bit noisy, and only one--the Antec NoteBook Cooler S--is especially portable.

The Antec Notebook Cooler's twin fans were slightly better than the single fan in the Belkin Laptop Cooling Stand and the Lapworks Ergo Fan Riser. The Antec NoteBook Cooler S is smaller (hence the "S"), and operated a bit differently, placing the fans behind the lid, rather than under the system.

All four devices did a reasonably good job of cooling our Lenovo T60p laptop. We especially like the Antec Notebook Cooler S for mixing portability and cooling, and the Belkin Laptop Cooling Stand for its rubberized pads and aesthetically pleasing design.

For laptop coolers that don't require a power source or fans, check out our roundup of passive devices.