Dan Ackerman, Senior Editor April 6, 2009
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.
| Product name | ||||
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| Price | $23.99 to $35.78 | $26.99 to $33.64 | $17.88 to $32.32 | Pricing not available |
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| Review date | February 22, 2007 | March 02, 2007 | March 06, 2007 | March 13, 2007 |
| The Bottom Line | The Antec Notebook Cooler uses dual USB-powered fans to provide effective cooling for hot laptops. | The Antec Notebook Cooler S is much smaller than other fan-powered laptop coolers, but is also slightly less effective. | The Belkin Laptop Cooling Stand manages to both look good and offer effective cooling, despite having only a single fan. | The LapWorks Ergo Fan Riser is bigger and bulkier than it needs to be, but offers decent cooling and a four-port USB hub. |
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| Buying choices | | | | Pricing not available |
