ie8 fix

Antec Notebook Cooler review

CNET Editors' Rating

3.5 stars Very good
Review Date:

Average User Rating

3.0 stars 22 user reviews

The good: Powered fans for active cooling; small enough to fit in a laptop case.

The bad: Requires proprietary USB power cable; doesn't provide additional work space.

The bottom line: The Antec Notebook Cooler uses dual USB-powered fans to provide effective cooling for hot laptops.

If laptop heat is a major problem for you, it may be time to move beyond simple passive laptop desks into the realm of powered devices. After all, singed legs and overheated thighs are a major issue for heavy notebook users, and a wide variety of products are out there to provide some much-needed heat dissipation. Rather than a simple plastic board designed to expose more of the laptop's surface area to the air, the $45 Antec Notebook Cooler has two built-in fans that suck hot air away from the overheated bottom surface of your system.

Unlike the LapWorks Laptop Desk 2.0 or the LapWorks Laptop Desk UltraLite, both of which have extended wings for use as a mousing surface, you won't get any additional work space from the Antec Notebook Cooler. Instead, the device sits directly under your laptop and is powered by one of your system's USB ports, via a proprietary (and easy-to-lose) cable.

Measuring 13 inches wide by 11 inches deep by slightly less than one inch high, the Antec Notebook Cooler will fit a wide variety of laptops, although smaller ones will leave the edges visible, while larger laptops will spill over the sides. The unit is attractive, with a silver-and-black design and curved sides. We were able to pack it into our midsize laptop bag with no problem.

Sponsored Premier Brands on CNET

ie8 fix

Dan Ackerman leads CNET's coverage of laptops and mobile computers, while also covering games, gadgets, and other topics. A semi-regular TV news talking head, he's written about music and technology for more than 15 years, appearing in publications including Spin, Blender, and Men's Journal. Full Bio

ie8 fix
  • Recently Viewed Products
  • My Lists
  • My Software Updates
  • Promo
  • Log In | Join CNET