2. FlyFan Makes Things Simple

The cooling effects of the FlyFan's dual-bladed rotor are remarkable, but so is the noise it makes as well. With a noise level of 47 dB(A) measured at a distance of 1 ft (30 cm), you can be sure the space around your desk will remain deserted. In an office environment, you can expect polite requests to move yourself (and your noisy fan) closer to the door (if not somewhere else altogether).

If the design of the FlyFan has a flaw, it's that the fan speed (and thus, the noise it creates) is not adjustable (easy to do with a potentiometer, and a grave oversight on Kensington's part). That said, a simple on-off switch would also be a nice touch for the FlyFan, too.

Cooling Makes Only A Small Dent In Battery Life

The FlyFan's motor draws power from the +5-volt lead in the USB connector. Our measurements showed a current draw of 107mA, and power consumption of a little under 540mW. If you put this fan to work in a notebook with a 65Wh battery, this level of consumption reduces total battery life by about three minutes, or approximately two percent overall.

Made For Desktop PCs, Notebooks, And Macintoshes

Because the FlyFan draws its power from the +5V pin in a USB port, it doesn't need a driver. This also enables it to work on any PC or Macintosh computer. Those who want to use the FlyFan on a desktop machine may need a USB extension cable, however. That's because the gooseneck is too short by itself, and because it must also serve as a fan stand for its user.