Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: notebook, cooler, pads | Themes: Business Notebooks
2. Vantec Lapcool 2
Vantec Lapcool 2 LPC 305
The Vantec Lapcool 2 is made mainly of plastic, except for a central aluminum plate that surrounds two 70 mm fans. These fans blow fresh air upward to the bottom of the notebook. To work at its best, the Lapcool 2 must have some free space below it; otherwise, it will not draw air properly. For this reason, there are two rubber pads near the back, which raise the pad and also give a convenient inclination to the laptop. This is nice when working on a table or other flat surface, but this pad won't perform well if you keep the notebook on your lap, for example.
Four rubber pads on the top raise the laptop enough to let the air flow away.
The two rubber pads on the back raise the notebook.
The Vantec product is available in two different versions: the LPC 305 costs around $15 more than the LPC 302, but sports a four-port USB 2.0 replicator.
This unit is very thin - only 0.6" (1.6 cm) - so it is easy to transport and will easily fit in most bags. Vantec added two storage compartments on the underside of the Lapcool 2, where you can store a USB flash drive, short cables or whatever else you can cram in. Unfortunately PCMCIA cards won't fit; they're too large.
The storage compartments. Unfortunately, PC cards are slightly too large and do not fit.
The LPC 305 could be a nice choice for more stationary users, who will get the most use from the USB hub. It is also an interesting choice for those notebooks with only two USB ports, since the Vantec can give you four extra USB ports, as well as keep your notebook cool.
The Lapcool 2 is solidly built and made of good quality plastic. You can throw it in your bag as often as you want without having to worry about damaging it.
The Coolpad 2 LPC 305 is black, while the LPC 301, above, is blue.
The Coolpad 2 LPC 305 sports an useful USB 2.0 port replicator
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Here is my situation, I like to lay in bed at night and surf and play games. I have an Acer Aspire 5100 (which I think is a well designed laptop). I noticed a tiny spot on the top panel by the space bar, just above the power supply where the plastic had actually softened and began to melt a little. Yikes!!! Obviously it was from setting the laptop on the covers and blocking the air intakes. I think my solution will be to buy both the aluminum model for home use and the thin plastic model to carry in my bag. I also have fabricated a very thin an lightweight 1/8" piece of birch wood to set the cooling pads on. This should solve it. Now I just gotta go look around and find them and buy them.
Birch wood?
who are you grisley adams?