| Gadgets,
Toys and Such - Page 3 |
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By Yingzong
03/12/99
Hardware One
Introduction
Computer products
sporting the i-label started by Apple Computing's iMac are
on the rise. RoadTools
has come up with a notebook accessory called the iCoolPad,
a product that's supposed to allow better notebook heat
dissipation and also acts as a swivel solution for any notebook
computer.
The iCoolPad
is available in translucent tangerine or blueberry and is
a stylish sibling to the CoolPad, a basic black variation
of the iCoolPad. The piece I received was in tangerine.
Before I proceed, special mention goes to Silicon
Horizon for proving the product for review.
The iCoolPad Face Up
Product
Information
The iCoolPad is
probably a relatively unknown product to many laptop users.
Here's a brief product info before I continue :
- Product Name : Laptop
iCoolPad
- Manufacturer : RoadTools
LLC
- Price : US$19.95
- Platform : All Laptops
- L x H x W : 8 ¼" x 6
½" x 3/8"
- Materials : ABS, Rubber,
Teflon
- Weight : Approx. 8 ounces
First
Looks
The iCoolPad is
basically a simple device comprised of two pieces of ABS
plastic connected with Teflon bearings. In my case, the
surface plastic is a translucent tangerine and the bottom
piece, a translucent white. The bearings allow the two pieces
of plastic to rotate relative to each other. This will allow
the notebook to freely swivel as if it's placed on a lazy
susan.
In addition, there are six pieces of "gum" on the upper
surface and another six below. The difference is that two
of the pieces of "gum" on the upper surface is more rounded
and larger than the rest. These two larger pieces of "gum"
elevates the back of the keyboard for more comfortable typing.
Tests
I lack desktop
space for my Acer TravelMate 330CT and as a result, I usually
place it on my bed when its use is required. After an hour
or so of use, the base of the TravelMate will become quite
warm. There's almost no air flow between the bed and notebook.
The possibility of heat damage to the internals of the notebook
can be worrying at times, especially during extended hours
of use.
Placing
the TravelMate on the iCoolPad increased the layer of air
space between the notebook and the bed. This allowed much
better air circulation and the base of my notebook was noticeably
cooler than usual.
A
side effect of my using the iCoolPad was that having it
on a bed meant tilting the notebook whenever pressure is
applied on the notebook. In my case, hammering vigorously
on the keyboard caused the notebook to jerk and move from
side to side. What this means is that a solid and stable
surface is necessary for a solid and stable experience.
The TravelMate Without
any Support
The TraveMate Using the
iCoolPad
To
receive further feedback on the iCoolPad, I passed it to
a close bud of mine who stays in a hostel in a local university.
She usually leaves her notebook, a Toshiba Satellite 2520CDT,
on most of the time. I left it with her for two weeks to
gather feedback.
The
Satellite 2520CDT ran much cooler than usual after using
the iCoolPad. The ability to swivel the notebook can also
be useful during school or office functions. The iCoolPad
provides a stable enough base but my friend felt that a
desktop was still very much better.
Conclusion
The iCoolPad does a good job in air circulation to create
a cooler notebook experience. The ability to swivel the
notebook is an added bonus. However, I can't say that getting
the iCoolPad would make a significant impact in your notebook
experience. The iCoolPad is essentially a refreshing product
for the notebook user.
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