Decent cooling solutions for a laptop

[CrackedButter]

My iBook gets quite warm now with a 7200 rpm drive in it and I'm wondering if anybody out there has had any experiences with laptop cooling solutions.

I've seen some online which are in effect a raised platform designed to sit under the machine and keep the bottom cool via a pair of fans drawing power from the USB port.

Anyway does anybody else recommend anything which they have had personal experience with?

 

[miles01110]

I have this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16834996501

I like it because it does a decent job for it's small size, and is much more portable than the big pads that you sit your whole laptop on. This one just props it up a little. It also makes typing a little more comfortable, but that might be just me.

 

[aricher]

I use an iCurve at my desk and a Podium CoolPad on the road. Both are excellent products.

 

[somewhatstunned]

I use a speaker grille. I sit crosslegged with it in my lap so the rounded bottom fits comfortably and firmly in my lap and the laptop rests on the edges perfectly over a bowl of net.

 

[feelthefire]

I use one of these:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Ante...89840/catOid/-13011/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

I like it because it has five fans, so if your disk is in the front of your system, like mine is, there will be a fan under it. Mine lasted a good while...my current cooler has one fan but it has a media reader and hard drive slot, which is nice.

 

[debrey]

I really like my lapinator. Now fans, no power, no problems with heat.

http://www.lapinator.com/

Last I checked, the cheapest way to buy was from them on ebay.

-- David

 

[xparaparafreakx]

iCurve with a 9" fan running in the back of the iCurve. The 9" fan is more quite then the fan of the TiBook/MBP 17".

 

[sierra oscar]

A work-in case like the MacTruck from Radtech may suit - if your budget allows. They are expensive, but the product claims to be an effective way of insulating and spreading the heat. I'm going to be purchasing one - so right now I've not got any first hand experience how effective this will be.

 

[CrackedButter]

All great solutions thanks a lot people.

 

[Ryan5505]

I use a bag of ice

 

[Abstract]

Move further north and open a window.

Or just buy an iCurve.

 

[Ryan5505]

Sometimes when my bag of ice melts, I just pure the water into the slot on the side of my powerbook. It works great.

 

[Sesshi]

iCurve with a great big fan going behind it. You stay cool, laptop stays cool. You do need a keyboard and mouse though.

 

[sierra oscar]

I know the iCurve looks great - and is effective - but I had an iCurve with my former 17" PB and the thing would slip off after awhile (heat + weight + plastic). I recall this was a semi-common problem at the time with other users - but perhaps things have changed now with the iCurve design.

 

[ZoomZoomZoom]

Some other people on MR seem to have had some good things to say about the iLap.

I'm still looking for a really hardcore laptop cooling solution, since I fully intend to software overclock my GPU once i get a MBP, but I don't intend to roast nuts.

 

[Sesshi]

I know the iCurve looks great - and is effective - but I had an iCurve with my former 17" PB and the thing would slip off after awhile (heat + weight + plastic). I recall this was a semi-common problem at the time with other users - but perhaps things have changed now with the iCurve design.

I've certainly not had any problems and the MBP17" has reached some distinctly worrying temps even while sitting on the iCurve. I thought about getting it looked at, but what I think I'll do is wait until Spring to get it fixed. During autumn/winter I could do with another space heater in my home office

 

[MiberHouse]

A value for money option?!?!

Go to local DIY shop and buy a couple of those 3/4inch, stick on rubber feet like on the bottom of a VCR, etc. Stick one on bottom casing at each rear corner of laptop. Raises it up off desk/table and really helps to improve circulation. They do the biz!
Do they stay put? I've had same pair on bottom of 15" PBook for about 2+ years. However, not much help when Pbook is on our lap.

 

[xparaparafreakx]

I have a MBP 17" on the iCurve and it doesnt slip off and I typr on the iCurve too. The 9" fan is so quite but really strong, never heard the fan turn on and temps max out at 55C when playing games.