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mrweirdo

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Nov 21, 2005
370
0
Hello I often use my macbook on my desk or anouther flat surface. I was wondering is it worth it to get a laptop cooler? has anyone here goten one for use with a macbook? did it help cool the laptop any? and are there any recomdations on what to get(lower priced ones are beter for my limited budget)?
 
I used to use a Koolsink with my 12" powerbook, their web site offers some explanation as to how and why it works, but I'm not entirely sure I noticed a lot of difference in temperature/fan activity. Raising the laptop did make working for extended periods more comfortable, though.

http://www.koolsink.com/
 
You were wondering whether existing laptop coolers are really effective at cooling hot laptops. In my non-professional opinion, no. I am no engineer but I do know physics. And I know that thermal dissipation by direct physical contact is much greater and more effective than convection alone.

Many laptop cooler in the market (eespecially the ones made for MacBook Pro and/or PowerBook series) have a major design flaw. Would you care to guess what that is? Reread the first paragraph for the hint.
 
steelfist said:
use the lapinator. not a cooler, but a lap protector. it also helps cooling.

www.lapinator.com

it claims that it can block 95 % of it's heat.
Or just get one of these at one fifth of the price. Wood is an excellent lap protector since it's a very poor heat conductor... If you don't like the colour, just paint it (with some heat resistant paint) in whatever colour(s) you like... :)
 
I use Antec Notebook Cooler with my MB - it's a usb powered fan cooler. It really does the trick. There are quite a few reviews of it on amazon UK if you want to have a look at a wide range of opinions.
 
ScarletRed said:
You were wondering whether existing laptop coolers are really effective at cooling hot laptops. In my non-professional opinion, no. I am no engineer but I do know physics. And I know that thermal dissipation by direct physical contact is much greater and more effective than convection alone.

Many laptop cooler in the market (eespecially the ones made for MacBook Pro and/or PowerBook series) have a major design flaw. Would you care to guess what that is? Reread the first paragraph for the hint.

I dunno. I use a cooling pad with two fans. If I just sit my PB on it, the temp will be lower than if the PB was just sitting on a flat surface. If I turn the fans on, it'll get cooler still.
 
Mitthrawnuruodo said:
Or just get one of these at one fifth of the price. Wood is an excellent lap protector since it's a very poor heat conductor... If you don't like the colour, just paint it (with some heat resistant paint) in whatever colour(s) you like... :)

That's the second time I've seen that idea, and I love it. I'm definitely picking up one of those next time I go to ikea for my new blackbook.
 
Mitthrawnuruodo said:
Or just get one of these at one fifth of the price. Wood is an excellent lap protector since it's a very poor heat conductor... If you don't like the colour, just paint it (with some heat resistant paint) in whatever colour(s) you like... :)


I think the buyer wants something that cools his laptop, not the lap. Wood is indeed a good thermal insulator, but it does just that. It does not, by gradient, drive heat away from the computer, but it insulates the computer, keeping heet inside! :eek:

I'd like a good hydrolic laptop cooler....
 
Winstonp said:
I think the buyer wants something that cools his laptop, not the lap.
Yes, I know, but I was responding to the poster recommending the lapinator, more than giving advice to the OP.
Winstonp said:
Wood is indeed a good thermal insulator, but it does just that. It does not, by gradient, drive heat away from the computer, but it insulates the computer, keeping heet inside! :eek:
Well, since the MacBook, and most other laptops has legs, allowing the airflow underneath to take the heat away (which you block with a e.g. pillow or other soft surfaces), then putting them on a Magasin chopping board aren't different from putting it directly on a (wooden) table. This is more than good enough for me and my laptops, and I've never seen anyone advising against usin wood tables because the laptop might overheat... :rolleyes:
 
I thought that most laptop coolers work on laptops with the fan in the standard place, not the back like on Macbooks, don't really think they would make much difference for one.
 
I think Alienware's about to solve the heat problem. In addition to fans whose sound output are comparable to early jet engines, they will soon be adding water cooling systems.

Sorry, I just love to rag on Alienware. My friend's brother has one and it has TWO tray-loading drives stacked on top of each other. It's actually classified as a portable desktop. I call it a trans-portable desktop.
 
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