Logitech Cooling Pad N100 review

Cool rider?

Logitech Cooling Pad N100. Hardware, Laptops, Laptop accessories, Logitech 0

Reviewer: Stuart Miles
Review Date: 18 May 2009
Manufacturer: Logitech
Price as reviewed: £24.99
Latest price: £22.25

Our score

3/10

Full Review

We are sure you know this, but notebooks used to be called laptops. The name change came as manufacturers realised that although most people use them on their laptops, if they haven't got a desk doing so without some form of protection is like trying to iron your trousers while they are still on.

For most of us that means using the case, cushion, a couple of books, basically something flat that you can use to act as a heat shield. The problem with that is it doesn't give the laptop/notebook/netbook room to breathe.

The solution, say Logitech is the Logitech Cooling Pad N100, a big chunk of plastic that has a built in fan to keep you, it and everything else around the computer cool.

Whip it out of the box, plug it in to a spare USB port and the almost silent fan gets to work. The N100 is made from grey and green plastic, has a curvy shape to it and that's it. But it will work to keep you and your laptop cool, something that in turn will help with performance?

The cooling pad will help free those vents and ultimately you get a steady flow of fresh air to the base of your notebook, in turn keeping temperatures in check.

All sounds great and the N100 does actually achieve what it sets out to do – i.e., keep your laptop cool. The catch however is in achieving that goal, the comfort factor hasn't really been considered.

The laptop is supposed to be held in place by two small pads, which do little to achieve the task in hand meaning every time you move your legs the laptop is likely to go sliding off onto the floor - not great.

It's also very quiet. Not silent, it's a fan not a heat sink after all, but if you're playing music or watching television then it's unlikely to bother you.

Verdict

With phrases like "Colours and shape inspired by nature" and "Virtually silent airflow" plastered all over the box you know the marketing team were struggling to justify you spend the £25 price tag for this and they would be right. But its sheer size means you are unlikely to want to whip this out on the train - where, let's be honest, is where most people find themselves with their laptop on their laps.

Cooling is one thing, but if it won't secure your notebook, then that is another matter.