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Flaming iLap

spilio

spilio


Joined
May 30, 2007
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Location
Ivanovo, Russia
Your Mac's Specs
2.16GHz Macbook Pro, 2GB RAM, OSX v10.5
So I got my shiny new (used) Macbook Pro a couple weeks ago, and found it to be running a bit hot on my legs. Propping it up on books helped somewhat, but I knew I needed a better solution...

So I set out to investigate various cooling options, and had heard a lot of good things about the iLap. It's ergonomic, well constructed, uses a revolutionary "cool sink" method to cool the system without fans, and more...

And with a bunch of reviews in hand, I felt happy as I once again gave the Apple Store permission to charge my credit card for something (again)...

And boy am I disappointed.

The iLap, while it keeps my legs cooler when using the system on the couch, is extremely uncomfortable. The front cushion comes off easily for table use, but is a real pain to put back on later. The metal bending isn't nearly as flush as seen in the pictures, and rivets are loose and will probably break off at the very first mishandling. In general, the thing looks like it was "professionally" done by somebody in 9th Grade Metal Shop.

But, worse than even all that -- it doesn't cool the computer. I took some basic notes using the iStat widget of the system under various loads and at various locations, and saw no appreciable difference in temperature. Some loads were a degree or two cooler, some were hotter. On the average, no change. Somehow I knew I was being had by the cool sink idea...

Anyway, I highly advise anybody looking for a good cooling device to spend your money on something else.

Good luck...

J

-
 
G

Geeky1


Joined
Jul 14, 2007
Messages
589
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Location
SF Bay Area, CA
Your Mac's Specs
See Sig...
The iLap will do nothing at all for the actual CPU temperature. It *might* cool the case a little bit, but it will do nothing for the temperatures in the machine. There are plenty of passive (fanless) devices out there that will have some effect on the temperature of the case of the machine, but none of them save for maybe the Thermaltake iXoft will do much of anything for the internal temperatures.

Even most of the fan-based coolers won't do much... If they're good they'll do wonders for the temperature of the case itself, but they still won't work miracles on the CPU temperature.
 
ki99

ki99


Joined
May 31, 2007
Messages
926
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Location
Ontario, Canada.
Your Mac's Specs
Macbook(W) 2GHz, 80GB HD, 1G RAM, Windows XP
this is why they are now called Notebooks, not Laptops. they are no longer meant for use on your lap anymore as they run too warm and are actually dangerous if used long enough.
 
MACyMouse

MACyMouse


Joined
Oct 25, 2004
Messages
712
Reaction score
13
Points
18
Location
Australia (American born)
Your Mac's Specs
MBP 15" 2006 | 2011 21.5in iMac-1tb-i5-12gig | iPhone 3gs
spilio said:
So I got my shiny new (used) Macbook Pro a couple weeks ago, and found it to be running a bit hot on my legs. Propping it up on books helped somewhat, but I knew I needed a better solution...

So I set out to investigate various cooling options, and had heard a lot of good things about the iLap. It's ergonomic, well constructed, uses a revolutionary "cool sink" method to cool the system without fans, and more...

And with a bunch of reviews in hand, I felt happy as I once again gave the Apple Store permission to charge my credit card for something (again)...

And boy am I disappointed.

The iLap, while it keeps my legs cooler when using the system on the couch, is extremely uncomfortable. The front cushion comes off easily for table use, but is a real pain to put back on later. The metal bending isn't nearly as flush as seen in the pictures, and rivets are loose and will probably break off at the very first mishandling. In general, the thing looks like it was "professionally" done by somebody in 9th Grade Metal Shop.

But, worse than even all that -- it doesn't cool the computer. I took some basic notes using the iStat widget of the system under various loads and at various locations, and saw no appreciable difference in temperature. Some loads were a degree or two cooler, some were hotter. On the average, no change. Somehow I knew I was being had by the cool sink idea...

Anyway, I highly advise anybody looking for a good cooling device to spend your money on something else.

Good luck...

J

-
Click to expand...

WOW!! I have the iLap to and I absolutely LOVE it! My computer never comes off of it... while yes, the round cushion is a nusiance, I just don't use it at all... and my unit is pretty stable when it comes to the "rivets". I think it's the best invention for a laptop "holder" I've seen so far.

Atleast it keeps the heat off my legs and keeps the airflow circulating as well. And no, I never meant to purchase it as a "heatsink", I knew it wouldn't do that but would atleast keep my legs from burning up.
 
jotdess

jotdess


Joined
May 3, 2007
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Location
Seattle
MACyMouse said:
WOW!! I have the iLap to and I absolutely LOVE it! My computer never comes off of it... while yes, the round cushion is a nusiance, I just don't use it at all... and my unit is pretty stable when it comes to the "rivets". I think it's the best invention for a laptop "holder" I've seen so far.

Atleast it keeps the heat off my legs and keeps the airflow circulating as well. And no, I never meant to purchase it as a "heatsink", I knew it wouldn't do that but would atleast keep my legs from burning up.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I love mine too.
 
mac747

mac747


Joined
Sep 1, 2006
Messages
385
Reaction score
10
Points
18
Location
Maryland
Your Mac's Specs
2.2GHZ Macbook Pro - 4GB RAM - 500GB HD
I use an X-Pad and I love it. It doesn't have fans but my laptop stays on it all the time.

T
 
Dillinger-63

Dillinger-63


Joined
Feb 25, 2006
Messages
643
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Location
Streator, Illinois
Your Mac's Specs
MacBook Pro 13 Inch, 2 Mac Mini's 1.66 & 1.83, 2- iMac Intel i3 iPhone 4 & iPad 2 32 gig.
MACyMouse

MACyMouse


Joined
Oct 25, 2004
Messages
712
Reaction score
13
Points
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Location
Australia (American born)
Your Mac's Specs
MBP 15" 2006 | 2011 21.5in iMac-1tb-i5-12gig | iPhone 3gs
Interesting... is it battery operated? run off your laptop? have a power cord? Doesn't say really unless I didn't look thoroughly.......
 
eric

eric


Retired Staff
Joined
Nov 4, 2006
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Location
twin cities, mn, usa
"A unique pass-through USB port design allows you to power the NotePal directly from your laptop, without sacrificing a USB port"

:)



i'm old school...



 
kuchiki

kuchiki


Joined
Jul 25, 2007
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I own a koolsink and I must say I like that one a lot. It actually cool my MB and it sure looks nice. However the price is a bit high in my opinion (I have posted a review a while back on my blog if you are interested).
 
Dillinger-63

Dillinger-63


Joined
Feb 25, 2006
Messages
643
Reaction score
19
Points
18
Location
Streator, Illinois
Your Mac's Specs
MacBook Pro 13 Inch, 2 Mac Mini's 1.66 & 1.83, 2- iMac Intel i3 iPhone 4 & iPad 2 32 gig.
MACyMouse said:
Interesting... is it battery operated? run off your laptop? have a power cord? Doesn't say really unless I didn't look thoroughly.......
Click to expand...

It comes with a usb cable so it runs off your notebook.
 

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