Review: 1 Night w/the ThermaPAK Cooling Pad

haineux

#1 – 7:00 PM June 4, 2009

The claim of extended battery life, I am lead to understand, is because when you heat batteries, they permanently lose charge capacity.

Since current laptops want to absolutely maximize, even at risk of explosion, charge capacity, so that they can then convert that capacity into blistering heat in the pursuit of more graphics shiny per second, something that absorbs the heat directly would mean increased battery life AND lower fan speeds, resulting in fewer frizzy, hot-air-damaged leg hairs.

On the other hand, any heat sink must be fairly massive to provide adequate capacity. 23 ounces is (almost) a pound and a half, and half the weight of my MacBook Air.

An alternate, just as workable solution is to provide a stiff insulating surface configured to direct the hot air blast away from the user. These can be much smaller and lighter.

I use a cafeteria tray, using its small lip around the edge to direct airflow upwards and enforce correct typing posture. Although it does not actually absorb heat (and therefore, my fan runs more often), it does have an obvious advantage of cost, which leads to the additional advantage of prevalence: I can leave trays around the house and office (and replace them whenever they get re-appropriated by the cafeteria workers), so I end up carrying nothing extra.

The other obvious alternative is to use a piece of corrugated cardboard, which weighs under an ounce, and fits nicely in any laptop bag. Although it's not as stylish, it's free AND recycled/reused/recyclable.

grimc

#2 – 7:18 PM June 4, 2009

I got a USB fan thing by Targus. Waste of money. I mean, it works, but it didn't take long for the USB cord to get hinky, so I have to twist it in just the right way in order to get power to the fans. Also not something you can easily stick in a backpack.

grimc

#3 – 7:30 PM June 4, 2009

And I notice that a similar pad is sold by the company that I bought my crappy fanpad from. Same thing?

ega

#4 – 7:30 PM June 4, 2009

that's good cooling pad...i use cooling pad from targus and that's true,waste of money

Smoobly

#5 – 7:37 PM June 4, 2009

You might also note that the effects of heat on sperm count are short-lived. Like a day or two. After that, things return to normal, assuming your production is normal to begin with.

In short, unless you're actively trying to put a bun in the oven, I wouldn't worry about it.

[There's no preview button on this comment box. Some redesign.]

dculberson

#6 – 8:33 PM June 4, 2009

"pushing" 30. Fuck off.

(I say in the most loving way possible as a 33 year old feeling particularly old.)

AceJohnny

#7 – 1:14 AM June 5, 2009

I'm gonna give you a piece of my mind for your spelling of peace of mind! (that glitched my understanding of the sentence, so just a heads-up)

Chinese Rocket

#8 – 1:33 AM June 5, 2009

"But piece of mind is irrefutable"

You can never have enough pieces of mind.

sworm

#9 – 3:01 AM June 5, 2009

A lower sperm count that you'll have repeated sex before conception occurs.

I don't see the problem.

Steven Leckart

#10 – 6:06 AM June 5, 2009

Acejohnny, thanks. Fixed!

ShaneAH

#11 – 6:27 AM June 5, 2009

..."phase change material" crystals...second law of thermodynamics...

Wow, high-tech stuff! In fact, it's exactly the same technology as.. an ice cube.

tuckels

#12 – 8:40 AM June 5, 2009

@ #9 Shaneah: You're just jealous that you didn't invent ice.

Steven Leckart

#13 – 8:56 AM June 5, 2009

Personally, I was shocked to learn it wasn't filled with alicorn shavings.

overunger

#14 – 2:35 AM June 6, 2009

Why do we even need this? Why aren't laptops better made?

grimc

#15 – 7:31 PM June 6, 2009

Well, FWIW I had to go to the store today for more RAM, and being that it was the only retailer for the Thermapak I looked around for it. Wasn't on the floor and not on the store's computer.

On the way home I stopped at another big box store and they had something (same solid-melted-into-gel thing) like the Thermapak, $10 cheaper, but just a little bit bigger in terms of surface area and a good deal thinner that the Thermapak (.125" v. .5"). Been streaming video and working in CS4, and I think my laptop's fans haven't been firing up as frequently...I imagine a thicker pad with more secret sauce would do even better.

Tom Malthus

#16 – 6:53 AM June 7, 2009

Wanting a child is not enough of a reason to have one. $250,000 is what it costs to raise a child to 18. Do you have that? In cash? Can you think of anything better to do with that amount of money?
Overpopulation is the single driving factor behind all, yes all of our environmental and societal problems. Unless your child is a world-class mass-murderer, he'll only add to the problem.
Get a vasectomy and adopt.

Adam

#17 – 5:36 PM June 7, 2009

For (Intel) Macs, a better option is the free utility called Fan Control. I had a MacBook Pro for awhile and since it was metal it got uncomfortably hot.

Fan Control allows you to bump up the base fan speed so it never goes lower than, say, 2000 RPM instead of the factory 1000 RPM. And with the sliders you can force the fans to ramp up faster than they do on the factory curve.

I put it on all my Mac laptops. Apple seems hell bent on keeping the fan silent if at all possible, but if you can tolerate a little noise they will run a lot cooler.

http://www.lobotomo.com/products/FanControl/

Tech Solutions

#18 – 4:24 AM June 21, 2009

I think the thermapak is great for Macs as it doesnt have an exhaust at the bottom like other laptops do. I even made a guide here - http://www.techiechips.com/how-to-choose-a-good-notebook-laptop-cooler/
You can take a look at it if you have the time

kaka

#19 – 3:16 AM August 19, 2009

I put it on all my Mac laptops. Apple seems hell bent on keeping the fan silent if at all possible, but if you can tolerate a little noise they will run a lot cooler. associate degrees

kaka

#20 – 3:17 AM August 19, 2009

For (Intel) Macs, a better option is the free utility called Fan Control. I had a MacBook Pro for awhile and since it was metal it got uncomfortably hot. Masters degree

kaka

#21 – 3:20 AM August 19, 2009

never goes lower than, say, 2000 RPM instead of the factory 1000 RPM. And with the sliders you can force the fans to ramp up faster than they do on the factory curve.Business management degree

kaka

#22 – 3:21 AM August 19, 2009

You can take a look at it if you have the time
MBA degree

kaka

#23 – 3:22 AM August 19, 2009

I don't see the problem. college degrees

Joe

#24 – 12:19 AM September 29, 2009

"pushing 30?" You have no clue about life.

Tom Malthus, please tell us that you have a vasectomy. People as stupid as you, are the problem with the world. Also Tom, if "overpopulation" is the problem, then why don't you be proactive and remove yourself from this world? Hmmm? Selfish, much?

If you are watching TV with you Mac, and then taking it to bed; reproduction is the least of your worries.

BTW, WTF is up with allowing SPAM on here? Oh yeah, the CAPTCHA thing is just so awesome at stopping SPAM. Uh huh.

buckeyes_ftbl_luvah

#25 – 2:54 PM November 6, 2009

I bought one of the thermapak cooling pads off of Ebay and have been using it for a couple of days. I keep having issues as to where, when Im using the pad, after a certain amt of time the screen will go blank as if its got static build up. I can hear the computer running but the screen is blank. I have to shut it off, leave it off for 10 mins or so then boot it back up. Today I havent been using the thermapak and it hasnt happened. Anyone have this issue!? Thank u in advance! :)