How not to fry your knees when working with a laptop

Having started working with a laptop recently, I had to face a rather unpleasant problem - this bastard was warming up quite strongly. Taking advantage of the collective mind, the solution in the form of a cooling pad was quickly found (see illustration above).

The next step, more problematic, was the choice of a particular model. In today's assortment, you can find four types of on-knee supports (there is a separate category of supports on the table, replacing the docking station, but about this another time):

1. supports with passive cooling (which only raise the laptop above the surface, allowing air to circulate)
   
   
   

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2. active cooling mini coasters (which lift only one side of the notebook)
   
   
   
   

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3. full-size active cooling plastic stand
   

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4. full-size aluminum coasters with active cooling
   

The first option, it seemed to me, does not provide a sufficient level of cooling, as, indeed, the second option. There is not much difference between the third and fourth, except in price and, of course, in quality. Both of the latter options met my personal requirements for a cooling solution: quiet work, low power consumption and the ability to work on a non-horizontal surface (on the knees while lying down).
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My personal choice was, for the first time, a fairly cheap option - USB 2.0 Quiet Notebook Laptop Cooling Fan Cooler Pad . In various online stores you can find it for $ 20-25, and even cheaper on ebay. After a few months of work, your impressions can be summarized as follows: almost works. But let's order.

Quality: the most necessary minimum. My copy did not even withstand the shipment, I had to glue it. I do not expect that he will be able to work at least a year.

Power consumption: normal. The documents indicated 1.3W, which is basically normal. The laptop did not work much less with the same battery charge.

Noise: 21 Dba - quite happy, barely audible.

Airflow: 30 CFM. Three 60-mm fans run at 3000 rpm, which by and large is not enough. After about one and a half to two hours of work, the stand itself begins to warm up due to insufficient cooling. Even given the layer of fabric pants or jeans, work becomes uncomfortable.

So, to summarize, we can say that as a not-too-used solution, the considered cheap plastic version can be safely taken. If you have to work with laptops on your lap a lot and for a long time, then it is better to choose aluminum with a stronger cooling.

Usability: 3 out of 5
Value for money: 4+ out of 5 (the price is very low)
In short: the required minimum

Specification:

3 green LEDs
Front fan on / off switch
Air Flow: 30 CFM Speed: 3, 000 RPM
Noise: 21 Dba
Voltage: DC 5V Power: 1.3W Current: 0.26A
USB power supply
Fan 3 pcs: 60 x 60 x 10mm
Dimension: 30 X 23 X 1.38cm