I looked at about 8 different cooling stands all over the net until I narrowed it down to this one and something called the iLap, which was over 3 times more expensive than this one. My primary criteria for the stand was that it be able to be used while lying down flat on my back not just while sitting at a table/desk or upright on my lap. Another criteria was that it keep my clothing from getting hot from the laptop but that it not have to use one of my USB ports or electricity to power a fan like some of the cooling stands did. And lastly that it fit my 13.3" MacBook. Both Kensington and iLap fit all of this criteria. I ordered this one from Amazon and the iLap from the Apple Store. Both had near 5 star reviews.
The Kensington arrived about 3 days later and I began using it immediately. My primary worries turned out not to be issues when I opened the box and acutually was able to see the product. Those worries concerned two issues. 1. That the laptop would not really be cooler because it would touch the base of the stand which appeared to be a flat sheet of V shaped plastic. The unit actually has a large square hole on the top side to allow air to flow to the laptop base. 2. The laptop would slip around since there didn't seem to be anything to hold it in place (the iLap had a removable suede cushioned lip to hold the computer in place). Again this was unfounded because the same large square hole in the top side had a rubber (or rubber like anyway) ring all the way around it which holds the laptop in place. As a bonus it also fit my 15" Dell laptop. Both the 13.3" and the 15" laptops hang over the sides of the stand but that's not an issue. And the unit can easily be used while laying down in bed without raising the laptop too high or requiring me to place my hands at a weird uncomfortable angle in order to type or use the trackpad.
On the other hand the iLap arrived a day latter and was totally unusable. The removable suede cushion on the iLap required me to place my hands high above the laptop in a really awkward position in order to use the keyboard while lying down and using it without the cushion so I could position my hands comfortably resulted in the laptop not being stable and sliding all over the place. Additionally there was no opening in the iLap to allow air circulation although the stand was made out of aluminum with sand-blasted and silver anodized finish.
Bottom line I kept this Kensington stand (and I'm using it right now) and sent the iLap back for a refund.
I highly recommend this stand. And if it turns out not to be too durable as some have hypothesized and only lasts a year that will cost less than a nickel a day and I will just buy another one. However I don't believe this is going to happen. Kensington Lift-off Portable Notebook Computer Cooling Stand (60149)
I wanted something basic, but this is more basic than I expected. There is a U-shaped metal bar that supports the stand, lifting the top piece up from the bottom. Although there are two slots for it to go in (only), the slots are just an inch or so apart, meaning they are about the same height. The angle of the laptop goes from shallow to slightly shallower.
The description said that it's made for up to 17" laptops. Well, my 17" MacBook Pro is mighty wobbly, and I have to slide the computer down toward me so that the front is sitting on the table top, thereby preventing it from rocking even with normal typing. As a result, I also don't get any height adjustment to the front of the machine, and have about six or seven inches of stand sticking out behind my computer. Now that I look at the product photo again, their computer is slid down on the stand, as well.
The steeper angle is not terrible, but I'd like it steeper, and I've half a mind to chop off the useless back third of the stand with my jigsaw so that it won't take up so much space in my drawer. If I'd bought this locally I'd return it and get something more flexible and more compact.
I didn't want to spend a fortune for a cooling stand with fans, etc. This works wonderfully well if you tend to use your notebook in your lap. I found my legs (living in Florida and wearing shorts) got too warm directly under the notebook.
My notebook does slide off it a little when it's on a tilt, but no biggie. This is a good, reasonably priced, way to go. Nothing fancy, but it does the job.
Five stars seemed just a bit too generous for such a cheap plastic pad. Maybe 4.5 would be more accurate? Anyway, we wanted to conserve battery life by avoiding the fan driven cooling pads. I'm happy to report that IT WORKS! It keeps my mom's 17" HP notebook nice and cool. A simple and inexpensive solution; you can't ask for much more.
The moment I opened the stand, the plastic hinge at the back broke off. This is made poorly and is very flimsy. However, it is light weight, portable, and functional. For the price, it wasn't worth the hastle of returning it. I am using it broken and it still functions.
I bought this stand because I use my laptop while lying in bed and wanted something that would allow air flow to help cool the computer. One of the other reviewers indicated that this stand was perfect for my application, but I could not disagree more.
First of all, the "hole" that is supposed to promote colling through air flow. In my opinion, the hole is too small OR they should have more holes spread out to accomodate the various fan locations on laptops.
Secondly, there is not a lot of room for angle adjustment (the adjustment is very limited).
And finally and most importantly, the hinges on the stand protrude so that they tend to "dig into" your stomach area when you are lying in bed or leaning back in a recliner. After a while it can get pretty uncomfortable, so you canot use it for very long (hope that makes sense).
Overall I would say that it is a decent stand for use on a table, desk or on your lap in you are sitting up erect. If you plan on using this stand while reclining or lying down in bed, I woul pass on it (mine is on it's way back to Amazon).
Hope this helps.
Ken - Notebook Stand - Laptop Holder - Laptop Cooling Stand - Laptop Stand'
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