| Better than the original version |
| The Xpad slim is definitely a better design than the original Xpad; it's wider, thinner, doesn't have a fabric on the bottom that becomes frayed after several months of use, doesn't have that annoying "lip" on the bottom between the plastic and the fabric that hurts your legs (because there's no fabric on the slim), and has vents on each section of the X.
There are two noteable drawbacks, though. The first is that the Lapinator Plus (with the Mousetizer addon if you want to use a real mouse with it) is frankly a better product than the Xpad for home use. It's more comfortable and has space for a mouse (with the Mousetizer). That's not to say that the Xpad isn't worth using, however. The Xpad is small enough and sturdy enough that it's perfect to put in a backpack when you're bringing your laptop somewhere else, whereas the Lapinator is less portable but more comfortable and has space for a mouse, and so is better suited to use at home where it won't be transported somewhere else very often. As such, they're both great products, they're just suited for different purposes.
The other drawback I've noticed is that right out of the box, the Xpad Slim absolutely REEKS of rubber. When I open my backpack with the Xpad in it, the smell immediately hits me, hard. I didn't notice this problem at all with the previous version of the Xpad. I'm hoping that'll go away after a month or so.
UPDATE: after letting the Xpad sit out in my room for several days, the intense rubber smell did in fact go away.
| | I have a 17" laptop, and after much investigation bought the original Xpad almost a year ago. It was just slightly smaller than what I needed but I could fit it between the feet of my laptop and it worked beautifully.
Now I just received the new Xpad Slim, which is slightly larger and which accommodates my 17" laptop. The genius of the original design has carried over to the new version - it permits the laptop to cool itself efficiently as it was designed to do, without blocking critical airflow or interfering with the circulation of the fans.
Buy one. Buy several. Give them to your friends. It is hands-down the best money you'll ever spend on an outboard accessory for your laptop.
| | Increased Temp on my 17" Apple Powerbook. |
| Partial disclaimer: I don't use my laptop on my lap, but as a desktop computer setup.
I had my 17" laptop sitting on a 2 fan "Notepal" (by Cooler Master) when the Xpad Slim arrived today.
During Video Encoding the laptop stress tests at around 129-30ºF. So the time was right to compare effectiveness of the two different style cooling pads.
Because the Xpad Slim is a passive, non-electrical pad, it's placement under the laptop caused the Mac to raise 5º temp. to 135ºF in about six to seven minutes.
I even attempted to increase airflow by placing my old "CoolPad" beneath the Xpad Slim (a simple, plastic, adjustable pedestal, with raised posts at one end), but to no drop in temperature (over a 30 minute period). That's a definite "NO GO" for use of the Xpad Slim over a fan cooled USB pad.
BTW: I used an OSX CPU temperature program called "Temperature Monitor" for comparing the two cooling pads. The App keeps tabs on five different parts of the computer's heat. It was the CPU's bottom plate and Controller that was used to compare the two cooling pads effectiveness.
FYI: a couple of Youtube video on the XPad Slim "testify" that their notebooks/laptops had noticeable drops in temperature using the Xpad Slim.
Unfortunately as attested above, I found the OPPOSITE true for my own laptop desktop setup.
| | Finally, the no fan fan for laptops |
| Xpad Slim (Non-slip Laptop Cooler and Heatshield)
I have a mac. Macs are hot computers...in more than one way. After an hour of work on my lap, I felt like an iron was on my thighs. I tried several different products to cool the computer, but didn't find the right one until the Xpad. I don't even think about the heat anymore. It's very comfortable, feels secure, and is light. Not to mention effective. I'm happy to recommend it.
| | Every small bit of improvement is needed for older Intel Macs |
| I have a late 2006 MBP 17", Merom 2.33GHz processor, running Leopard 10.5.6 which constantly ran temps above 58C doing little more than web browsing. XPAD Slim helped bring it down by about 2C, every little bit helps a Mac. Makes the Mac more stable footed on my desk and fits perfectly. Happy I got this (no moving parts to break-- or heat up!).. nice aluminum-look brushed silver matches Macs, as if they were designed together.
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