For the longest time, my bed was my office. I would sit on it with my laptop and surround myself with my DayRunner, notes, and other paperwork. It was not until recently that I took on the project of clearing off my desk, so I could actually sit at it. Well the first thing I noticed was my laptop was too high for me to type comfortably while sitting on my
laptop cooler.
When I came across the HeatShift Laptop Cooler Pad, I suspected it would be the perfect solution to my problem. My previous USB cooler contained fans and added about an inch in height, not including the feet on the bottom. The
HeatShift Pad is only half an inch thick. The difference does not seem like much, but it made a huge difference in how comfortable I am while typing for long periods of time. I also did not notice how loud the fans were in my previous laptop cooler until it was gone.
The HeatShift Pad comes in a reusable zip-close clear plastic sleeve. This would be very handy for anyone who travels with their laptop often to help keep the pad clean and protected.
From the photo, it looks as if the pad is filled with gel, but it is actually filled with solid crystals. As the heat from the laptop is transferred to the crystals, they begin to liquefy. I would not have believed it if I hadn't seen this for myself. I can feel the spot where the heat would normally be the strongest underneath my laptop is perfectly cool. In the same spot on the pad, the crystals had partially liquefied, so the pad felt soft, as opposed to how hard it felt towards the edges.
I wondered what would happen when all the crystals in the hot spot turned to liquid. Would the cooling effect stop eventually? Well, it turns out that heat naturally moves from the warmer liquid to the cooler liquid towards the perimeter of the pad. When my computer begins to cool, the liquid crystallizes again.
Some other benefits of the HeatShift pad are that the bottom is extremely soft, so it would also be comfortable to use on your lap. I also do not miss having yet another gadget plugged into one of my USB ports leeching power from my laptop, especially when I'm running on my battery's charge. It is also fairly lightweight and easy to slip into your laptop bag.
I also want to point out that my monster of a 17" laptop, which measures 16-1/4" x 11-1/4", fits perfectly on the 17" pad. These HeatShift pads come in 10", 13", 15", and 17" and are available in black, pink, or white.
Depending on the size and the merchant, HeatShift pads retail for approximately $21.99 to $39.99. You can find them at major retailers, such as Amazon.com, Walmart.com,
Newegg,
Buy.com, and others.
Thank you to ThermaPAK for sending us a sample cooling pad free of charge to base this review upon and also for providing a second pad for our contest prize.
What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive one HeatShift Pad (winner's choice of any in-stock size and color).
Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.
How to Gain Entries:
Leave a comment telling me why you like the HeatShift Pad over another type of laptop cooler. (If you need help, you can read more about the HeatShift technology.) You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest. Extra Entries:
1) For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.
2) For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.
3) For 10 extra entries, blog about this contest linking back to this post AND ThermaPak.com . Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments with the link to your blog post.
4) Friend me on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Facebook profile.
5) For 2 extra entries, share the link to this contest post on Facebook. Then leave TWO separate comments with the link to your Facebook profile.
6) Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.
7) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.
8) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.
9) Subscribe to A Blog of Goodies' feed (the sister site to 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.
10) Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.
(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)
Random Drawing:
This contest will be closed on Monday, April 19th, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.
Good luck in the drawing!