Belkin CoolSpot Cushion Laptop Cooling Pad

Given that laptops are often used on people's laps -- duh! -- it is surprising how few cooling pads seem designed with that use in mind. Almost all have hard plastic bottoms better suited for desktop use.In fact, when I was looking to replace a Targus cooling pad that was making noises and giving off too much vibration after a few years of service, I was hard-pressed to find a replacement with a cloth-covered or padded bottom for comfortable use on my lap.Fortunately, I came upon this Belkin CoolSpot, which not only has a fabric bottom, but a cushioned one as well.That makes it quite comfortable -- more than the fabric-covered but uncushioned Targus.It also seems to do a good job of cooling. Contrary to the claim of another review here, this unit has two air intakes, one on the bottom and one on the back, so air flows through unobstructed whether you use your laptop on a hard surface or on your lap.The fan outputs a reasonable amount of air, is completely silent in operation, and doesn't vibrate the laptop.I have deducted one star from my review because the USB power cord is a little short. It just barely reaches any of the USB ports on my 15.6" Toshiba Satellite, which are all up near the front of the laptop. The cord is connected to the back of the cooling pad, right in the middle. To reach one of my USB ports, I have to run the cord diagonally across the top of the cooling pad under the laptop -- not an optimal solution, and one that could put undue stress on the cord IMO.To remedy the problem, I have ordered the shortest USB extension cord Amazon has, which is a foot long. Unfortunately, that adds $5 more to the cost of the cooling pad. I did NOT have this length problem with the Targus cord, which was several inches longer.Otherwise this pad has no height adjustments, additional USB ports, or LED lights, but I don't need any of those.I just need a comfortable pad to keep my laptop cool and shield my thighs from laptop heat, and for these purposes, this Belkin seems well suited.PROS:* Comfortable cushioned bottom.* Two air intakes, one underneath pad, one in back.* Silent, vibration-free fan.* Well-sized for laptops 15.6" or smaller.CONS:* USB cord could be a few inches longer.

I have had a few laptop/netbook cooling pads before and none have performed to my satisfaction. They were either built using cheap material or did not function as well as I'd hoped. Belkin's CoolSpot cooling pad has proven that a great product is available.This cushioned cooling pad is thoughtfully designed to rest comfortably on the lap. The fan is powerful enough to cool effectively and is positioned in the right place for pretty much any laptop or netbook. Finally, the construction and materials are excellent; no rattling pieces here!The only drawbacks that I can think of are the fact that this cooling pad is rather expensive when compared to others on the market. But that may be because of the quality of the build. Also, I wish this cooling pad would feature a small stand on the bottom so that it can be used on a flat surface, like a desk or bed.Please keep in mind that this cooling pad is only for lap use. It does not function effectively if put on a flat surface. For the most effective use, the area around the fan on the bottom of the cooling pad cannot blocked or covered. If you are looking for a cooling pad that can be used both on the lap AND on a flat surface, buy one that has a small stand on the bottom to ensure proper air flow.

What a fantastic little gadget! I was having trouble playing The Sims 3 on my laptop because it would overheat and shut off after a very short amount of time, generally about an hour but sometimes after about ten minutes. I havent had that problem while using this at all. It's also got a very nice cushioned underside so it feels comfortable on your lap. There are grip pads on the top and bottom to keep your laptop in place. The only issue I can see is that the USB cord for the cooling pad is very short, and my laptop doesn't have a USB port on the back, so moving the laptop around while plugged in and resting on the pad is limited. I've had this for about two months and it still works great after moderate use. Overall I would highly recommend this to solve the problem of overheating laptops!

I have had this product for a while and have been using it to keep my laptop from over heating and this product has abruptly stopped working no matter which USB port I put it in or even if I try maneuvering it around it won't work. I am rather upset by this as I paid more for this thinking it would be a high quality product. I was apparently wrong and I will most likely just buy the cheap microsoft cooling base as mine only quit working after being dropped while moving.**EDIT**I returned this product to amazon requesting a return and a replacement cooling base. It is now working great and I've had it for awhile and it has been working just fine. Lets hope it keeps this up as it is a nice cooling base that does sit comfortably in my lap.

Really love it ... so why not five stars. First, it plugs into to the computer USB port ... this adds to heating up my computer (a MasBook Pro 15"). I have purchased a USB extension cable so I could power the fan otherwise. Second, the no slip strip doesn't really work that well. A small ridge would probably have been better to keep my laptop from slipping. That being said, it is a great size for my 15" Mac! The fan definitely keeps my computer much cooler and my lap too!. The padding is not too squishy, but definitely makes a nice cushion and very comfortable. Would definitely recommend this product.

Love this! It's soft underneath where it sits on your lap. Via a USB connector, a fan turns around inside and keeps both you and the laptop cool. I don't know how I managed without it.

Nice looking and comfortable lap tray. The vent is sufficient to keep my laptop cool, haven’t needed to plug the fan in. USB cable stores snugly in compartment at back of tray.

I had this previous for several years and had to finally replace it due to the wire fraying from use not fault - fan would have continued on working otherwise. I never had an issue with the laptop overheating with this make and model. Had another fan which wasn't a patch on this.

The cold bit hasn't lasted long at first I thought it was good waste of money which is a shame

Great bit of kit