HYPERAXE

It’s a fact, the MacBook Pro is one hot mean machine, literally. It may be one thing that Apple haven’t really worked out, but with such powerful machine it’s not hard to understand that it would have issues on heat generation. It would truly be impossible for you to place your MBP on your lap for long hours, especially when plugged in to a power source without gutting burned. Things would also get worst when you use intensive applications, such as in my case, Java apps or IDE’s and Linux OS under VMWare Fusion.

I also read from some articles that not addressing heat issues with your notebook could affect its lifespan. This made me think things over and I thought that its about time I address this issue rather than have regrets in the end. So I started looking into my options, and researched about each popular products for my needs. I also roamed around computer shops, and found a lot of laptop cooling pads which mostly have USB powered fans.

There’s one product though that had caught my attention due to good reviews and its popularity to Mac users. This is nothing else than Rain Design’s iLap. It’s a bit more expensive than most laptop cooling pads I saw, but I seemed to be drawn to it by its cool design and features so I decided to go for it. Here’s why:

• Lap and Desk Use – iLap’s design allows you to use it to cool your Mac either on your lap or on your desk, unlike other cooling pads I saw wherein you only get to choose one (lap or desk).
• Ergonomics – Using iLap on your lap and on the desk provides very good ergonomics that improves your posture. I tend to slouch a lot when working on my desk, but with iLap I tend to sit with a straighter back. When using it on my lap, it gets a lot better as well, especially when I am sitting on my bed which I oftentimes do when working late at night. Due to it’s adjustable stand at the back, as well as the front cushion, I feel more comfortable when working on my bed or when sitting on a couch. 
• Effective heat Dissipation without drawing USB power – I don’t like the idea of using cooling pads with USB powered fans, since it shortens my laptop’s battery life when working away from a power source. iLap doesn’t use any fans to dissipate heat but rather does the cooling through it’s aluminum surface which acts as a very effective cool sink. I had really noticed a much cooler notebook when doing intensive work or playing games. I never go past beyond 60 degrees Celsius with my day to day work, but without iLap, 70 would be a normal operating temperature for me and my Mac. One other thing as well is I don’t feel much heat going out of my keyboard or speakers, which had always been uncomfortable for me before using iLap. 
• Portability – Since I am using a 17″ MBP, iLap would really be quite big for most backpacks, but I still find it portable since it’s very lite. I might need a separate bag for it when traveling but without the additional baggage weight, then I think it’s fine. 

Right now, things are going well for me and my iLap, and I think I had a good buy with this cool gadget for my Mac. I’m glad I made the right choice.

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