The Notebook Buffer is a really interesting As Seen On TV product because it looks more useful than the cheesy ad makes it sound. Make no mistake about it, the commercial is funny like most of the time, but we are addressing a topic that a lot of people respond to. What is the best laptop cooling pad?

First, let’s tackle why we even need one in the first place. The premise is that when your laptop is used there is a huge heat build-up underneath the unit and this is somehow bad for the computer itself. Some say it makes you have to work harder or that the heat from the build-up can damage the unit.

I’m not sure I agree because if it was so terrible why would they keep making laptops with this problem? Interestingly, it was pointed out that since I am a PC user, Macs do not have this problem. My laptop has vents on the bottom that apparently allow this heat to build up while Macs have their vents elsewhere. Therefore, this can eliminate the need for Mac users to even continue reading. But, since I am not a Mac user, I cannot give any solid advice.

What I can say is that regardless of how or why, laptops emit heat and this can become problematic after prolonged use. Whether it’s getting too hot to hold on your lap or it’s just a concern that you’re generating excess heat in your workspace, a host of products have appeared to address the problem.

Most laptop cooling pads have fans inside that will try to disperse the heat. They usually have USB cables and connect to your laptop while resting on top. This is all great, but only one I used broke after a few months.

This is what sparked my interest in Notebook Buffer. It seemed too good to be true. First, it is very portable. It’s light as a feather and you can fold or roll it up to carry in your laptop bag. The ad suggests that you wrap it around your computer when you carry it so it can absorb shock in case you drop the case or smash it against something.

I don’t bother doing this, but it is definitely possible. What I like is that it has no parts. It’s just a simple pad that raises your laptop nearly half an inch off the surface and allows heat to dissipate. My personal opinion is that it actually allows the vents on the bottom of my laptop to suck in cool air and disperse it inside the computer itself. I suspect that the vents on the bottom of the laptops are there for the intake and not the exhaust. Regardless, the heat is building up somewhere and this will alleviate the problem.

If you use the product, you will notice a significant difference, but you will still feel some heat under the unit. It just isn’t that bad. I think Notebook Buffer is a winner, but like I said before, if you are a Mac user, you can skip this one.

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