Q. Judie,

This is Roland. I’m not sure if you remember me or not, but you helped me decide to buy my HTC which I have been enjoying so much.

I have gotten a fabulous new Gateway notebook computer – my first notebook – and I was looking into accessories to use with my new toy, I mean necessary technology.

I have already purchased a mini wireless optical mouse and was looking at this chill mat. Are they worth it? Do you think they add to the life of your computer or are they just a unnecessary thing to spend money on?

I value your opinion greatly.

Sincerely,

Roland

photo courtesy of the Best Buy site

A. Hi Roland,

I think that the type of laptop cooling mat that you pointed out – the one with a built-in fan – is an excellent idea for keeping laptop temperatures controlled. Overheating and improper ventilation is common in laptops where space is tight and an effective cooling system isn’t always included. Overheating can lead to inconvenient shutdowns, crashes and hard disk instability problems; therefore, anything that you can do to keep your laptop cool is a good thing.

I have reviewed quite a few laptop coolers similar to the chill mat, and most were by the company Jetart; I’ve been very pleased with their performance and cooling features. Assuming that the quality of the Targus is similar to that of Jetart, you will probably also be happy with the results.

Usually thse fans are powered by hooking the mat to a spare USB port on the back of the laptop, and while you’ll hear a gentle whirring as they turn, it is not overly obnoxious. An added benefit of using these type coolers is that they usually raise the laptop to a more ergonomic and comfortable typing angle.

Assuming that you would be using the laptop at a desk, here are a couple of other options you might want to explore…

There are laptop legs ($19.95), which will raise the bottom rear of the computer so that air can pass underneath, circulate, and cool. You can read my 2005 review on them, here.

photo courtesy of the laptopdesk site

There are also simple stands such as the inexpensive Jetart NC3300 Cool Stand ($9.90) which I recently reviewed, that are very effective in allowing cool air to circulate under the laptop.

I do think that you are wise to try to keep your laptop cool; fortunately you have several choices on how to accomplish it.

Judie