Conclusion:

The Thermaltake iXoft R15ON02 Notebook Cooling Pad is a surprisingly effective device. Initially I had doubts that something that looked like a pot holder would do anything but insulate the base of the computer and actually make it warmer. In testing, each internally monitored component ran seven to eight degrees cooler, while the base of the computer and the desktop were both ten degrees cooler than when no cooler was used at all.

After having used a handful of notebook coolers that use rigid bodies with fans to get the job done, the iXoft is obviously the quietest, easiest to setup, most portable, and still quite effective. The somewhat mysterious and scientific nature of Thermaltake's heatshift technology makes the iXoft even more appealing, as it is just that much different than the typical cooler.


A search of PriceGrabber turned up nothing on the iXoft cooler, but a broader search of the Internet found a few stores with the Thermaltake iXoft R15ON02 Notebook Cooling Pad in stock, and confirms that the Crazy PC price of $29.99 is quite competitive. Although this compares well with other coolers on the market, it is possible to get a more traditional unit for less money. And for less money you might not get the same performance, you may have more noise, and you may lose one USB port.

Given the performance, portability, silence, and geeky scientific appeal, the Thermaltake iXoft R15ON02 Notebook Cooling Pad earns the award of "Highly Recommended".


Pros:

» Surprisingly effective laptop cooling
» No fans, no noise
» No power required
» Portable: lightweight and foldable
» Use it next time you need to get a bundt cake out of the oven

Cons:

» Costs more than many 'traditional' laptop coolers

Special thanks to Crazy PC for providing the Thermaltake iXoft R15ON02 Notebook Cooling Pad to Bigbruin.com for review!