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Review on 💻 Targus PA248U Laptop Cooling Pad by Paul Letho

Revainrating 2 out of 5

Does the job BUT MANY PROBLEMS // NOISY // Breaks easily // Not good for hairy legs // $10 LESS IS BETTER!

I'm not a techie or computer savvy. Like many of you, I depend on my computer for work and personal life and am just looking for something that works and doesn't cost a fortune (for my notoriously hot Sony Vaio; size 12.5" x 9.3"). The Targus Chillpad was the first cooler I ever bought so I was happy because I had no comparison. until I used someone else's cooler and realized what I was missing. And I bought it right away - $10 less and 10 times better. Here's the thing: Targus Chillpad gets the job done. Nothing superfluous and with a few flaws. FIRST, VERY LOUD. I would not recommend using it in office space or public areas. Also, it often makes "crunching noises" when you first start it or when you move. SECOND, if you have hairy legs, FORGET to use the chillpad on your lap - there is no cover on the underside of the cooler so you will be very nervous if those hairs get stuck in the fans (AND MY GOODS! ). Third, Chillpad isn't as thin and compact as it could be, making it difficult to fit in a computer bag. FOURTH, he is extremely weak. I remember reading other people's reviews about its tendency to break down and they weren't kidding. Mine started making these weird grinding noises about a month after I bought it. After a few months, the cable connecting the cooler to the computer became very loose, so the cooling pad wouldn't work unless I physically pushed and held the cable into the cooler while trying to type with one hand . FIFTH, the chillpad failed to cool part of my laptop (which would stay REALLY hot) and I wouldn't complain about it unless the laptop cooler I recommend below cools the whole part of it. Notebook. Here's the best deal: The laptop cooler I switched to is the Vantec Lapcool 3 (about $18). It's much quieter, much thinner, coated underneath to protect hair, and much more durable. I use it almost all the time and haven't had a single problem other than the noise it made once when I accidentally dropped it (which I think is understandable). I can't believe a laptop cooler that is so much better than the Targus Chillpad could be so much cheaper. But it's better for me! Even if the thing breaks for some reason in the next few months, the purchase was worth it. Hope that helps!

Pros
  • Great for outdoor activities
Cons
  • Not sure