Discussions

The question today is “What design features could we consider to make the laptop sit better on your legs or to increase airflow when on a desk?”

Well, everybody that worked with a portable computer on their laps knows what the main problem is: heat.

There are many products available on the market to address this issue, from foam-like pads to aluminum stands with fans. The problem of these approaches is that they are addressing a symptom rather than solving the cause – which is reducing the amount of heat generated by the components inside the computer. And this will only happen when laptops consume less power, what will also lead to a greater battery life.

That is why we were so impressed to see the new ASUS Eee PC 1002HA in action. This small laptop is based on Intel Atom N270 CPU, which dissipates only 2.5 W. Needless to say, it produces very little heat (and it is also very light) and we could use it for hours on our lap.

Problem is, not everybody will be satisfied with a laptop with limited processing power and a small 10” screen, leaving no option other than using an external peripheral to make it more comfortable to use the laptop on your lap.

The problem of current products is that you need to carry them around. Cooling stands can be as big as your laptop, plus the added weight to your backpack or suitcase – they are terrific products when operating notebooks on a desk, though. Adding a better cooling system to laptops can be a solution, but current mainstream technologies will add size, weight and noise to the product. So we need someone to come up with an out-of-the-box cooling idea for future products.

Foam-like pads (like iXoft from Thermaltake) are based on sodium sulfate decahydrate (Glauber’s Salt), the same substance used on heat/cold packs sold in drugstores. They are not as heavy and bulky as cooling stands and have the added bonus of being bendable (so you can not only roll it up to carry it but also it can anatomically match the shape of your legs), but still it is something extra that you need to carry around. Maybe a manufacturer could try adding this material to the bottom of portable computers, like an attachment that you could remove while you are working on a desk to give you more stability and add when you are going to travel.