PowerBook Mystique Review - Targus Notebook Chill Mat (and Notebook ChillHub) - Plus PowerBook Mystique Mailbag
by Charles W. Moore
Modern Apple 'Books, from the 1.2 GHz iBook on up, offer great performance but at a price — heat. The speedy G4 processors and powerful video accelerator cards that give our 'Books near-desktop power these days create lots of it, and have spawned a booming market in third-party solutions to help keep your laptop's torrid underside from singing your thighs or damaging furniture. Heat also shortens the life of electronic components, and can degrade performance of high bandwidth devices.
Most laptop auxiliary cooling solutions work on a passive convection principle by elevating the computer from the work surface, allowing air to circulate underneath carrying away heat and letting the machine cool more efficiently. However, some of these products are now taking an active approach to cooling, using fans to suck heat away from the computer's underside.
The Targus Notebook Chill Mat is one such device, with two cooling fans built into a plastic lap platform. The fans get power from one of the computer's USB ports, and the power cord incorporates an on-off switch to help conserve power. Even with the fans shut down, the Chill Mat's air circulation channels allow the laptop to passively cool more efficiently, and the unit also serves as a lap desk. Power consumption, incidentally, is 1.05 watts.
Some might question the logic of buying a device that incorporates two fans in an effort to keep the laptop's single, internal, thermostatically-controlled cooling fan from cutting in. However, the reason why the internal fans in PowerBooks and iBooks are so cacophonously noisy is that they have to be physically very small in order to fit inside the computer's case to share space that is at a premium. Consequently, small diameter is compensated for with extremely high rotation speed, which is a surefire formula for noise creation.
On the other hand, the Targus Notebook Chill Mat is plenty large enough to accommodate two relatively large diameter (about 3 1/2 inches) fans that can turn much more slowly while still moving a substantial volume of air (the rated capacity is 28 cubic feet per minute). Consequently, the slow-rotation fans are much quieter than the internal fans in Apple laptops. Targus claims 25 DBL, which coincidentally is the same amount of noise Apple says the G5 iMac makes with its three internal cooling fans.
I didn't test with a decibel meter, but to my sensitive ears, the Chill Mat's fans make less noise than some laptop hard drives I've encountered, and it's a very subdued -- almost soothing -- sort of whispering sound, unlike the high pitched whine of the internal units.
The Targus Notebook Chill Mat can of course be used in conjunction with laptop stands that elevate the computer for better viewing ergonomics as well as directly on a desk or lap.
The Targus Notebook Chill Mat is an almost perfect fit for my 12-inch iBook, or a 12-inch PowerBook. Larger machines will overlap it somewhat, although that should not affect its cooling performance. Air will still be drawn past the underside of the computer and exhausted through the Chill Mat's back aperture.
The Chill Mat housing is made from a hard, ABS-type plastic, colored silver, which harmonizes nicely with metal, white, or even black Apple laptops. The Chill Mat is surprisingly light in weight at just 15 ounces (425 grams), and at dimensions of the 11.75" x 9" x 11/16" it should slip easily into most computer bags or backpacks.
The underside of the Targus Notebook Chill Mat has a non-mar, rubbery plastic contact panel for traction and to protect furniture, and there are two non-skid rubber domes on the rear edge of the top surface to slightly elevate the back of the laptop for better air circulation and to prevent any slippage of the notebook, as well as circulation channels molded into the top panel.
The Chill Mat has the appearance and feel of being well-made and finished, and comes with a one-year warranty.
If you have a 'Book that is a hottie in the literal sense, the Targus Notebook Chill Mat may prove just the ticket to keep it running cooler and preventing that aggravating internal fan from cutting in. If your computer's fan is running a lot anyway, the difference in power consumption represented by the Chill Mat's fans is likely small, and no problem at all when you're in desktop substitute mode with the 'Book plugged in.
My own computers, a700 MHz G3 iBook and a 550 MHz G4 PowerBook don't run terribly hot, so I wasn't able to test the Chill Mat's cooling effectiveness with a really sultry machine, but user testimonials at this page, for instance, are pretty much unanimous that the Chill Mat does work very effectively to cool hot laptops.
At $29.95, the Chill Mat represents a very modest investment to enhance your computing comfort, peace and quiet, and very likely extending your 'Book's service life.
Chill Mat TechnicalÊSpecsÊÊ Ê
Color
• Silver
Exterior Dimensions
• 11.75" x 9" x 0.8"
Includes:
• USB power cord with on/off switch
System Requirements
• USB port
Technical
• Air Flow: 28 CFM (cubic feet per minute)
• Speed: 1500 RPM
• PC Power: USB: 5 V, 500 mA
• Power: 1.05 W
Warranty
• Limited One Year Warranty
Weight• 15 oz
The Targus Notebook Chill Mat sells for Ê$29.99
For more information, visit:
http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=PA248U
Targus Notebook ChillHub
The Targus Notebook ChillHub is an enhancement of the of the Targus Notebook Chill Mat. In addition to the two-fan cooling system, the ChillHub conveniently incorporates four USB 2.0 ports, which will more than compensate for the port used to power the unit's own cooling fans.
With this two products in one solution, you can free up valuable space on your desk. The ChillHub also includes an AC Adapter to power the 2.0 USB ports, as well as the two fans when you're in desktop substitute mode.
Aside from the USB hub feature, the ChillHub functions essentially the same as the Chill Mat reviewed above.
ChillHub features:
• Prevents overheating: Two-fan cooling system pulls heat away from the laptop and prevents the CPU from overheating during use
• Protects your workspace: High-heat generating notebooks can damage furniture surfaces; the ChillHub protects furniture from heat damage
• Expands your capabilities: True plug and play for up to 4 USB 2.0 devices like mice, keyboard, memory drives, lights, PDAs, etc.
Technical specs.
Color - Silver
Exterior Dimensions - 11.75" x 9" x 0.8"
Warranty - One Year Warranty
Weight - 2 lb 5 oz
The Targus Notebook ChillHub sells for $49.99.
For more information, visit:
http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=AWE01US
PowerBook Mystique Mailbag
Tiger loaded?
Powerbook Mystique
From Bob Suh
Hello Charles,
I just wanted to write to tell you I really appreciated your recent article detailing the various specs and features of Apple's Aluminum PowerBook line. Since I’m now in the market to go mobile with my next Mac, it was well worth the read.
Inspired by your article, I had a quick question. At your best guess, how long do you think it will be until Apple begins shipping PowerBooks with Tiger preinstalled? Any thoughts or advice would be welcome!
Cheers and thank you!
Bob
Hi Bob;
Glad you enjoyed the article.
I am sure that PowerBooks entering the distribution channels now will have Tiger loaded. There will be some stock still around with Panther, but in most cases I would guess that by mid-May, it will be wall to wall Tiger with new machines.
If you're ordering online or by phone, be sure to clarify the OS status with the vendor.
Charles
From Quang Lam
I enjoyed your article on the aluminum Powerbook line. However, you noted that the maximum RAM for the 867 12'' is just 640 MB. I beg to differ, as I have this model, and I put in a gig stick of RAM from Kingston which is recognized. Of course, it's not "officially supported" by Apple... All in all, great article!
Quang Lam
Hi Quang;
Thanks!
Glad to hear that you got a Gig to work in the 867 LittleAL.
Hmmmm. I wonder if an equivalent solution is available for my G3 iBook.
Charles
