Xpad Slim Notebook Cooling Pad Review

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Product: Xpad Slim
Manufacturer: Xpad4laptop
Supplied by: Xpad4laptop
Price: 25USD/RM88
Launch Date: TBD

We have reviewed quite number of notebook cooling pads from low end till high end but today we will review a very unique notebook cooling pad which is totally different with those cooling pads that we have reviewed previously. Xpad Slim from Xpad4laptop is a passive and simple notebook cooling pad without any active cooling ventilation system. Let us go through further on this device.

Company Profile

Xpad4laptop is a US based company which under EDOVA Innovations, LLC. Xpad4laptop is only selling passive notebook cooling pad and there is only a single product at the same time. 2 years ago, Xpad was launched and recently as replacement model was released; Xpad Slim which is much slimmer and targeting to be next generation of best-selling original notebook cooling pad.

Features

• Protects your lap from laptop heat
• Non-slip interface keeps your laptop on your lap
• Cools your laptop without fans
• Keep your laptop cooler by up to 30 degrees and shield your lap by up to 60 degrees
• Reducing laptop heat extends laptop life, increases performance, and keeps your legs happy!
• 30-Day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee

Specifications

- LIGHT-WEIGHT: Weighing in at less than a pound, Xpad feels amazingly light!
- UNIVERSAL FIT: Xpad will accommodate Laptops with screen sizes up to 17 inches!
Please measure the distance between the rubber feet on your laptop - they should fit within a 14.5" x 10.5" footprint.
- ERGONOMIC: Xpad is optimally sized to fit on your lap while gripping your laptop so that it won't slide when used on an incline.
- PORTABLE: A slim profile means Xpad will fit in most Laptop bags along with your Laptop.

Package & Contents

Xpad Slim comes with a simple packaging where the whole notebook cooling pad is packed inside a soft transparent plastic case. Our Xpad Slim sample packaging was dented at one of the corners due to courier service but luckily no physical damage on the product itself. Not much of product description is written on the Xpad Slim packaging as it is only comes with a small paper band across the cooling pad.

We prefer a better product description and its usage on the packaging as this is a unique notebook cooling pad so not many people will know how it works at first glance. Xpad4latop provides 30-Day 100% satisfaction guarantee and one-year limited warranty where user can return the Xpad Slim within 30 days if he/she not satisfies with the performance; a good proof to indicate that Xpad4laptop has strong confidence on this product.

A Closer Look - Xpad Slim

Let us have some light touch about Xpad history where the first version of Xpad was launched around two years ago and recently it was replaced by its successor; Xpad Slim. The concept of Xpad Slim is still the same with Xpad first version but this time it is much slimmer which provides greater portability. As we mentioned before Xpad Slim is a passive notebook cooling pad which is quite rare as most of the notebook cooling pads that are available in the market are active cooling pad where at least a single fan or a blower is included and some even consists of more than one fan for better performance and compatibility.

Anyway here is the bottom pad of Xpad Slim where it is made by non slippery material to provide better holding ability on all kind of surface since Xpad Slim is targeted to be used not only on working desk but also on lap. With such advantage, Xpad Slim allows the notebook to be used on various positions without causing any stability issue as well as the heat that is generated by the notebook. Xpad Slim is a very light notebook cooling pad which is only weighted less than a pound and it can be used for most of the notebook up to 17" as long as the notebook is fitted within a 14.5" x 10.5" footprint.

The top portion of Xpad Slim looks quite simple where it is only come with four rubber risers which have high friction rubber on top of them to provide a non-slip interface with the notebook. A unique thermal insulation is applied with air pockets build into its ABS composite structure which makes Xpad Slim able to cool down the notebook further. Other advantages for such passive notebook cooling pad are noiseless since there isn't any cooling fan and it also won't draw any power from the notebook where the notebook may able to last longer (free up at least one USB port as well).

The function of these ‘X' pattern non-slip risers of Xpad Slim is used to rise up the notebook to increase the breathing room for the notebook; a very simple idea where all of us should know about it. Besides that all these risers also consist of ventilation slits to enhance the cooling performance for certain of notebooks since the notebook ventilation system is not standardized. Xpad Slim is only having 0.5" thickness which is good for storing it in a notebook carrying bag and can be used for outstation whenever a formal desk is not available.

Installation, Testing & Performance

The installation process for most of the notebook cooling pads is pretty straightforward; just place the notebook on top the notebook cooling pad then connect the USB cable to the notebook in order to power up the fan of the active notebook cooling pad. This is even simple for Xpad Slim as it is a passive notebook cooling pad so USB cable connection is not required as well.

Before we proceed to talk about its cooling performance, we would like to highlight its functionality. At first glance, Xpad Slim is a real simple product and you even can DIY to achieve the similar performance with this notebook cooling pad. However we are really impressed by its well concept and design as it is really solve the problem when the notebook is not being used on a work space as its non-slip and solid surface works well on your lap; inside car, sofa, train, bus, plane and so on. Besides the notebook is able to be held firmly, the heat issue is not along appeared too as the heat will not be directly blown toward the lap anymore.

Test Bed

Notebook: Dell Inspiron E1720
Processor: Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo T7500
Memory: Kingston 4GB HyperX 666MHz DDR2
Hard Drive: 120GB 2.5" 5400RPM 8MB Seagate
Graphic Card: Nvidia GeForce 8400M GS
Optical Drive: DVD RW
Router: TRENDnet TEW-639GR
Mouse: SteelSeries Ikari Laser
Mouse Pad: SteelSeries QcK+
HeadSet: SteelSeries 3H
Notebook Cooler: Xpad Slim
Operating System: Microsoft Window XP SP2
Ambient Temperature: 27 Degree Celsius

Here are the cooling performance results of Xpad Slim on one of our test system; 17" notebook. As you can see there are some temperature improvement with Xpad Slim for both CPU and GPU of the notebook. Although the improvement is not very significant which is mainly due to the notebook itself as even an active notebook cooling pad is used then cooling performance is still slightly the same hence Xpad Slim can be considered not a bad cooler by just having such simple product. Bear in mind that cooling performance isn't the solo function of Xpad Slim as its great flexibility and protability which allows to be used on lap which is another major selling point of this product.

Conclusion

No doubt Xpad Slim isn't the best notebook cooling pad as it is just a passive cooling pad where it should be fall under different category rather than direct comparing it with an active cooling pad; unfair for Xpad Slim. Nevertheless Xpad Slim is still able to cool down notebook temperature by using the simple concept to increase the breathing room of the notebook so that the ventilation can be improved. Besides that another great feature of Xpad Slim is optimally sized to fit on lap which is highly enhances the notebook portability. 25USD for a Xapd Slim isn't expensive but it could be further improved to gain more sales and the 30-day 100% satisfaction guarantee is a great offering to show their confidence on this product.

Pros:

+ Light weight & Slim
+ Universal design; support up to 17" notebook
+ Optimally sized to fit on lap
+ Non-slip interface
+ Cooling performance is improved
+ Allows for various positions
+ Installation-free
+ 30-day 100% satisfaction guarantee

Cons:

- Could be cheaper as it is just a passive cooling pad

Thanks to Xpad4laptop for providing this sample for us to review.