Laptop computers are kind of misnamed.  After all, if you have a serious laptop, you can’t actually have it on your lap because it gets way too hot.  I’ve discussed this with every person I know that has a laptop rarely, if ever, just puts it on their lap for fear of getting grill shaped burn marks all over their thighs.

Of coruse, not having your laptop on your lap has its own set of problems.  For example, if you just plop your lappy on your desktop or the kitchen table, it’ll get hot.  In fact, it will probably overhead unless you’re lucky or don’t use it for very long.  A big desktop replacement laptop like my Alienware or a fully-loaded MacBook Pro gets incredibly hot if you use it for any long period of time, so an investment in a cooling apparatus of some sort is a must.  I have to say that the more I look at it, the bigger a fan I become of the Blue Octopus USB Laptop Cooler.

Not only it is blue, which I like, it’s also a double fan that is powered by the laptop’s USB port.  So if you stay chained to the outlet like I do, you have no reason not to keep your system as cool as Canada in the fall.  When you’re done (or they kick you out of the coffee shop), the Cooler folds up for easy storage and transport.

For under $12, you can’t beat it!  Plus, even if your laptop isn’t heating up but you are, you can just point it at your face and keep yourself cool.