Setup

The size of the NotePal (320mm x 300mm x 42 mm) should readily accommodate most laptops. Our own test laptop is a 15.4" Widescreen (16:9 ratio) laptop as seen in the photos. It hung over the sides of the NotePal slightly, but was still very stable on top of it.

Our only gripe with the NotePal is that the front section blocks the lower front section of our laptop, which places the audio jacks, volume, 5-in-1 card reader, and wireless network power switch. The alternative is to prop the front part of the laptop on top of the front part of the NotePal, but that eliminates the slope. However, it does give more breathing room for the fans though.

Performance

While using the fans, we did notice a drop in temperature with the bottom of the laptop. This was measured with the "human hand" test. That is about the full extent of the NotePal's fans' cooling power because the temperature on the surface of our laptop remained the same. For our laptop, it is not surprising because the bottom is completely sealed. There are some designs that should benefit further from the NotePal due to venting on the bottom of the laptop surface.

Using the fans or not did not matter for our laps because the NotePal itself already provided a barrier between the heat and our "friends" down under; the caved in section of the NotePal aluminum frame does not act as a direct heat sink. Besides acting as a path for air to blow through, it prevents heat transferring to the NotePal's frame, and in turn you, so your lap will be quite safe.