Take it With You

Despite their name, laptop computers don't generally work well in most laps. For one thing, they're slippery, so you've got to raise your knees to negate the lap's dangerous slope. Laptop bottoms can also get uncomfortably warm, and the last thing you need when you're trying to make a deadline is another reason to sweat. Besides, placing the laptop on a lap is likely to block some ventilation ports.

Enter the Lapinator ($29.95; www.lapinator.com) Measuring 13 x 12 x 1 inches and weighing 11 ounces, it's designed to serve as a thermal barrier between your laptop and your lap. This goal is accomplished with a combination of 4M Type B Thinsulate, a closed-cell foam bottom and patented core material. The Lapinator's polypropylene top provides a non-skid surface for laptops equipped with their own rubber feet. For flat-bottomed laptops, a pair of self-adhesive bumpers provides friction and a little extra ventilation.

The Lapinator fits easily into most laptop cases outside pocket and adds very little to the overall burden while adding greatly to the system's utility.

Please note that Thinsulate comes from 3M and the Lapinator's price is $24.95.