Specifications and How the Lapinator Works
Specs
| Weight: | 11 ounces / 15 ounces |
| Dimensions: | 13 x 12 x 1 inches / 18 x 12 x 1 inches |
| Color: | All black |
| Style: | Rigid platform, flexible edges, compressible legs |
Thinsulate Ultra™ Insulation
The Lapinator™ uses 3M's Type B Thinsulate™ insulation as the main barrier to the heat generated by laptop computers. The Lapinator employs Type B Thinsulate, typically used in footwear, which is pre-compressed and will never lose its ability to block the heat. The cross-linked molded foam bottom also acts as an insulator. We tested the Lapinator using a Dell Inspiron running on the Lapinator for an hour sitting on a wooden desk in a 70 degree room. The top of theLapinator reached 125 degrees, however, the temperature between the Lapinator's legs and the deskwas a cool 73 degrees! Only 3 of the extra 55 degrees could make it past the Lapinator!
Heat Dissipation
As proven by The-Gadgeteer.com, the Lapinator keeps your laptop computer cooler too! In fact, it reduces the CPU temperature 11 degrees more than the same laptop running on a wooden desk. Better yet, it cools your laptop CPU 16 degrees more than LapLogic's top of the line product which is twice as expensive! How is this possible?
When a laptop runs on a desk, the wood or metal surface acts as a "heat sink." This is never more evident than when using your laptop in your lap. It doesn't take long to realize that your legs also act as a heat sink. This heat conductivity creates a "hot spot" right under your laptop that makes it much more difficult for your laptop's cooling system to work efficiently. This Another Gadgeteer.com review illustrated this effect. They showed that LapLogic's best product, which uses a conductive top layer, actually raises the CPU temperature by 9 degrees despite their claims to the contrary!
The Lapinator's surface and core plastic layers are not heat conductors. This means that laptop heat dissipates. Your laptop is not sitting on a "hot spot" so it's cooling system works much more efficiently. Almost all of our competing products claim that resting your laptop on heat conductive materials is a good thing! It isn't.
Ventilation
The Lapinator provides two levels of ventilation. First, in addition to the insulation, the Lapinator delivers more airspace between it and your laptop than any other "in your lap" product. That space is created by two 3M self-adhesive bumpers that lift the back of your laptop 1/2 an inch off the Lapinator's surface. The combination of the non-conducting plastics and added air space maximizes heat dissipation.
This ventilation is especially critical for the many laptops whose fan vents heat directly through the bottom! One of our customer's bottom venting Hewlett Packard laptops would simply turn itself off when it go too hot! The Lapinator solved her problem.
The second level of ventilation is provided by the Lapinator's offset "legs" that lift the insulation up and off of your lap. This space created between your lap and the Lapinator permits body heat to dissipate keeping your lap extra cool!
The Surface
The Lapinator's durable polyethylene top provides a non-skid surface that still allows for easy laptop position changes during use. For those laptops without their own rubber feet (older Compaqs), or if an extra measure of stability is desired, please use the self-adhesive bumpers which prevent any movement. Though the Lapinator's surface may distort a little bit during use as it dissipates the heat, it's melting point is well over 200 degrees.
The Bottom
Another problem that frequently occurs during "in your lap" laptop use is the tendency for the unit to slide towards your body. This slippage results in a rather uncomfortable typing position. The bottom of the Lapinator consists of a flame-laminated colorfast pique cloth that will neither slide on nor snag your clothing. Its also comfortable when wearing shorts.
The laptop/Lapinator combination easily slides across across a desk or table when the need for space arises. Our customers pointed out that during a phone call or meeting they no longer had to stand, lift, and move their laptops.
For quick and portable storage the Lapinator's legs compress, allowing the Lapinator to easily slip into the outside pocket of your laptop bag. However, when weight is distributed across the Lapinator during use, the legs will not compress.
Velcro
Each Lapinator employs a 4 inch strip of One Wrap™ Velcro in the center of the back of the unit. This strip will neatly and securely contain the power, modem and network cords often attached to your laptop at home or in the office. Through the stress of normal use, laptop power connectors and cables can contribute to failure of the receptacle or be damaged themselves. The Velcro strip secures your cables and prevents this stress.