Was ready to purchase one until people started mentioning overheating issues if using it with a laptop. I could use a portable laptop fan in case that happens I suppose or keep the laptop closer to the left side so the internal fan can do its thing. Need more feedback to help me decide if it’s worth purchasing.
@JT954 I’m only one person, but my experience includes several years of IT and technology consulting, as well as extensive work to repair and refurbish computers and laptops, so here’s my quick take:
For any traditional laptops that use x86 processors (Intel or AMD, basically), cooling is absolutely necessary, and would almost certainly be impeded at least in part by this sort of heat-trap. A very limited few designs have more side-oriented air intakes, and rear-facing exhausts out the back of the screen and the hinge area. Those would be in less danger, but still insulated by the completely flat and soft, cushioning surface. Not a great idea for these, particularly for longer use, or heavier computing tasks, like gaming or some other workloads.
For tablets, and other devices that are based on mobile or ARM-based architectures, such as Apple’s recent M1 or M2 designs, this is less of an issue. They rely on passive cooling (with few exceptions, like the M1 or newer MacBook Pro) and a big pillow that likes heat would be less of an immediate problem. Ideally, these devices will still dissipate heat better when their body or chassis is exposed to more air, rather than being set against a large, insulated mass. However, the lower power and heat will still be less bad.
Conclusion - Could range from acceptable (for tablets, or ARM-like devices) to very, VERY bad (for traditional, or especially powerful laptops that need to breathe). The ergonomic aspect is nice, since goodness knows we, as humans, are great at neglecting good posture practises, but similar things can be done with other solutions that promote heat dissipation, rather than smothering your device, so that it can reach high enough temperatures to throttle performance to protect itself, or possibly just cause damage. I hope that this helps inform your decision.
As a contrasting point, I use a very different style of stand, which is elevated, adjustable, and aluminum - Helps encourage airflow, and ergonomic use, while being lightweight, and travel-friendly. It may not be a perfect solution for all, but I liked it enough to have a couple in the house for my laptop, wife’s office, for an iPad/Kindle reading platform, etc. https://a.co/d/eei5Q1p
@2many2no To follow up on this comment, I have thrown my laptop to the floor twice since getting this, which I’ve never done before, although it’s not been overheating.
This is an older MacBook, so it survived both drops somehow but I don’t know why it’s not overheating.
Seems insulating. Macs, as do a lot of modern laptops vent out the back and also use the chassis as a heat sink. Wonder if this would have a negative impact on thermal management.
Most laptops have cooling vents on the bottom. Using them on a pillow OR this plush stands seems like a bad idea! Your laptop should be on a hard surface ALWAYS.
@davearnold731 Looking at the seven laptops scattered in my closets and laptop bags, of four different brands, not a single one has actual vents on the bottom. However, all of them get hot at some point across the bottom surface, and all of them have little rubber feet to space them up off of whatever surface they’re on. And there must be a reason why one of the things sold for assisting with keeping laptops running at full speed is a platform with fans in it to ventilate that bottom surface and dissipate heat. Having the laptop sitting on what amounts to a blanket would seem to be counterproductive.
Specs
Tech Impressions The Duo 2.0 Multi-Position Memory Foam Laptop/Tablet Stand
Condition: New
Model#: 768062
What’s Included?
Price Comparison
$34.99 on Amazon
Warranty
90 days
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Sep 12 - Thursday, Sep 15
I don’t remember this foam.
Memory foam softens with/traps heat. Won’t this start sagging as you use your laptop? And then overheat it?
@TheMeerkat Depends. Solid-state harddrives aren’t as likely to heat things up. My Chromebook, for example, almost never feels warm.
This is incredibly meh
What if you don’t have a lap?
@ircon96 Well if you keep your shirt on you will have a top.
I don’t want to live in a world where beige (AKA “alleged taupe”
) is an alternative to purple.
@ircon96 So… are you checking out?
@Trinityscrew Eventually…
It looks squishy
What operating system does Schroeder run? (Linus uses Linux, obviously.)
@Rowsdower probably (s)chromeOS
Is Model#: 768062 the Kama Sutra model?
@phendrick Don’t judge me – I didn’t sell sex toys a few weeks ago.
@phendrick I was gonna say - who are we kidding - this is sex furniture for your cat.
My wife could really use one, but alas you don’t have the right color. Yes, my wife prefers looks over function, with one obvious exception.
Wouldn’t this be terrible for most actively cooled laptops with bottom air intake?
/giphy PURPLE!!
Was ready to purchase one until people started mentioning overheating issues if using it with a laptop. I could use a portable laptop fan in case that happens I suppose or keep the laptop closer to the left side so the internal fan can do its thing. Need more feedback to help me decide if it’s worth purchasing.
@JT954 I’m only one person, but my experience includes several years of IT and technology consulting, as well as extensive work to repair and refurbish computers and laptops, so here’s my quick take:
For any traditional laptops that use x86 processors (Intel or AMD, basically), cooling is absolutely necessary, and would almost certainly be impeded at least in part by this sort of heat-trap. A very limited few designs have more side-oriented air intakes, and rear-facing exhausts out the back of the screen and the hinge area. Those would be in less danger, but still insulated by the completely flat and soft, cushioning surface. Not a great idea for these, particularly for longer use, or heavier computing tasks, like gaming or some other workloads.
For tablets, and other devices that are based on mobile or ARM-based architectures, such as Apple’s recent M1 or M2 designs, this is less of an issue. They rely on passive cooling (with few exceptions, like the M1 or newer MacBook Pro) and a big pillow that likes heat would be less of an immediate problem. Ideally, these devices will still dissipate heat better when their body or chassis is exposed to more air, rather than being set against a large, insulated mass. However, the lower power and heat will still be less bad.
Conclusion - Could range from acceptable (for tablets, or ARM-like devices) to very, VERY bad (for traditional, or especially powerful laptops that need to breathe). The ergonomic aspect is nice, since goodness knows we, as humans, are great at neglecting good posture practises, but similar things can be done with other solutions that promote heat dissipation, rather than smothering your device, so that it can reach high enough temperatures to throttle performance to protect itself, or possibly just cause damage. I hope that this helps inform your decision.
As a contrasting point, I use a very different style of stand, which is elevated, adjustable, and aluminum - Helps encourage airflow, and ergonomic use, while being lightweight, and travel-friendly. It may not be a perfect solution for all, but I liked it enough to have a couple in the house for my laptop, wife’s office, for an iPad/Kindle reading platform, etc.
https://a.co/d/eei5Q1p
@arosiriak @JT954 As a former IT Admin, I agree. Unless you lift it with blocks or put on the edge…otherwise over heat.
Weird they don’t mention the “hands-free” viewing feature.
Only buy this if you want your laptop to catch on fire.
@joeygambin0 right, airflow is inhibited
This seems like the perfect solution for deciding if you need a new laptop.
Because you will…
@2many2no To follow up on this comment, I have thrown my laptop to the floor twice since getting this, which I’ve never done before, although it’s not been overheating.
This is an older MacBook, so it survived both drops somehow but I don’t know why it’s not overheating.
It’s not a bad crappy computer pillow
My tablet doesn’t get hot and my laptop has vents on the side and works fine sitting on a normal pillow, so I’m in for one navy blue.
Was thinking of this
/image Austin powers mod furniture
@pmarin is that Madison Nicole Ziegler?
Sure, kid’s will dig it.
/giphy quiet-outlandish-anger
Seems insulating. Macs, as do a lot of modern laptops vent out the back and also use the chassis as a heat sink. Wonder if this would have a negative impact on thermal management.
Besides the heat issue, this seems like it would be too small for a 15" laptop, much less a 17".
I can see laptops overheating on this.
Most laptops have cooling vents on the bottom. Using them on a pillow OR this plush stands seems like a bad idea! Your laptop should be on a hard surface ALWAYS.
@davearnold731 Looking at the seven laptops scattered in my closets and laptop bags, of four different brands, not a single one has actual vents on the bottom. However, all of them get hot at some point across the bottom surface, and all of them have little rubber feet to space them up off of whatever surface they’re on. And there must be a reason why one of the things sold for assisting with keeping laptops running at full speed is a platform with fans in it to ventilate that bottom surface and dissipate heat. Having the laptop sitting on what amounts to a blanket would seem to be counterproductive.
Ordered one, I’ll just toss a OUIJA board under the laptop to keep the clearance up for the fan.
No. Nope. Nuh uh. No Way. Noooooooo.
@JustKen Are you sure?
@yakkoTDI, I’m on the fence.
@JustKen @yakkoTDI I’m on the other side of the fence from the bull.
A bulky unitasker for something that can usually be done better without it. How much more pointless can a thing be?
/giphy measured-stormy-drug
Seems like it would be useful…in for a purple:
/giphy crappy-ultra-hair
Ordered one, wish I had more! Works as a lapdesk as well as a laptop stand for when I watch TV in bed. I never bother using the table side.