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Lightning Review: Belkin CushTop Hideaway Laptop Cushion
Posted by Jason Chen at 9:00 AM on July 30, 2008
The Gadget: A semi-solid cushion for your laptop that separates hot aluminium from fleshy thighs, plus has a small space to store random things (like your charger).
The Price: US$39.99
The Verdict: Alright. It does what it says, which is giving you a small cushion between your laptop and your thighs. It's better than a normal pillow because it's flat, and gives adequate airflow for proper ventilation. The little hiding hole is enough for you to shove your iPod, wallet, or various computer accessories into.
The only thing we have a problem with is the price. US$40 seems to be too high for something like this (it was listed incorrectly as US$64.99 on their press release) when you can get something like the Kangaroom Bamboo Laptop station for US$45. Or, you can wait for Belkin's other laptop cooling devices like the Cooling Lounge, which cost the same but have a fan on board for extra ventilation. [Belkin]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
Marc
Posted July 30, 2008 12:48 PM
Awesome. I've got one of the older ones (that came it shiteous colours - lime green, off-grey and orange). I paid AU$70 retail, but it was well worth it...durable, versatile, and well comfortable. Still as sturdy as day one, although I'll likely get a new one anyway.
Fountainhead
Posted 11:02 AM 30/7/08
Would hope that the soft cushy part doesn't block any cooling intake/exhaust ports on the bottom...Heat is not good for electronics. I would prefer a hard surface on the laptop side.
Fountainhead
The Lab
Posted 10:22 AM 30/7/08
It would be cool if it was a protective sleeve for your laptop when you weren't using it. Who puts their wallet in their lap pad? Also, who is the idiot how got the price wrong on the press release? Their employer needs to banhammer them.
The Lab
Mike918
Posted 10:07 AM 30/7/08
I saw the exact thing at costco at $20 but i wasn't too impressed.
Mike918
geowrian
Posted 10:06 AM 30/7/08
I got one for $15 at Walmart last month for my g/f. She loves it and at $15, it's well worth it.
geowrian
crenquis
Posted 9:47 AM 30/7/08
The wife got one at Costco for $20. Works well even for a 17" laptop. (she likes it much better than a couple other "lap-desks" that are lying around here...) I'm hoping that it is made out of flame-proof material so that when the nvidia card on her lappy flames on we don't end up with a big flaming marshmallow.
crenquis
Metkis
Posted 9:34 AM 30/7/08
@Groggy Banana: Ohh, twas a lonely night one night...
Metkis
stonefry
Posted 9:26 AM 30/7/08
Picked one up for my mom at Costco for $20. She was in a leg cast and used the laptop a lot. She absolutely loved it. Haven't seen it at Costco since though.
Btw, her mouse fit in the little hidey hole.
stonefry
Groggy Banana
Posted 9:20 AM 30/7/08
@Metkis: Well I don't know if you'd be using it for sleeping, but if you take: "The little hiding hole is enough for you to shove your iPod, wallet, or various computer accessories" and cross "computers", then a whole array of possibilities comes to mind.
Groggy Banana
Metkis
Posted 9:17 AM 30/7/08
@heidiho: Ahh, alright. Well it was a thought.
Metkis
Shub-Niggurath
Posted 9:13 AM 30/7/08
They have a really nice one at Staples for $30
[www.staples.com]
Shub-Niggurath
heidiho
Posted 9:09 AM 30/7/08
@Metkis: Nope, too hard.
heidiho
Metkis
Posted 9:07 AM 30/7/08
I know this is a weird question, but do you think it would make a good pillow?
Metkis
heidiho
Posted 9:07 AM 30/7/08
I picked one of those up for $20 at Costco a couple weeks ago. I love it. The fan on my Macbook hasn't turned on once since I've been using this.
heidiho
Groggy Banana
Posted 9:06 AM 30/7/08
I have to get an semi-industrial fan under my laptop just so it can run a more intensive task these days. Global warming is starting to be inconvenient.
Groggy Banana
DestroyerMTL
Posted 12:46 PM 30/7/08
Got one of these for my gf to use with her macbook on the couch. I think it's great, keeps the computer at a nice angle, and prevents thigh cooking.
DestroyerMTL
ANoel
Posted 1:10 AM 31/7/08
I warmly recco this product. The immediate comfort is wonderful but MORE... excuse me Ladies... just for us guys, there are other life supporting benefits... because... ( breaks into song )
+ Watch video
ANoel
LastVigilante
Posted 2:07 AM 31/7/08
Belkin already has something similar for $25 at Amazon, similarly called the Belkin CushTop Notebook Stand. I got one for my girlfriend and it works pretty well, especially since it isn't flat and holds your laptop at an angle more comfortable for using on you lap on the couch or setting on your bed.
I'm thinking this CushTop Hideaway Laptop Cushion is called "Hideaway" because they expect you to put your whole laptop in the sleeve while your not using it. (Am I right that the inner cavity is more like a pocket and not a hollow tube?) If so, then apparently the Belkin marketing folks haven't been informed of this function either.
LastVigilante
fyredragon17
Posted 2:48 PM 30/7/08
Ok, so how is this different than the one I got back in January from Amazon.com at 25 bucks? Looks very similar, what's the difference?
fyredragon17