An uplifting accessory for notebook PCs

12:04 AM CST on Thursday, March 10, 2005

By WALT ZWIRKO / WFAA-TV

Walt Zwirko / WFAA.com

My notebook has a fan in the corner where I wanted to put one of the legs.

If you use a laptop computer regularly, you probably don't really use it on your lap... at least not for very long.

Today's notebooks, powered by the latest blazingly fast processor chips, tend to get quite warm quite quickly. And that is the genesis of Laptop Legs, an accessory designed to help your portable PC keep its cool.

There's really nothing revolutionary about Laptop Legs, which come in pairs and adhere to the bottom of a notebook computer.

The simple but sturdy design of each assembly incorporates two fold-down legs—one raises the computer by 1”; the other by 1-3/8”.

Installation is a breeze, but be sure to take a few minutes to plan the locations of each leg before pressing them into place. The legs should be as near to the rear corners of the computer as possible, according to the instructions.

That's not always possible, however. The bottom of my Dell notebook has a fan exhaust port in one corner, so I was forced to move my leg location in more than an inch. The leg on the other side now covers some screw locations on the case (although the legs can be removed by using a hair dryer to soften up the adhesive).

The manufacturer says raising the bottom of the computer off the desktop promotes better cooling because “internal heat is a notebook's worst enemy.” The tilted keyboard can also have an ergonomic benefit for the user.

Laptop Legs are sold in a package of four (two for your notebook and two extras) for $20. They are colored gray; the manufacturer, LapWorks, Inc., offers the same product in white as Mac Feet for a more aesthetic look with Apple portables.

E-mail askwalt@wfaa.com