Even though a laptop is a portable computer that is meant to be used on our laps, most of us don’t do it. The simple reason is that the heat generated beneath the machine is too much for our laps to handle and the only way to solve it is to create an obstruction between our part of the body and the notebook, which today, is done by laptop cooling stands. These stands however, not only fulfilled our need to use the laptops on our laps but also provided better ergonomics and additional cooling to our powerful devices. We recently took Radtech’s OmniStand for a test drive and this is what we think.
Design:
OmniStand is a sleek stand that claims to work perfectly from a small 10.1-inch netbook to a huge 17-incher. It is made of aluminum alloy and comes with a brushed aluminum finish that not only makes the stand durable but also adds it to the looks. We did a quick durability test by applying some pressure to bend the 8mm sheet but it seemed strong enough to withstand it. Radtech claims the brushed finish can be restored even after years of use by just using steel wool, Scotch-Bright or sandpaper.
Another advantage OmniStand boasts is that unlike most laptop cooler stands in the market, this has been designed for portability. It weighs just 454g, packs under a centimeter and has a handle to carry it, which makes it a perfect companion for those who hit the road frequently.
Finally, it’s the different elevations at which OmniStand can be used, making it more ergonomic friendly. The stand can be adjusted at varying degrees like 26o, 38o, 45o and 54o.
Performance:
OmniStand is a passive cooling stand which means it’s a simple designed stand that has to dispel the heat properly without the use of fans or utilizing any USB ports and thankfully, perforated hole layout helps the cause.
We used a Dell machine installed with a temperature monitor application to track laptop’s temperature when used with OmniStand and when used without. The notebook measures an average temperature of around 45-60oC when used without the stand with normal to heavy usage.
However, with the OmniStand, the temperature shot down to around 39-53oC with the same amount of laptop usage. The actual degree difference doesn’t look appealing but if we were to calculate percentage-wise, OmniStand brought down the temperature to almost 10 to 15 percent, which is good.
But as we said, in addition to cooling, it allows users to adjust the stand at varying degrees. While the different positions can be used for different things, we found the 26o setting to be apt for typing. It would have been nicer if Radtech had integrated a lower elevation setting.
As for the grip, OmniStand has strategically placed rubberized grips that help to provide very good grip to hold the stand to the surface and the laptop with the stand. The curved handle also plays a role at holding the laptop safely to make it not fall when using it during higher degree elevations.
Conclusion:
OmniStand is one of the few laptop cooling stands that tries to give users freedom of portability, aesthetics and usability. And though it succeeds at that, the only thing that could pose a hurdle to its sales is its price. It goes for $59.95 or Rs. 3,000 in India, which we feel is a bit expensive. Price it somewhere around the Rs. 2000 range and we could have a winner in our hands.
To buy the stand, you can email here.
Rating: 
Pros: Lightweight, Portable, Adjustable elevations
Cons: Price
great review, i find something useful here. thanks for sharing.