Belkin (F8N044) Carrying Case

The Belton Cushtop is one of those things that is as handy as sliced bread. Except you can't eat it. Which, for some of us, is probably a good thing.

One of the problems of having a laptop computer sit on your laptop is that it heats up after a while. This is especially true if you are using one of the new 17-inch models.

In my house, we have become a tribe of multi-taskers. After supper we sit at the couches and the chairs to watch TV but at the same time to use our laptops on our laps to scour the net as we occasionally glance up at the televised offerings from casting central. This is when you are glad for trifocals.

So the other night, when I wasn't watching the tube/surfing cyberspace I saw one of these in Wally World and wondered- would it be the solution to man's age-old question: "How can I keep a laptop on my lap for an hour or two without getting blisters on the tops of my thighs?" I decided to pay the 25 bucks to find out.

The Belton Cushtop is a laptop "stand" that is made for supporting the laptop from below and resting on your lap. It comes in a variety of colors, and if you shop on the net for one you can probably find one that conforms to the colors of your old school tie. It comes in green, gray, silver, champagne, orange, and brown.

Its size is 16.7 x 12.7 x 4.5 inches, and it weighs about 3-4 pounds. It would probably fit in a suitcase, but it would take up a lot of room too. The unique thing about this stand is that it is made not from hard wood or plastic but from an upholstered piece of foam cushion. One side is made for a 15-inch computer and the other side is made for a 17-incher. It has a hollow "cave" in the middle where you can put your power brick and your mouse if you want.

One of the nice things about the unit is that it helps with the ergonomics of using a laptop. It seems to lift the laptop into a position where it fits the hands better.

The Cushtop is nice for use in front of the TV, but it also works well in the car. And in the bed. And even in certain other places in the domicile where a laptop might be what you want to pass the time- like the back porch. It is comfy, it won't heat your epidermis, and it doesn't need to use electricity to cool the laptop like some other stands do.

So if you're just lookin' for some cush...top, check out this offering from Belkin. Like a number of their products this one is unique, well-made, and practical.

Five Stars/*****