A nice little add-on for the notebook computer user

I bought the Targus LapDesk just over a month ago at Best Buy in Greensboro, North Carolina. I paid about $30 plus tax for it, which at first seems a little expensive given that it appears to be simply a hinged piece of plastic with holes cut here and there in it. After some use, however, the LapDesk has proven its worth.

It is flexible for use either on tabletops of varying sizes or, as its name indicates, the user's lap. When used on the lap, it provides a shield from the hot underside of the notebook computer, though some heat can still be felt through the plastic. The contours of the underside of the LapDesk are not smooth and will require some getting used to in order to find the optimal placement for comfort. The channels cut into the plastic of the LapDesk do a good job of keeping the notebook computer cool--I have noticed that the cooling fan on my computer runs less frequently than before, when I simply let it rest on my lap during use.

As I prefer to use a USB optical notebook mouse with my computer, it was important to have a surface to use it on. The LapDesk provides this surface with smooth areas to the left and right of the computer case that rests on it. The desk is sturdy enough so that putting pressure on the mouse does not cause the surface to buckle.

When used on a tabletop, the LapDesk folds and converts into a lectern-style platform. The computer can be elevated/tilted to about six different positions and provides better ergonomics for the user by angling the keyboard for more natural positioning of the wrists.

The product seems to deliver on all the promises made on its packaging, keeping my notebook computer cool in nearly all scenarios in which it's used. It also features robust construction and light weight, and it folds in half which allows it to be carried in a notebook computer case or standard briefcase. I still believe it may be a tad overpriced ($20 would be just about right in my book), but over time that opinion may change.