Even with the latest in thermal-energy-dispersing heat sinks and cooling fans, today's laptops still manage to get pretty hot even after just minutes of use — in some cases, hot enough to literally burn your lap if you're not careful. Our recommendation: don't even think about putting your notebook directly on your thighs without a cooling pad. The curved, plastic Logitech N100 laptop pad comes with ample air vents plus a built-in cooling fan powered by a USB cable attached to your laptop. (Logitech claims the cooling fan will shave only a few minutes off your notebook's battery life.) The laptop-sized N100 might be a bit cumbersome to carry around with your notebook, but it's better than having to explain yourself in the emergency room.
Price: $30