A laptop or netbook does not have the capability of having a cooling system that the desktop models have.  That being the case, they can get quite hot very quickly. That heat will end up wearing down the delicate parts inside the laptop and things like the processor and hard drive will end up getting fried.

In order to stop that from happening, you should be using a laptop cooler fan or laptop cooler pad.  For most, it is a matter of preference to what they like, but either one of them will add years to the life of your laptop or netbook.

A laptop cooler pad is a pad that has cooling elements built into it, usually in the form of a gel that will raise the laptop off of the surface and also keep the bottom of it cooler. This is important because if you have ever used a laptop on your lap, you know how hot they can get.  While they may not provide the same level of cooling that a fan will, they are very convenient for travel and still protect the computer from overheating.

If you use your laptop at home, at work or at any other place where you can have it sitting on a solid surface, you will definitely want to purchase a laptop cooler fan.  They have them in both flat and adjustable models.  They will feature cooling fans on the bottom that will constantly circulate the air on the bottom of the laptop and keep it significantly cooler than any other cooler.

A very popular model of a cooling fan is the one that is actually height adjustable.  These are also very good for traveling because you can prop up the computer and almost have a mini-desk on the road with you. They are usually very light and compact enough to fit right into your laptop carrying case.

If you are concerned that you will have to pack extra batteries or some other power source, you can rest easy knowing that as long as you have a USB port on your computer, you will be ready to go.  In fact, most laptop coolers will have additional USB ports on the side of them to not only make up for the one that they are using, but actually give you additional ports to hook up the rest of your gadgets when you are on the go.

A laptop or netbook computer is a significant investment on your part.  If you are going to spend that kind of money, spending another $20 to extend the life by 3-5 years would seem to be a prudent move.  A laptop cooler is an inexpensive solution to one of the few drawbacks of owning a laptop.

Laptop coolers come in many styles and varieties.  Not all of these coolers have fans in them.  Some are a simple laptop cooling pad.  They simply raise the laptop off of the surface it is placed on and allow air to flow freely under the laptop.  Since most fans are on the bottom of the computer, this can be a very effective way to cool a laptop computer.

For those laptops that run very hot, a laptop cooling pad may not be the best choice.  There is not a laptop cooling fan in them.  They will not add any cooling elements to the computer.  You will need to purchase an actual laptop cooling device with a fan or fans in them.  This is the best way to keep your laptop computer completely cooled off.

The majority of laptop cooling fans use the power from the laptop to run them.  They are plugged into the USB port of the computer.  They get their power to run the fans this way.  You will not need to install any type of software to run them.  They are instantly on when they are plugged in.

This is a plus as it makes the laptop coolers as portable as the laptop computer is meant to be.  If you are using your laptop strictly at home, you may not care about portability.  In this case, you may want to get a cooler that plugs into an outlet to run it.  This will help to keep the laptop cooler as well.

When you are running anything from the USB port you are asking the computer to work harder.  This creates more heat.  The whole point of having a cooler is to keep down the heat, not create more.  This is a plus for those who purchase a cooling fan that is run through a wall socket rather than a USB port.

These coolers start at a very low cost.  You can get a simple fan for less than ten dollars.  These do not offer a good deal of stability.  It is better to spend a bit more and get a laptop cooler that your computer will sit in.

When purchasing a laptop cooler it is important to know whether your laptop gets really hot or just moderately warm.  You will also need to know if you want it to be portable or if you will only be using it in the home.