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.