14 DAY TRIAL // Most of the media's attention has been focused on the DirectX 11-capable GeForce GTX 400 Series of graphics adapters from NVIDIA over the past couple of months, as well as the various new chipsets and CPUs from Advanced Micro Devices and Intel Corp. This, regrettably, means that certain niche products didn't get the attention they otherwise would have. Fortunately, things have somewhat calmed down, which allowed Zalman's notebook coolers to turn a few heads in their way towards official availability.
Most mortals, but especially those living in areas with temperate climate, are aware that summer is quickly approaching. This means that electronics that like to run hot will have a harder time staying alive when the surrounding temperature is higher than that recommended. In such situations, special cooling solutions are needed, which is exactly why Zalman's newest offspring, known as the NC3000U and NC3000S (which have just started getting added to online listings), might leave a fine mark on the world.
The main difference between the two siblings, besides their prices (obviously), is the number of USB ports they have. The NC3000U has a tag of 42 Euro and three connectors, whereas the NC3000S only has two USB ports and a price of 38 Euro. Other than that, the devices are very much alike.
The two laptop coolers that Zalman is preparing are the very same models that were shown off at CeBIT 2010. Both of them measure 365 x 450 x 60 mm and are constructed out of a combination of aluminum and plastic, which lets them be reasonably lightweight (1.2kg). Also, they boast anti-slip silicon pads and use a 220mm fan to chill any notebook, as long as the screen size doesn't go over 17 inches. Finally, the fan has a rotary speed of 620 RPM to 720 RPM and a sound output of 23.5 dBA, which is low enough to not have a sizable impact on immersion when playing games or watching videos.