Specifications, Availability and Pricing

The X-Slim is made mostly from plastic for structural support as well as where the fan gets mounted on the inside. There is a full panel top made of thin steel mesh with small holes to allow for the air flow to pass through it. This steel is bent and shaped so the center can support the weight of smaller 7" laptops, while the outer edges are plastic so it can take the full weight of a 17" laptop if you choose to. There are rubber bits on the X-Slim as well, but they are used only around the bottom of the cooler as feet or pads on the adjustable feet. All encompassed, the all black X-Slim weighs in under two pounds and can easily be carried and moved around.

Between the steel mesh and plastic back, there is a 160mm fan installed in the X-Slim. This fan can run at near 1400 RPM while delivering 70 CFM of airflow. The noise levels are rated at only 21 dBA and even with a conversion, 40 to 45 dB is still pretty low by my standards. The fan is the only thing to power with this cooler and power is drawn from the laptop via a USB 2.0 pass through plug. While one end of course plugs into the laptop to draw 5V for the fan, it has a USB port on the back of the connector to replace the one it's using. I know so far the specs seem to say that this is capable of doing a pretty decent job at attempting to cool the Lenovo, but the testing will give us the real answer.

As I sit here typing this up, I am taking my usual trip to Google to find the X-Slim. What I am finding is that there are about ten or eleven e-tailers vying for your money and they are all close in price. With or without shipping, you are going to find the pricing is right on the $20 mark anywhere you look. You may save a couple of dollars here or there, but realistically it isn't worth the hassle. Just buy from who you trust and wait it out and you can have a shiny new X-Slim at your door.

Let's be real honest here. I have blown $20 and not even remembered on what! Even if this ends up being just an ergonomically inclined rest for a laptop, the price isn't going to break you in the least. I actually am hoping for a bit of magic in a bottle, and hoping that Cooler Master can change my pre-emptive thoughts on the NotePal X-Slim.