VIZO Ninja II Laptop Cooler Author:  Ian Garris Date:  2008.08.26 Topic:  Cooling Provider:  Vizo Manufacturer:  Vizo

Analysis and Conclusion

So, all told we have here a fairly solid product - it’s quiet, effective, sturdy, and competitively priced. I like it. It is by no stretch of the imagination perfect, however - the fans chosen were 80mm, a standard size but when the goal is to move a lot of air quietly, 120mm fans would be clearly superior. That said, construction is simple (basic, even - strips of tape are used to secure the grille to prevent rattling) to the point where I feel comfortable referring to it as user-serviceable, for those users who build their own desktop PCs.

Pros:

• Solid machined aluminum extrusion - this thing is built very sturdy.
• Quiet - several times I had to stick a finger in the fans to see if it was still running. Comfortably below the noise floor of any laptop you’re likely to use with it.
  
• Detachable cord - can be stowed separately, and replaced if damaged (if you can find a compatible USB passthrough, or powered from a 5V wallwart of the correct polarity. (Use a voltmeter! GIYF! Don’t try this at home - go to a friend’s house! Danger, Will Robinson!)
  
• Can be pressed into service as a lap-desk to keep your reproductive organs from cooking

Cons:

• So-called "nonstandard" fans chosen - poor design means poor upgradeability for the DIY crowd. In my quest for upgraded fans, I had no trouble finding dozens of decent replacements. Take this one as you will.
  
• Grille over the top has too tight a mesh, decreasing airflow by a large fraction.
  
• Lack of a grille on the bottom makes it an uncomfortable lap-desk at best.
  
• Lack of a grille on the bottom causes the fans to eat your pants from time to time.
  
• Rubber ‘feet’ on rough machined areas come off too easily and can be lost. If secured with Superglue, they block the slot which the fans slide into, should it ever come to repair or replacement.

Verdict: I give this a 4/5 - the specs make me want to give it a 3 or 3.5, but it’s clearly better feeling than the Antec cooling pad, more stable, and more durably built. I do not worry when I throw the Ninja in a duffel to go play at a LAN party, but I was worried about breaking the Antec in the course of normal use. Simple design, sturdy construction and near silence (I’d guesstimate it at less than 20 dB) combine to make this thing so completely useful that I’m going to add another point or so to get it’s final score. Unless someone comes out with something that completely generation-gaps the Ninja sometime soon, (and it may end up being Vizo outdoing themselves) I found my favorite. Finding someone that sells these may prove challenging, but Google divulged a single highly-rated vender - hopefully Newegg will pick these up soon.

REALTIME PRICING ON NOTEBOOK COOLERS

:: Copyright © 2002-2008 Techware Labs, LLC :: All Rights Reserved

Email for spiders