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Arctic Breeze
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Cons: Poor cable routing design
Holding the fan body is a thin and bendable, 3.5-inch long neck that is sturdy, though it fails to maintain the desired position when bent more than a few degrees. The three-foot USB cable is of nice quality, but the channel in the base for routing it out of the unit relies solely on pressure to hold the cord in place. The slightest adjustment or movement of the base knocks the cord out of place and makes it difficult to set the fan level on a surface. If three feet of cable is too much, there’s a cable management area under the base that allows you to eliminate about half of the length before it spills out and, once again, makes it difficult for the base to stay level.
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The cable management accommodation falls short of accommodating or managing the cable. |
The slightest disturbance to the base of the fan knocks the USB cable out of its channel and makes it difficult for the fan to remain level on surfaces. |
Praises: Easier to use than a Japanese hand fan
It’s not all bad, though, as the fan is excellent at doing what it is supposed to do, and with a lot less effort than the competition. As described, it blows air on your face, on your hands, or on your roommate as he laughs at you for taking the time to review gadgets. The product page for the Arctic Breeze says that the exposed 92mm fan is capable of turning at 1200 RPM and 2000 RPM at its two settings, | and ||. As an added bonus, in the middle of the unit’s toggle switch there is a “0” position that is highly effective at moving no air at all! This unobtrusive fan, with the approximate footprint of a coffee mug, only makes you aware of its presence with a steady stream of air, with very little noise and no vibration. Take solace in the fact that the two-year warranty from Arctic Cooling will allow you, in the unlikely event that your Arctic Breeze no longer wants to blow you, to replace the unit with little fanfare.
| Technical Specifications: |
| - Fan: 92mm - Fan speed: High 2000 RPM / Low 1200 RPM - Interface: USB 2.0 - Application: Desktop, notebook |
Conclusion: Consider less gimmicky options
If you’ve ever said “the stale, stagnant air in front of my computer is unpleasant and I’ve got twenty bucks burning a hole in my pocket,” the Arctic Breeze by Arctic Cooling is the perfect investment. On the other hand, if you have never uttered such a thing and find your environment to be uncomfortably warm--you might want to save your money and fan yourself with your mouse pad or a piece of paper. For this reviewer's twenty bucks, there are much better ways of getting blown.
The Arctic Breeze is available for $19.95 from PCCaseGear.com.
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