Customer Reviews:
 Definitely works as promised, but a few considerations... December 26, 2006
14 out of 14 found this review helpful
I've been using the XPad for about two weeks and have to say that overall it does a pretty good job. I mostly use my laptop propped in my lap in bed,and the fans on my Dell don't go off nearly as often when I'm using the Xpad. I no longer feel the heat from my laptop burning into my skin, and I can't say I really miss it all that much. Furthermore, I pretty much leave it permanently on the Xpad even when I'm not using it, thus dispelling my previous irrational fear that my laptop would overheat and set my sheets on fire if I left it unattended. The fact that it runs without needing to plug in to a USB port and without noisy fans of any sort is a huge plus.
Some things to note: I own a Dell Inspiron 1505 with a 15.4' screen. The Xpad fits it perfectly from front to back, however the computer is larger by about 1 cm on each side. This doesn't really seem to affect the performance at all. If I use my laptop for hours at a time, the rubberized raised surfaces on the Xpad tend to get pretty hot, though I think this is unavoidable when running your computer for so long in such close proximity to another surface. It's going to heat up something unless you can somehow use it suspended in air.
The other thing is that the actual physical presence of the Xpad under my laptop took some getting used to. In some places, it adds about an inch to how my laptop used to sit, and when I first started using it I found that I had to slightly adjust the position of my hands, particularly when typing. I stopped noticing this after a few days of use, and have actually come to appreciate the stable surface that the Xpad creates--almost like a mini-desk. I also feel that the Xpad also adds a certain amount of heft that takes some getting used to, though I'm sure this is very person-specific (think about it this way: a laptop alone might be about 6 lbs., so even a pound of extra weight is about a 15% increase. Some people can probably feel that, others, not so much).
Overall, definitely recommended, but I'd give it a few days to get used to the feeling of having your laptop sitting on a new surface. And one final note, even with the price of $19.95, it doesn't ship from amazon, so you'll end up paying about $27 total.
 Xpad turns your notebook into a Laptop December 13, 2006
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
I originally purchased one from the inventor at the Orange County, CA Computer Fair and I couldn't be more pleased. It's a great gift for notebook computer users and it just "feels" right. It's great for me since I can leave my notebook on my bed and not worry about the blanket covering up the cooling intake. My wife used to have problems with pains in her legs from a really hot Dell Inspiron. No one told her that you couldn't use a laptop on your lap :) Since she tried the Xpad, she no longer gets pains in her legs. She got rid of that old Inspiron, but the Xpad is even more important now that she has a Powerbook. The Mac Powerbook she has REALLY gets hot on the bottom, and the Xpad handles it like a champ. If you need a gift for a Mac Powerbook owner, Xpad is it.
 All depends December 13, 2006
12 out of 15 found this review helpful
One of the rubber feet falls right under my processor and fan, so my laptop runs hotter on the pad than without. If I tilt the laptop so the fan is clear of the foot, it works fine, but its very awkward. Look at the bottom of your laptop, and see how its going to work out.
If the feet fall in a good position for you, this would be a good pad. The laptop does not slip, and the pad is durable and light.
Not built for 17" laptop December 7, 2006
6 out of 9 found this review helpful
Their site states that it will fit a 17" laptop, because the rubber feet just have to touch the pads on the Xpad. The problem is that the rubber feet do not all touch the pads on the Xpad. My laptop wound up producing even more heat than it did while it was on my lap. Since they require signature confirmation to return the item, it cost me more to ship it back. By the time I was done paying all the fees, I wound up paying for half the cost of the Xpad. I found the perfect lapdesk by Sharper Image. It fits a 17" laptop, has risers to lift the laptop up, has a mouse pad that attaches to the side, and it has built in wrist supports. I love it. I am sure this would have been ok had I had a smaller laptop. I just trusted them when they said it would fit a 17' laptop.
Sometimes all you need is a basic November 23, 2006
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
I received the Xpad as a gift 2 months ago and I was skeptical. It was a gift so I gave it a try. It is perfect, I use it everyday, evreywhere. My laptop doesn't slide off, no matter what angle I use it in. And it doesn't use any of your battery power like the ones that have fans! It goes wherever my laptop goes. I have a Dell E1405 Widescreen, but I think that it will work with most laptops. I am buying one as a Christmas gift for someone. Sometimes the simplest item is best!
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