The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Just In: Vizo Xena II Notebook Cooler Review

    Discussion in 'Accessories' started by garetjax, Jul 31, 2008.

  1. garetjax

    garetjax NBR Freelance Reviewer NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    1,706
    Messages:
    1,681
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Hello all! I've just had the opportunity to review the Vizo Xena II notebook cooler. Constructed of quality materials, the Xena II is a lightweight and highly functional notebook cooling solution designed for 12" to 15.4" laptops. Boasting a unique tilting, 360 degree swiveling base, the Xena II comes in a slim and lightweight formfactor for the true road warrior at heart.

    Vizo Xena II Notebook Cooler Review

    Check out the review I wrote on it at HardwareLogic.com and let me know what you thought of it. =)
     
    garetjax, Jul 31, 2008
    #1
  2. Infoseeker

    Infoseeker Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    46
    Messages:
    312
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I have a question of your control; where you recorded the idle/loaded temps of your laptop without the cooler.

    Did you tilt the laptop up to help mimic the incline that you used with the cooler?
     
    Infoseeker, Jul 31, 2008
    #2
  3. mullenbooger

    mullenbooger Former New York Giant

    Reputations:
    298
    Messages:
    900
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    That would be a good control. I would think the tilt had more to do with the temp change as opposed to the fan, which looked kind of weak. Plus, was the fan even located where the intake vents were?
     
    mullenbooger, Jul 31, 2008
    #3
  4. garetjax

    garetjax NBR Freelance Reviewer NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    1,706
    Messages:
    1,681
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    No. The idea was to conduct the test to compare temperature readings of an enthuisast using the Xena II notebook cooler, and an enthusiast that does not. I see where tilting the notebook without the notebook cooler to take temperature readings would be a good control. However, the premise of the review is to compare the cooling effectiveness of using a notebook cooler (in this case, the Xena II) versus not using one at all, ie the laptop laying flat against a surface.

    Depending on the angle of the Xena II, a total travel of about 3" up and down is acheived as the Xena II will cool the exact middle of your laptop. Please see page 2 of the review for the various angles that can be used with the Xena II and the relation of its fan. Here is a picture of the underside of the laptop used in the review of the Xena II and roughly where the cooling fan is blowing air. The fan blows air where the RAM area/panel is located:

    [​IMG]
     
    garetjax, Aug 6, 2008
    #4
  5. Lakjin

    Lakjin Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    313
    Messages:
    1,939
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    this looks just like the vantec ultra tx...

    that is at frys for $14!!

    it sucks tho, i returned it
     
    Lakjin, Aug 8, 2008
    #5
  6. garetjax

    garetjax NBR Freelance Reviewer NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    1,706
    Messages:
    1,681
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    To be honest, the main selling point of the Xena II is not with its 70mm cooling fan. However, it's ability to position your laptop on an incline to better exhaust hot air from your notebook makes it a good contender for a notebook cooling device. The 360 degree swiveling base is nice inclusion as well, in my opinion. =)
     
    garetjax, Aug 13, 2008
    #6
  7. Lakjin

    Lakjin Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    313
    Messages:
    1,939
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Thats very true. I did debate keeping the one I had because of the way it lifted my laptop. But I decided it wasnt worth it because even with that incline, it wasnt cooling very well.
     
    Lakjin, Aug 13, 2008
    #7
  8. garetjax

    garetjax NBR Freelance Reviewer NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    1,706
    Messages:
    1,681
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Very odd. I had very good results using the cooler at an incline with my testbench laptop. I am very sorry that you were not happy with it. =(
     
    garetjax, Aug 15, 2008
    #8