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I am also somewhat concerned with this. So it blows air into the exhaust ducts of the laptop? How in the world does that help?

Check out this post. The fans that exhaust air from the machine are on the edges, and the middle vent holes act as passive air intakes. This stand essentially forces air into those intake vents, turning them into active intakes (which in turn feeds the exhaust fans with cooler air, faster).
 
Check out this post. The fans that exhaust air from the machine are on the edges, and the middle vent holes act as passive air intakes. This stand essentially forces air into those intake vents, turning them into active intakes (which in turn feeds the exhaust fans with cooler air, faster).

Personally I'm still concerned that it faces the exhaust vent downward. Hot air rises after all.
 
I'd be interested to see some actual stats of how well it performs.

I just did a quick test with my existing laptop fan on and off. I'm on an 2.6Ghz i7. I ran a handbrake transcode for a few minutes...

CPU started immediately TurboBoosted at 3.6Ghz,
but after a minute or so dropped to around 2.0Ghz.
With my laptop cooler switched on it averaged about 2.35Ghz.

This is my laptop cooler
 
I'd be interested to see some actual stats of how well it performs.

I just did a quick test with my existing laptop fan on and off. I'm on an 2.6Ghz i7. I ran a handbrake transcode for a few minutes...

CPU started immediately TurboBoosted at 3.6Ghz,
but after a minute or so dropped to around 2.0Ghz.
With my laptop cooler switched on it averaged about 2.35Ghz.

This is my laptop cooler

Was this with the lid open or closed?
 
A MacBook Pro DOES get pretty hot if it's used while closed. Much less air flow, it seems. Uh, we also need something to get rid of those dead moths inside my dad's rMBP's air vents.
 
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I'm not dense at all. And I'm not talking about trying to travel with an iMac in your backpack... Think about it...what this product is implying is that people frequently keep their laptop shut and use an external monitor...if you're using your laptop like this frequently (hence, NOT using the built-in monitor, keyboard, and mouse), then why have a laptop?? I just don't see the appeal personally... (and I have a MBP and iMac which is probably why I don't see the need for it...)

Because 'frequently' can mean 30% of the time, or 50%, or whatever. Basically this gives your computer more power when used at home, while still letting you use it on the road when you want to.

And yeah, for someone who has both a MBP and an iMac, you probably don't see the need. For those of us who don't want/can't afford to have two different computers, this would let us have the best of both, in one machine: Better screen, keyboard, ergonomics and computing power at home, while still having full portability. (And no hassle with syncing files, even if it is fairly easy these days.)
 
Seriously, I can totally see that this is a niche product and that's it. There is no need to rant about it just because you don't need it and don't find how it can be on every MacBook users' shopping list.

For me as a research student in university doing intensive CAD designs and numerical simulations, I use a 2013 15" rMBP with a 32" 2540x1440 external monitor with the rMBP's lid closed. After all, it doesn't really make sense to have a disproportionately small monitor (rMBP) on the side of the huge 32". Of course, my rMBP heats up a lot. You can feel the warmth on the lid with Apple logo. On the plus side, this cooler places the notebook vertically which saves a lot of save in a shared office setup.

Totally a niche but I appreciate it.
 
I would think the market for these would be somewhat small. How many people regularly use their notebook with an external display? I guess you hardcore gamers.

That's the way I use my MacBook Air 90% of the time - connected to an external monitor, and I never play games on it.

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Check out this post. The fans that exhaust air from the machine are on the edges, and the middle vent holes act as passive air intakes. This stand essentially forces air into those intake vents, turning them into active intakes (which in turn feeds the exhaust fans with cooler air, faster).

My concern would be that you're also blowing dust into the laptop... unless the fan dock has some sort of filter to help prevent that? (the SVALT website doesn't have any mention of a filter that I could find).
 
My concern would be that you're also blowing dust into the laptop... unless the fan dock has some sort of filter to help prevent that? (the SVALT website doesn't have any mention of a filter that I could find).
You are, but only at a slightly faster rate than not using the dock. Air would normally flow through the same passages into and out of the laptop, it's just flowing faster with the dock. (Which might actually mean less dust build-up - if the air is moving faster the dust may not be able to settle.)

So not that it isn't a problem, but it's a problem the dock doesn't really make any worse.
 
I am also somewhat concerned with this. So it blows air into the exhaust ducts of the laptop? How in the world does that help?

No, it blows air into the air intake.

The central part of the MBP's hinge area is the intake. The outer edges are the exhausts (or edge on the 13, since it has only one fan).

This product effectively increases the pressure upstream of the internal fans.
 
The central area of that hinge vent is an intake, the outer edges are where the fans exhaust heat (one on each side for a 15", just one on one side for smaller MacBooks).

Huge Image Warning:
15" rMBP
13" MBA

I couldn't see the evidence in those images, and when I first watched the video –

… If I recall correctly, these vents (on either side of the MacBook) draw in Air that cools the machine. The vent by the hinge is for exhaust. Also check out this. It should help clarify this...

– I missed the moments that show the flow.

Here's a frame from the video, rotated 180° (the bottom right of the frame is the centre of the rear of the MacBook Pro).
 

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Or a 2010 mbp. You can cook a steak on that one. ;)

Given our experiences with hot running MBPs, maybe we should have a meetup and do a cooking demonstration but instead of using a Foreman Grill, we'll use our old MBPs. Steak, eggs, some veggies....:eek:

BTW, Apple never called my old mbp a laptop: it's was a portable. My guess is that they were discouraging anyone from leaving It on their lap for extended periods of time for fear of burns....and mine would definitely burn you. :apple:
 
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