Cooler Master NotePal I300 Review

SPECIFICATIONS AND COMPARISON

Seeing as how the Cooler Master NotePal is in the same category as the NotePal U Stand, let us compare the specifications of the two to see just how they stack up:

The main difference between the two is that the I300 is made of plastic, whereas the U Stand is metal-based. As such, the I300 is extremely light, almost half the weight of the U Stand. This makes a huge difference, especially when using a large 17 € notebook. Not only that, but it also makes the I300 more portable than the U Stand.

However, in terms of stability, the U Stand is certainly more rigid and sturdy compared to the I300. The totally solid metal frame of the U Stand trumps the metal mesh and plastic meld of the I300. This also contributes to the temperature, as the U Stand is naturally colder than the I300, regardless of the same ventilation holes and extra added grill.

The fans and their speeds are also different. The U Stand comes with two 100mm fans which can be moved around the base of the pad due to its small ventilation holes. For the I300 on the other hand, there is only one 160mm fan in the middle of the base which cannot be removed or set in different positions. Because of this, it is slightly faster than those found with the U Stand, and also contains blue LED lighting as an added bonus.

Last but not least, and the most important note, is the feature set. The U Stand is practically a hub, but the I300 has none of these additions. Aside from having a double-sided USB power input cable, the I300 brings nothing to the table. The U Stand on the other has three USB 2.0 ports, as well as a mini-USB port. In case you want to power it without a notebook, the U Stand also contains a separate 5V DC input, as well as a dual fan controller/power switch.

Aside from being half the price of the U Stand, the I300 is perhaps the most minimalistic of designs. The USB cable itself is a testament to that, especially considering that a new product like this should have USB 3.0 architecture. The cable itself is proper length, and does a great job of powering the fans, but in case your closest USB port is a USB 3.0 you are going to have to settle with the converted USB 2.0 signal in order to use the female extension sticking out.

Even when it comes to height adjustment the U Stand offers a plethora of different options (even to almost a 90 degree angle) compared to just the one flap lift found on the I300, while still retaining the super grip coating.

Again, the saving grace of the I300 is its weight and portability. I honestly would have loved to see extra USB ports or even a fan controller at the very least, but being only $20 compared to the $40 of the U Stand makes the omission a bit more bearable.