Which laptop cooling pad is the best?

Cooler Master NotePal X-Slim Ultra Slim Laptop Notebook Cooling Pad, up to 17" (160mm Fan)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...-_-na-_-na

$9.99 AR

Cooler Master - NotePal U2 Laptop Cooling Stand

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Coole...&st=cooler

$12.99

Cooler Master - NotePal U3 Laptop Cooling Stand

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Coole...&st=cooler

$24.99

Basically, I know nothing about cooling pads and I have a 15.6 inch laptop.
Help me pick the best one out of these three.

A brief explanation would help too.
Thanks in advance.

Well, I've had the first one for a few months, and I'm happy with it.
I've experienced the same caveat as one of the NewEgg reviewers, though:

Quote : Cons: My only complaint is that my laptop likes to side due to the angle of the cooling pad and how the top of the device is. (my laptop doesn't have the squishy pads that makes the laptop to stay anymore). My solution will probably be putting those small velcro circles on the bottom of my laptop and the top of the cooling pad to keep my laptop from sliding.

It will depend on how you use it, but my 17" has rubber feet, and there are still times when I have to re-situate it in order to keep it from sliding.

Also if you are having any kind of cooling issues make sure you air vents on the laptop are not clogged

If you're using the laptop on a desk, you don't really need an external cooler and should just keep the heatsink clean (turn off laptop, vacuum vents and heatsink fins while cooling fan is held still so it can't spin). But for use on a laptop, a cooler with a centrifugal fan would be better because it can blow/suck air through the sides. I use just a cutting board attached with double stick foam tape, to keep the laptop's bottom vent from being blocked.

1) Could you tell us the make and model of your laptop, along with the operating system you are using?

2) In theory, if you have to use a cooling pad, one that plugs into the wall for power would be better, as it wouldn't be causing additional internal heat in the laptop, by drawing extra power through there.
That being said, a bad one that plugs into the wall isn't as good as a good one that plugs in by USB.

3) No laptop that is functioning properly (that includes a clean dust free air flow, a healthy fan, and nothing blocking the intake or air output) should overheat, even when using it hard.
At the very least, you could get yourself a can of compressed air from the computer store to clean out any dust, hair, whatever that might be in there, being careful to not make the fan overspin to the point of damaging it. If you can see the fan, you can block it from spinning before blowing the air through.

Quote from Frogstar : Well, I've had the first one for a few months, and I'm happy with it. I've experienced the same caveat as one of the NewEgg reviewers, though: It will depend on how you use it, but my 17" has rubber feet, and there are still times when I have to re-situate it in order to keep it from sliding.

Quote from komondor : Also if you are having any kind of cooling issues make sure you air vents on the laptop are not clogged

Quote from larrymoencurly : If you're using the laptop on a desk, you don't really need an external cooler and should just keep the heatsink clean (turn off laptop, vacuum vents and heatsink fins while cooling fan is held still so it can't spin). But for use on a laptop, a cooler with a centrifugal fan would be better because it can blow/suck air through the sides. I use just a cutting board attached with double stick foam tape, to keep the laptop's bottom vent from being blocked.

Quote from RockySosua : 1) Could you tell us the make and model of your laptop, along with the operating system you are using? 2) In theory, if you have to use a cooling pad, one that plugs into the wall for power would be better, as it wouldn't be causing additional internal heat in the laptop, by drawing extra power through there. That being said, a bad one that plugs into the wall isn't as good as a good one that plugs in by USB. 3) No laptop that is functioning properly (that includes a clean dust free air flow, a healthy fan, and nothing blocking the intake or air output) should overheat, even when using it hard. At the very least, you could get yourself a can of compressed air from the computer store to clean out any dust, hair, whatever that might be in there, being careful to not make the fan overspin to the point of damaging it. If you can see the fan, you can block it from spinning before blowing the air through.

I am using Samsung NP700Z5A-S0BUS, the FP deal from last week.

http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/7...win-7-prem

This is brand new so I know there should not be fan/heat issue,
but this laptop is very unique. I do not see any vent holes, and the battery is not removable.
Also, my toshiba used to heat up around my left palm and where battery is,
but this samsung heats up in the joint where monitor and keyboard panel meets.
it gets REALLY hot.
not to the point I would burn my fingers if I touch it, but uncomfortable enough for me to put it on my lap.
My toshiba did not heat up THIS hot... it was Toshiba L305-S5970

Quote from courtesyclerkx : I am using Samsung NP700Z5A-S0BUS, the FP deal from last week. http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/7...win-7-prem This is brand new so I know there should not be fan/heat issue, but this laptop is very unique. I do not see any vent holes, and the battery is not removable. Also, my toshiba used to heat up around my left palm and where battery is, but this samsung heats up in the joint where monitor and keyboard panel meets. it gets REALLY hot. not to the point I would burn my fingers if I touch it, but uncomfortable enough for me to put it on my lap. My toshiba did not heat up THIS hot... it was Toshiba L305-S5970

Regardless of the replies that you might get from your other thread, helping to establish if yours is worse than most, it should still be returned and exchanged or refunded, if at all possible. Laptops are not meant to run that hot, specially when brand new.
That thing has got to go !!!

Quote from courtesyclerkx : Cooler Master NotePal X-Slim Ultra Slim Laptop Notebook Cooling Pad, up to 17" (160mm Fan)

For video editing and 3D gaming your need a quite 200mm+ fan or a laptop stand .

For web browsing and video playback, no stand is fine. Just check your pc temps. and clean out some dust once a year to keep temps. at bay. 40-50C is a target range with some hotspots.
Amazon.com: Griffin Technology [amazon.com] & Amazon.com: Allsop [amazon.com]

Quote from courtesyclerkx : Cooler Master NotePal X-Slim Ultra Slim Laptop Notebook Cooling Pad, up to 17" (160mm Fan) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...-_-na-_-na $9.99 AR Cooler Master - NotePal U2 Laptop Cooling Stand http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Coole...&st=cooler $12.99 Cooler Master - NotePal U3 Laptop Cooling Stand http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Coole...&st=cooler $24.99 Basically, I know nothing about cooling pads and I have a 15.6 inch laptop. Help me pick the best one out of these three. A brief explanation would help too. Thanks in advance.

I've got the U2 and it works great on my HP DV5 with AMD. AMD runs hotter than intel and it's working great. I've also got the xlite dlite and this works the best. i've also modded it an additional fan from a U1.