Whoever thought out all the design features on Logitech's Speaker Lapdesk should be given an award, because there isn't one thing they left out. This is SUPERB if you don't like being chained to a desk, and you're tired of a hot lap from your laptop.It's simply flawless.
I tried this on my 15" Macbook Pro, and in a few days of working with the Logitech Lapdesk and its features, it's become my new favorite laptop must-have.
First of all, there's no external power source, no batteries and no adapter. All you do is unwrap it, put it on your lap with the laptop, plug it into the USB port, and you're good to go. That simple.
Now for the delicious design features. The Lapdesk top tilts towards you, with two cushioned tabs on the end towards your body that you pop up to keep the puter from sliding into your lap. This means there's practically nothing you can do to make the puter fall off so put you legs up on an ottoman, bend your knees on the ottoman, lay on the couch with the Lapdesk almost vertical (yeah, I do that), and nothing's going to move!
There are two little nobby things included in the package you can snap onto the grill under the laptop to raise it up if that's your preference. If you have a netbook, you can move the stops closer to you to give your netbook the same desired tilt.
The padding on this Lapdesk is just divine. And whoever picked out the plush fabric that cushions the Lapdesk on your legs is a genius! The padding is ample and lush; you can keep this on your lap for eternity, and you won't get tired or "hot" from it. The fabric is textured and has a sumptuous feel to it. The texture also keeps the Lapdesk anchored to your legs, but there's nothing sticky or sweaty-feeling about it. (I did this dry-run in shorts, so the padded part of the desk was mostly on bare legs. Absolutely no problems.)
The Lapdesk isn't just a padded wedge, though. It's got this brilliant "tunnel" effect under it, which allows air circulation and prevents that hot and heavy "laptop in your lap feel.
There's an ingenuous fan built into the center of the Lapdesk. It draws the heat and pushes it out through a vent in the BACK of the Lapdesk. You have to keep checking to see if it's on, because the fan is THE quietest fan I've ever NOT heard. It's perfection the way it works and you don't even know it's doing its job.
I usually use a compact external speaker system with my Macbook, and it works fine. But the speakers on the Logitech Lapdesk are EXCELLENT. There's a mesh grilling on both sides of the Lapdesk with your laptop fitting in the center. The actual speakers are embeded at the top left and right of the Lapdesk (you're also told to keep your fingers off them, for obvious reasons.)
The sound on these two tiny speakers is phenomenal! All I can do is gape in astonishment how two speakers tucked into a lapdesk can produce such amazing sound! Rich, separated, diverse, like a full sound system set up, in this Lapdesk! It completely makes the sound of my external speakers sound wimpy and whiney in comparison.
I guarantee, you will be amazed that any sound that luxurious can come out of a Lapdesk!
(A tip for Mac users who might hook up the Lapdesk and wonder why there's no sound coming out: you have to go to System Preferences/Sound under the apple menu, and select the Logitech Lapdesk as the speaker set up you want. You also have to quit OUT of any sound programs BEFORE you hook the Lapdesk up to the USB port.)
The size of the Lapdesk is perfect for my 15" Macbook. There's about three inches, give or take, on either side, where the speakers are, and the Macbook doesn't interfere with it.
On the right side is a control panel. The top two buttons are for volume control, the third is a mute button. The last switch is an on/off slider for the fan.
Whoever at Logitech designed this deserves a promotion and a raise. There isn't a thing they missed in the design, and the quality is just superb.
I have one minor quibble, but for laptop acrobats like me who are always moving the thing around, it's a useful idea for future Logitech Lapdesk incarnations. A stop on the BACK of the Lapdesk might be a good thing, similar to the two on the front. Granted, most people probably don't contort themselves while on their laptop the way I do, and the Macbook didn't fall off the Lapdesk while I was engaging in my various exercises, but a tab on the back of the Lapdesk would provide an extra jot of security.
The Logitech Speaker Lapdesk is probably the best computer accessory pick for anyone who uses their laptop computer anywhere but ON a desk. Kudos to Logitech for a comfort and design home run!
Our findings:
~~What bothered my hubby most is using headphones with this lapdesk's fan. He's the only one in the family that uses headphones & found the problem soon after he began using it. Thanks to Lan's review posted on March 1st, my hubby is now able to use the cooling fan & headphones at the same time. I'll post how to do this using Windows 7, which is the OS on my laptop, at the end of my review.*
~~I have trouble using the lapdesk on my lap because I'm short...I don't have enough lap. My daughter & hubby are both average height & have no problems. I usually use the lapdesk on my desk so it's okay with me...and I find the slight tilt to my laptop makes typing easier for me.
~~I would like more room for a mouse or a pull-out table for the mouse. Currently, I push my laptop over to one side & make do with the room I have; it's not ideal but it does work.
~~The lapdesk is on the heavy side; my daughter is always carrying the lapdesk and her laptop to other areas which is awkward & looks a bit comical because the lapdesk's weight, 5 lbs., & size approx 20.5" x 12" x 3".
~~I use the Belkin USB 2.0 4-Port Ultra Mini Hub F5U407 with the lapdesk to provide more USB ports.
~It's simple to use; just plug & play.
~We all like the sound.
~The fan is whisper quiet!
~It's very comfortable to use on your lap & works nicely on a desk too.
All in all this is a great lapdesk, but could use a few more features to make it absolutely the best lapdesk ever.
...................
*Using Windows 7, how to use headphones and your lapdesk fan at the same time.
right click on the sound icon in your taskbar; choose 'playback devices'
**choose Logitech Speaker Lapdesk N700 (it should already be highlighted if you're currently using them)
~choose properties; click on "Use this device (enable)", choose "Don't use this device (disable)" click apply
~When you're finished using your headphones & want to go back to the Logitech N700 speakers, choose "Use this device (enable)" click apply
or
Click 'Start'
click 'Control Panel'
click 'hardware and sound'
click 'sound'
click 'manage sound devices'
follow above instructions beginning with **
Buy Logitech Speaker Lapdesk N700 Now
I've had this desk for about a month now. It has some serious benefits and some bothersome disadvantagesThe good:
1. Fits perfectly in my chair on my lap and has room for a mouse (sort of, see below).
2. The fan is quiet
3. The fan works very well on my laptop which has had overheating problems even on just plain flat surfaces.
4. It is very, very sturdy
5. It was pure plug and play, even for my old laptop.
The not so good
1. It is light by itself, but with the laptop and the weight distributed over a relatively small area, it feels a bit on the heavy side.
2. The shape is such that it pulls air in from both behind and beneath. That means that it needs to create space beneath the tray. The padding at the back of this creates a very narrow padded edge that rests on my legs. The combination of the fabric texture and the weight makes it uncomfortable after a while.
3. The angle on your lap puts the tray higher at the rear than the front. Necessary for air flow, but using an external mouse is basically impossible because a mouse slides off no matter what posture I assume. Yes, I'm a mouser.
4. Using a mouse pad is only a partial fix for the above, and it blocks a speaker. I trimmed an old one to fit, but the mouse still slips off now and then and I have to fish it out of my chair.
5. Sound quality is just okay a bit on the muddy side with insufficient treble for listening, but music sounds decent and if I'm working, critical listening is not a priority.
I had an old "as seen on TV" lap desk that had a beanbag bottom. It was very comfortable, had room for the mouse, and it would lay flat. Its durability was awful, which is why I chose this item.
I'm keeping the Logitech and actually do recommend it. I'll look for a higher-friction mouse pad and hope the rear padding doesn't tattoo my legs.
Read Best Reviews of Logitech Speaker Lapdesk N700 Here
I didn't even know how much I needed this Lapdesk w/ built-in stereo until I tried it. I was always putting my laptop on the floor, bed, couch and it usually got overheated after a while. This product fixes that problem, plus the added bonus of a great stereo sound system.The padded mesh base of the Lapdesk is very comfortable on your lap. There's enough cushioning and there's no heat transfer from the laptop because the internal fan keeps it cool. There's also no worry about the laptop overheating when it's placed on the carpet, bed, etc. The fan is very quiet and turns off automatically when you turn the computer off. (You can also turn off the fan manually) Two rubber tabs are included to raise the computer even more to let additional air circulate.
The base raises the laptop to a comfortable level for typing and viewing the screen whether you're using it on your lap or setting it on the floor. Two rubberized, pull-out tabs in the very front of the base secure the laptop and keep it from sliding forward.
Both my 13" and 15" (a PC and a Mac) laptops fit perfectly and felt very stable and secure on the base. No sliding, slipping or wobbling at all, even with my Mac Book Pro which has a smooth bottom.
The built-in stereo speakers are such a great feature because the speakers in my laptop have a barely average sound. When I played songs from my music library and some movie DVD's, the sound quality from the Lapdesk speakers was very impressive. I'm always watching movies on my laptop and now the sound quality rivals my HDTV. There are also easily-accessible buttons on the right side of the base to raise, lower or mute the sound.
The Lapdesk connects to the computer via a single USB plug and uses the computer's power, so there are no other plugs or adapters needed. There's also no software or installation required which I appreciated. I don't notice any significant drain on my computer's battery life when using the base.
This product is extremely well-designed, ergonomic, well-made and has the kind of helpful features people who use their laptops often really need. My laptop hasn't left my Lapdesk since I got it. Well worth the price. Great product! 5 stars.
Want Logitech Speaker Lapdesk N700 Discount?
(2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)The Logitech Speaker Lapdesk N700 is definitely a luxury and an imperfect product. The sound improvement is not nearly as good as desktop computer speakers. Still, it is an improvement over most internal speakers. Similarly, the cooling is not the best out of the available coolers out there. And the comfort of this unit as a lapdesk is also not the greatest. But the combination of all these features in one unit make this a serviceable product.PROS:
++ Sound is a step-up from internal laptop speakers
++ Fabric bottom is thick enough and provides some friction for stability
++ Integrated fan provides minimal cooling for your laptop
++ Fan is extremely quiet
++ Thick plastic body deflects remaining heat away from your lap
++ USB connector powers the speakers and cooler
++ Includes on-board controls: on / off switch, volume controls and a mute button
++ Included rubber inserts can be placed in the fan grill to lift your laptop
++ Flip-up *tabs* in the front provide a little stability so your laptop won't slide forward
CONS:
-Unit may be too heavy for some people
-Sound is still not great given the MSRP
-Padding is so firm it may be uncomfortable for some
-No curve in the surface to allow heat to escape from under your computer
-Curved bottom prevents the unit from laying flat in your lap
-The unit isn't deep enough, so it's unstable if you put it forward so the curve hugs your knees
-No mouse tray like the one in the Logitech N315 Portable Lapdesk
-Fan doesn't have any speed controls; it's either on or off
-The list price is excessive for what you get
-Only available with the cream colored surface
The weight of this unit may bother some people, as it is a little heavy. This wasn't a huge issue for me but your mileage may vary. The weight and design will prevent some smaller people from using it comfortably in their laps. Those with a smaller laptop or a netbook should definitely consider the Logitech N550 Speaker Lapdesk. It will accommodate up to a 13 inch laptop, like the Apple MacBook Pro MC700LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop, or anything smaller. Just keep in mind that the N550 has no fan for active cooling, while the N700 does.
Comfort is an issue with all of these lapdesks. This unit has the thick padding and curved back that is shared by the Logitech N500 Comfort Lapdesk. That unit includes no cooling or speakers.
CONCLUSION
This is a good product that is a jack of all trades, but it's worth the compromises. It has some flaws, and it's not great in any one area. But the combination of features is unique. There's nothing else quite like it and I recommend it. Just try to get it on sale if possible.
Enjoy.
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