XENA Notebook Cooler with One Touch Backup

Introduction:

    To date, I have reviewed about 90% of the VIZO product line, and as long as they are coming out with new items I will be here waiting for a sample to review. Speaking of review samples, this is what brings us here today. VIZO sent out a new product for laptop computers. The product is named XENA, a notebook cooler/stand that has some first-of-its-kind features included, like a spot for a 2.5" SATA hard drive that slides into the notebook cooler and can be used to back up data via a USB link.

Features:

• The World's 1st & Only Notebook Cooler with
  + Drawable 2.5” SATA HDD bay
  + One touch backup function
   

• Have a drawable 2.5” SATA hard drive bay and 3 USB 2.0 hub ports for your storage need

• One Button Backup: Backup / Restore / Synchronize utility ( under USB 2.0 host )

• Reduce the temperature of your notebook PC for best performance

• Aluminum housing for best thermal heat dissipation

• Dual fans provide the maximum airflow and air pressure

• Low dBA level

• Support Bus-Power and Self-Power ( 5V / 2A Adapter included )

• Ergonomic designed angle for easy typing

• Easy to install

Specifications:

• Housing Dimensions: 280mm x 300mm x 40mm

• Housing Material: Aluminum

• USB BUS Power: 5V / 500mA

• Power Adapter: 5V / 2A

• DC Fan Dimensions: 70 x 70 x 15 ( 2 PCS )

• Bearing Type: Sleeve Bearing

• Speed: 3000 RPM

• Noise Level:26.6 dBA

• Max Air flow: 22.62( Min:18.51 )CFM

• Rated Voltage: DC 5V

• Rated Current: 0.19 ( Max:0.3 ) A x 2

• Compatibility: 8” ~ 15" notebook PC

• Weight: 1185 g

A Closer Look:

Retail front

Retail back

Handle

Contents

     The packaging for the XENA is rather simple with no fancy things cluttering up the box, just a picture of the notebook cooler on the front and an advertisement stating it's the first and only notebook cooler with a one-touch backup. The back of the box usually contains the specs and features, and this is true on this box. If you were lucky enough to find this item on sale here in the United States, the carrying handle on the top of the box would come in handy while walking out of the store.

Cables and tray	CD and Manual	Top
Bottom	Lip	Side view of lip

    After removing the cooler from the package, you will appreciate how little it weighs. This is due to the aluminum construction. Some of the accessories included with the XENA are the removable tray for the 2.5" hard drive, 5v power supply to save the battery life of the notebook, an USB cable to attach a notebook to the cooler, and backup software. Let's start the overview with the top side of the XENA. The top deck is divided into 3 sections. These sections are divided by a raised feature that may be used to help keep things in place, or perhaps just for decoration, since the bottom edge of the XENA also has a lip to keep anything from sliding off. The middle portion of the cooler is where the two 70mm fans blow out towards the bottom of a notebook, and these fans are covered with a honeycombed mesh.

Right side vents

HDD access door

Door opened

Tray for HDD

    On the right side of the cooler are some slits cut in, which provide some fresh air intake for the fans. The right side has some slits cut into it also, but this is the area of the access door for the removable tray for a 2.5" SATA hard drive as well. The access door is plastic with tiny plastic tabs that act like hinges. I feel this will be a major weak spot and would have liked to have seen a beefier type of hinge system here. The 2.5" SATA hard drive mounts to the tray that slides into the body of the XENA cooler, and is held in place with both a friction fit and the access door being closed.

OTB button and switch

USB Hub

Connection to notbook

TISK TISK

    Incorporated into the rear of the notebook cooler is a 3-port USB hub. This hub becomes active after connecting a free USB port on the computer to the USB IN port on the back of the cooler. An USB cable is included with the XENA to accomplish this.

   Also on the back end is a power switch to shut down the fans when using notebook power. If a power outlet is handy, then the optional 5v power supply can be used instead of the notebook battery.

   The last item back here is the One Touch Copy button. When used with the supplied software CD and set up properly, data can be backed up to the hard drive within the XENA cooler.

   On the underside of the XENA are four rubber feet, one in each corner. The two feet at the rear are larger and raise the back of the cooler, while the two feet up front are thin. All of the feet are held on with double-sided tape. and when I was moving the XENA around to adjust for my typing angle, one of the large rubber feet on the back came off. At least with the large feet, it might be a good idea to screw them into the bottom of the cooler.

Conclusion:

    Unfortunately, I don't own a spare 2.5" SATA hard drive, nor do I plan on buying one any time soon, since my current notebook doesn't require one. Long story short, I was unable to test the One Touch Backup feature of the XENA. In the review I mentioned a couple of issues. The one that concerns me most is the large rubber feet being held in place with double-sided tape, which I felt was the sole reason one of the feet came off when I slid the notebook cooler. This would never have happened if the feet were held in place with screws. The other issue I have is with the all-plastic door and hinge design. It's just a matter of time before this fails in my opinion.

    Now for the positive. With my notebook running a dual P4 930+ CPU, and we all know how much heat this CPU can generate, the dual 70mm fans definitely helped keep my laptop cooler than normal. The 3-port USB hub is also a great addition for those with limited USB ports on their notebooks.

    So, to round things up, the aluminum construction is strong and lightweight, the dual 70mm fans are quiet, the USB hub and One Touch Backup are great additions. With a few minor fixes to the design of the XENA notebook cooler, this would be and can be a great addition to anyone on the go with a notebook.