Design and features
When we first started asking about the different laptop lapdesks used by people we know, we received several replies telling us that this task was being undertaken by nothing more than the humble Kmart Stable Table. Originally designed for eating hot meals off one's lap, the Stable Table is a near-perfect design for a notebook lapdesk, except that it is totally devoid of anything cool.
Enter the Logitech N700 — even its name has a technological ring about it. In a weird sort of way, the N700 feels directly descended from the Stable Table, with its size and flat plastic surface on top of a rounded, cushioned pillow for your lap. But let's not sell it short in this comparison, the N700 has a few nifty tricks that send the Stable Table rocketing into the 21st century.
Firstly, there is the Lapdesk's internal fan, an essential element for any notebook desk. And it's an impressive fan; it's whisper-quiet and does a good job of keeping your lap from sweating profusely while catching up with the latest Failblog videos on YouTube. This seems to be the fan's main function, as keeping the laptop cool isn't something it does particularly well. We tested the N700 with a HP Mini 210 netbook, a mini PC we love except for the volcanic temperature emitted from its underside. The N700 creates an excellent barrier, but if you actually lift the laptop and feel underneath it, the heat is still very much there.
Unlike most of the other lapdesks you might have come across, the N700 is also packing stereo speakers to hijack your laptop's unbearably tinny audio output. Scanning the N700 you'll find four speaker grilles; two on the top left and right of the tray, and two facing out the back of the unit. This positioning is interesting, and not the best location for speakers playing your favourite music, though we suspect this is a secondary use for them. The main purpose of the N700's audio out is for blasting the sound in videos, and for this use it is spot on.
The rear-facing speakers aren't the best for music playback.
(Credit: Logitech)
You can imagine the testing procedure for this product, right? Us curling up with our netbook, a bucket of popcorn and a good movie, and the result was blissful. Playing music seems a bit weird, the direction of the speakers makes music feel a bit shallow and cold, but for movies the effect is fantastic. The bass booms in all the right places, letting you experience video in a way that is impossible with the crumby internal speakers on most notebooks.
To accommodate these speakers expect the N700 to weigh a little more than you might anticipate. At 1.8kg the N700 is heavy to lift, but the weight is distributed evenly across your lap so it is still comfortable to hold for several hours. Our only real complaint with the N700 is the lack of space to use a mouse. We're not the biggest fans of notebook trackpads, and there isn't enough room on the left or right of the N700 to use one efficiently. But with our fingers all greasy with popcorn butter, it's probably a good thing we didn't ruin a mouse trying.
Add Your Review 1