I think it’s fair to say that I’ve had my fair share of experience with Vizo’s family of Ninja notebook PC cooling stands. It seems that Vizo is absolutely bent on creating the absolute best notebook cooler on the market, taking in the feedback with each successive generation and implementing the changes into new models to make for a better and better cooler. Yes, the Vizo Ninja line of notebook cooling stands take on a lot of similar characteristics — small powered fans, aluminum construction, matte black paint job, etc. — but they’re ever so slightly different from one another.
As you recall, I’ve toyed with the Vizo Ninja II and the smaller Vizo Mini Ninja, but the company’s latest creation could be the most versatile and best notebook cooling stand to date. Allow me to introduce you to the hot new Vizo Ninja HS.
Features at a Glance
Taking a look at the official list of features, it’s clear that while Vizo is working hard on improving its family of notebook coolers, they have yet to hire a proper copywriter. Some of the text is either unclear or just awkwardly worded, so while the Vizo Ninja HS may be a great product, the “Chingrish” may be a turn-off for some potential buyers.
In any case, the feature list reads as follows:
- The world’s 1st and patented design
- Adjustable positions for fans
- Dual 35.0mm (2000 rpm) fans can be move up and down, left and right
- Patented easy-slide system and unique tool free design provide stability and simple adjustability
- For different hot zone of 12″ – 17″ widescreen notebook PC
- Precise & personalized positioning
- Kills the unit’s temperature in a flash
- Powered by USB, no adapter required under low power consumption
- Built-in 3 USB 2.0 ports for easy expansion
- Max air flow: 13.72 CFM
- Rated current: 0.24A x 2
- Dimensions: 350 x 291 x 62mm
- Weight: 880 grams
Based on what I remember, these fans are roughly the same size as the previous two Vizo notebook coolers that I have reviewed. In this way, I fully expect the cooling to be quite similar. The key difference is that a greater area on the underside of the laptop is “exposed” to the air, so the cooling could be marginally better because there is less aluminum blocking bottom-mounted vents and so on. You’ve got to love the line about killing the unit’s temperature though, eh?
What’s in the Box?
There are no surprises here. Vizo has decided to package the Ninja HS exactly the same way that it has packaged previous Ninja notebook coolers. You get a semi-glossy outer sleeve (this one has a bit more color to it than previous ones) and a simple white box is found inside this sleeve. Within the box, you’ll find the contents carefully protected with packaging material.
The Vizo HS notebook cooler comes disassembled as three primary components. There is the center portion containing the dual 35.0mm fans and then there are the two stands. Aside from those three parts, you’ll find a mini-USB cable, four screws, and the instruction guide. There’s a reason why the Vizo HS does not come pre-assembled. That’s because it’s fully adjustable and you’ll want to personalize its exact configuration to suit your needs.
Real-Time Price and Stock Check – Find More Notebook Coolers
Putting It All Together
It’s not exactly a daunting task to put together this notebook cooler stand, but it does take a few moments of your time. The provided screws are considered thumb screws, but you may be more comfortable using a standard Philips screwdriver instead. The choice is yours.
As mentioned, the Vizo HS Notebook Cooler comes as three main pieces. Basically, you line up the middle portion with the stands on either side. Checking out the underside of each stand, you’ll notice that there are a series of numbers. These are there so that you can effectively line up the two stands. You wouldn’t want a lopsided notebook cooler. There are two screws that need to be inserted on either side. Also in the above picture, you’ll notice that there is a small wheel at the back end of each stand. This is so that you can more easily move the Vizo HS if you need to move it. The underside of the front ends have small grippy pad, so you need to lift the front before sliding the Vizo HS forward or backward.
Next, you can adjust the position of the fans horizontally. Each of the two fans is held in place by four screws, so you can just undo these, slide the fan over, and screw it back in. Vizo recommends that you find the “hot zone” on the underside of your notebook, lining up the fans with this area so that you can get the best cooling experience possible.
And that’s the completed product. It looks pretty funky, if you ask me. The aluminum material is exactly the same as previous Vizo Ninja notebook coolers, so while it looks like it scratches easily, these imperfections rub out also as easily. Having said that, having aluminum to metal contact between your laptop and the cooler could lead to some unsightly marks that may not be as easy to buff out. This is more of a concern with laptop users of the MacBook Pro variety, with that aluminum casing. A stop to your hardware store for some sticky rubber feet might allow you to separate the two surfaces better, but Vizo should have included some to ensure their product isn’t to blame for cosmetic blemishes to one hardware.
USB Bonus Hub
The version of the Vizo HS notebook cooler in this review carries the model number NCL-251-BK. This is the one with three built-in USB 2.0 ports. Model number NCL-250-BK is functionally identical to this notebook cooler in every way, except it does not have the USB hub on the right side.
This hub is where you insert the mini-USB cable, providing power to the dual fans. Next to it is a port for DC power, but a DC power cable is not provided. As far as I can tell, each of the three USB 2.0 ports offers 5V/500 mA, so they should be enough to power most of your USB peripherals. I think this is a better solution that the USB pass-through cable offered by the original Vizo Mini Ninja. Subsequent versions of the Vizo Mini Ninja also now include this hub.
Real-Time Price and Stock Check – Find More Notebook Coolers
Cooling Performance
The cooling performance of the Vizo Ninja HS isn’t exactly breathtaking, but it seems to get the job done. I ran a terribly unscientific test on my Dell 640m notebook, running on Windows XP Home and an Intel Core 2 Duo T5300 processor.
For the purposes of the test, I just embarked on some regular web surfing and then let the notebook rest for about 30 seconds. Without the cooler, SpeedFan gave me readings of 42, 47, 39, and 40 degrees for the hard drive, temperature sensor, first core, and second core, respecitvely. With the Vizo HS, the readings came out as 38, 47, 36, and 39 degrees, representing a couple degrees of cooling across the board. So, in the end, the Ninja HS does work. Further fiddling with the fan positions may improve performance.
Still Room for Improvement
Although Vizo has made some improvements with the Ninja HS notebook cooler, I certainly still have some suggestions to make. For starters, there are no guards or guides in place for holding the center piece in the two stands. My suggestion is for Vizo to implement small tabs or bars on the outer edges of the two stands so that the center portion can’t shoot through, so to speak. This will make it easier to insert the holding screws, because it minimizes the horizontal movement.
I also find it unfortunate that while the Vizo HS offers all sorts of customization, there is no way to adjust the height. Some people prefer a steeper angle, whereas others want a shallower angle. With the Vizo HS, there is no way to prop your laptop higher or lower. Also, there is no power switch — the fans turn on automatically when the USB cable is inserted — nor is there any fan speed adjustment. As alluded to earlier, the matte surface of the Ninja HS can cause marring to the surface of some laptops, like the MacBook Pro with its aluminum chassis.
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
Yes, it can be quite difficult to get excited about a notebook cooler, but grabbing a cooling notebook stand like the Vizo Ninja HS could be one of the best investments you ever make. You get a more ergonomic typing angle and the effective cooling can help improve the performance (and longevity) of your laptop.
Vizo has a good tradition with its notebook coolers, and the Vizo Ninja HS is easily the best one that the company has created to date. The vertical and horizontal adjustment of the fan position makes this notebook cooler particularly effective, because you can easily target the “hot zone” on your specific laptop. I also appreciate the great deal of “air” that is placed beneath the notebook, rather than the vents getting blocked with aluminum.
As good as the Vizo Ninja HS is, It’s still not perfect — no height adjustment, no fan speed adjustment and it barely collapses enough to holds up a 12-inch widescreen. Parts of the assembly were somewhat awkward, but the Vizo Ninja HS Notebook Cooler is a solid option and based on previous products, VIzo will only get better with each version of the Ninja HS. If you need a notebook cooler that customizes well to most laptops and looks great to boot, The Vizo Ninja HS it’s a great choice.
Pros
- Highly customizable design
- Effective as a notebook cooler
- Great build quality and excellent materials
- Three-port USB 2.0 hub is a bonus
Cons
- No height adjustment
- No fan speed adjustment or power switch
- Needs better guiding components on stands
- Front pegs are pretty much pointless
Overall Rating: 9.0 / 10.0
Discuss This Review in the Futurelooks Community Forums
Real-Time Price and Stock Check – Find More Notebook Coolers
Vizo Ninja HS Notebook Cooler Photo Gallery
Real-Time Price and Stock Check – Find More Notebook Coolers