Targus PA243U Notebook Portable Lapdesk
- Ideal for Travel: Perfect Lightweight Design – Weighs Just 22 Ounces – for Use On an Airplane, At Home and At Work
- Mobile Convenience: Non-Skid Surface Holds a Notebook In Place; Can Be Used As a Tilt Stand with 5 Adjustable Angles
- Reduces Overheating: Ventilation Channels Provide Airflow Under Notebook for Cooler Operation
- Dimensions: 11” x 20.5”
Product Description
Targus PA243U Notebook Portable LapDesk¿… More >>
This is the 3rd Targus product I’ve bought so far, and it works great, just like the others! It’s small enough to fit in my carrying case, but big enough to sit comfortably on my lap and still have enough surface space to use a mouse on the side.
Pros: Small, very lightweight, and allows the fans on the bottom of my laptop to get plenty of air to pull through the machine for cooling.
Cons: A little flimsy, but I attribute that to the lightweight material used.
Overall, a great product, and worth the $30.
Rating: 5 / 5
Cheap plastic thing. You would want something that is more sturdy in your lap. I would not recommend this to anyone.
Rating: 1 / 5
I happen to use an Apple Powerbook 15″, which is a gorgeous machine, truly the BMW of computers, and may I say, designed with sensibilities reminiscent of the Porsche Design Group.
Naturally, the Targus LapDesk is no match design-wise, but doesn’t even seem designed with the notebook user/traveler in min.
1) Clunky design. Cleverly combining two identical fitting parts may be a boon in production but bypasses the functionality it should afford. In fact,I found my Powerbook peculiarly balancing on top of the hinge and even sliding off the tray while using it in bed. Remember, form follows function, not the other way around. It’s design rule #1.
2) Lack of heat dissipation. When I noticed that the Powerbook’s fan kept coming on I discovered that the Mac runs actually cooler without the LapDesk. No surprise, as there’s no ventilation whatsoever once the notebook is placed on the LapDesk. The tiny air channel is actually a closed loop in tilted position. A few holes would have made a difference, but the gutters used should at least have had front and end openings in tilted position. In tray position the surface runs too hot to be comfortable on one’s lap.
3) The “desk” aspect. The greatest mistake is perhaps cladding the left and right surface areas with the same anti-slip rubber used to hold the notebook in place. Better would’ve been to extend a smooth surface all the way to the edge to allow for today’s wireless mouse, such as the Kensington which currently not only can’t move on the rubber, but also loses its optical tracking. However, a traditional mouse didn’t fare much better as the area is just too small and doesn’t increase by moving the notebook further to the other side. In its fold-out position the LapDesk suffers from its greatest design flaw: it’s not a desk by any means. Perhaps a cupholder would’ve made it more so, but now all we have is useless space at the left and right and rightfully so I have yet to come across a product picture that gives purpose to those areas. Not surprising as they hold scarcely more than a few pencils (which we don’t need as we have a $2,000 notebook).
4) The convenience factor. Carrying the LapDesk on your lap, either in a chair or on the bed is a most uncomfortable experience. The hard plastic with its rims, knobbies, and edges make it rather painful to endure in bed and the “hinges” for the upright flipstand that extend beyond the tray further add discomfort. Either way, using the LapDesk on your lap leaves your thighs feeling sweaty, raw, and bruised.
5) Price. $30 is too much for a piece of plastic. Of course, owners of expensive laptops are willing to pay more for a solution, but this is not the solution I was looking for and I bet others must feel cheated the same way.
Now, it’s true that as an Apple user I may be spoiled with great design and functionality. Indeed, I have often shaken my head at the sight of the products PC manufacturers put out, as they often resembled a hodgepodge of ideas with design thrown in as an afterthought. Yet, some of them too drive BMW’s and Porsches, but perhaps only for the status these marvels represent rather than for their superior design. While it may seem unfair to compare a German automobile to the LapDesk, in the end it’s still well-thought-out design that wins. Imagine what Jonathon Ives, Apple’s award-winning designer could’ve come up with. Remember, less is more. Engineers are not designers. This product looks engineered, not designed. Worse, it looks like it was picked up at a Hong Kong trade show. In my opinion Targus has pandered to a market of consumers with a need for a product without giving it to them.
Rating: 1 / 5
I hardly use my laptop at a desk. This product isnt that great if your looking to place it on your lap and use your mouse on it. I find that its not very comfortable and the mouse doesnt work very well. If you do use a mouse it really needs to be a mini opti mouse! I mainly use this to set my laptop on to keep cool as I usually have it on the floor, the bed, an ottoman, etc and it can get pretty warm. This product does work in preventing it from getting too hot so that your laptop doesnt overheat.
Rating: 3 / 5
I was surprised to find that this item didn’t stack up to it’s reviews I read. Maybe the design has changed….
It folds in half for easy storage… we it does this while you are trying to use it to support the laptop if you are moving it at all.
It has a, for lack of a better description, flap that I have no idea what it does – this product was new and in the package, but came with no directions. This flap is attached at the center (where it folds) and can be flipped to either side. What it is for is a mystery to me.
The ad I read stated it had room for a mouse. There is no room for a mouse as I have a 17″ screen and even if there was room for a mouse, there is no flat surface to use it or a mouse pad on – it is all slatted for air circulation, which it actually does do well.
I use this product on my lap, as it was listed as a laptop lap desk when I searched for it. It is uncomfortable as it has zero padding, and as I mentioned above, tends to fold at the center while it is being used.
The moral of this story is you get what you pay for… I got mine for under $20 with tax and shipping. Money I wish I’d used towards something else.
Rating: 2 / 5