How many of you can really put your laptop on your lap? It’s something I almost never do, for example, because it just gets too hot — both the computer, and my lap!

One very clever solution is the Targus HeatDefense for Laptops. It’s clever because it’s so simple. The gadget is just a mat filled with crystals that absorb heat. That turns the crystals into gel. Once the heat (a.k.a. the laptop) is removed, the crystals re-form. The laptop stays cool, and so does the lap on which it sits. Nifty.

It’s one of the very few gadgets you don’t have to plug in or charge. I like that. I also like the fact that the HeatDefense rolls up into a small bundle, making it very portable.

The company claims that keeping your laptop cooler will help the battery last longer.  While I haven’t used the HeatDefense, the basic premise behind that claim is correct. In any event, it’s a neat way to keep your cool and chill out.