Overheard: Does your laptop burn your lap?

Aerogel starts as a silica dioxide gel, similar to the gelatine dessert you might make at home. Then the liquid in the gel is removed without collapsing the gel. Tony Boon, Aerogel

Aerogel has gotten some amazing press. According to the U.K. Times Online:

It is expected to rank alongside wonder products from previous generations such as Bakelite in the 1930s, carbon fibre in the 1980s and silicone in the 1990s.

LapLogic, Inc. announced the release of a new line of LapDesks featuring Aerogel Insulation. This is the part of the press release that caught my eye. “Most laptop users are only able to work for an hour or so until the bottom of their laptops become too hot to hold comfortably. Many will place a pillow under the laptop, blocking the cooling fans, and decreasing the life of the system.”

There’s nothing like curling up on a cold snowy evening with a warm laptop, I always say. You can buy the aerogel lap pad at Amazon. I’ve got no interest in the company.