Reports that CoolPads may damage Titanium G4 PowerBooks are not entirely correct, according to Jim MacEachern of Road Tools, the company that makes the device. CoolPads offer an adjustable keyboard tilt, the ability to pivot 360 degrees, and heat dissipation by natural convection.
MacEachern said that the entire misunderstanding began with a post on a Mac Web site in which a PB G4 user wrote that “resting my hands on the keyboard in order to type caused the case to flex when using the CoolPad and that this caused my DVD drive to behave erratically and not mount CDs on the desktop.” He added that “it looks like the Titanium case is too flexible to be used with the CoolPad.”
MacEachern said that the concern only refers to the original smaller CoolPad, not the new Podium CoolPad that’s much wider and has been upgraded specifically for the Titanium PowerBook.
In fact, all Podium CoolPads are now shipping with extra supports inspired by the new Apple portable. There are two versions of CoolPads: the Podium and the smaller original. This smaller CoolPad is not recommended for the Titanium laptop.
What’s more, Road Tools is trying something new and different. They’ll let you try a CoolPad before you buy it. Fill out any order form, they’ll verify your credit card, and ship your order, MacEachern said.
“It’s pretty straight forward: we won’t actually charge your card for at least three weeks so if, for any reason, you decide that the CoolPad isn’t right for you, just e-mail us and we’ll arrange to have it picked up,” he added. “No risk, no questions, we’ll pay all shipping costs both ways, and your credit card will have never been charged. Road Tools really believes this a product you’ll like so we want you to try it with zero risk. The ‘try before you buy’ offer is for the USA only.”