Dr. Bodelin's Laptop Bumpers Review (pics)

by Amber B., Oklahoma, USA

Laptop Bumpers (view larger image)

Laptop Bumpers are an inexpensive and easy solution for laptop users that want the feel of a desktop keyboard, but want something more portable. The bumpers are designed to raise the back end of the laptop, creating an angle that allows better ventilation while raising the laptop, so the user is not typing on a flat surface. This gives the affect of typing on an external keyboard.

Overview

There are 3 components to Laptop Bumpers rubber stops, snap pads, and bumpers. The rubber stops are placed on the front corners and are designed to keep the laptop from sliding around. The snap pads are placed on the back corners and allow the bumpers to be removed when not in use. The bumpers also have snap pads, so when they are not in use, they can be snapped together for easy storage. The installation of everything only takes a couple of minutes, the bumpers can be attached or removed in just a few seconds.

Everything that's included with the Laptop Bumpers

Specs:

• Rubber Stops: Diameter = in.
• Snap Pads: D = 1 in.
• Bumpers: D = 1 in; H = 1 in.
• Available in 7 colors

The Angle

One feature that I miss about desktop computersis having my keyboard at an angle, but this does a great job of creating a similar effect. The bumpers raised the back end of the laptop about 1 inch off the table which creates a natural and comfortable position for typing. This still allows you to rest your palms on the palm rests and not on a desk like you normally would with an external keyboard.

Dell Inspiron 9300 without bumpers (view larger image)

Dell Inspiron 9300 with the bumpers (view larger image)

For me, it was easier to type with the bumpers versus without them -- even on shorter or higher than normal desks. I didn't have to reach as much when typing, so it was easier on my wrists and helped with my posture. After using these for the past couple of weeks, it has helped with my pain from carpal tunnel. If my laptop is flat, my wrists get burned out quickly and start throb causing me to take frequent breaks. With the bumpers, I can type longer with less breaks, and the pain isn't as severe as what it normally is.

Ventilation

The bumpers do allow better ventilation which did lower the amount of heat on the bottom side. I did notice some heat reduction from most parts on the bottom side, but there was a significant amount of reduction from my RAM modules. My RAM module is located in the center on the bottom of my laptop and gets very little air, so it gets extremely hot -- even a burning to the touch at time. When I used the bumpers, the RAM area was much cooler and did not have a burning sensation when I touched it. I also used a couple of programs to see if the temperature on my CPU and HDD had decreased. Unfortunately, my CPU temperature did not change, but my HDD temperature did decrease between 2 to 4 degrees. This did beat my expectations since I didn't expect a change in the temperature or the overall heat reduction.

(view larger image)

Easy Way to Move Your Laptop

The bumpers make it where you can slide your laptop around on virtually any table or slick surface. The rubber stops keep the laptop from moving, but if you pick the front end of the laptop up an inch or two, you can move the laptop easily with no resistance. I found this really helpful when I was doing homework or projects where I had to use my laptop off and on. It saves time and energy by not picking up the laptop, and I did not have to worry about dropping or slamming my laptop down on the table.

Pros

• Small & Detachable
• Portable
• Comfortable Angle
• Available in 7 different colors
• Inexpensive
• Snap pad fibers are flexible but do not break

Cons

• Snap pads do catch hair, cotton, etc when bumpers are not attached
• Might be difficult to find a place for the snap pads depending on laptop design

Conclusion

This is a great and inexpensive way to put your laptop at an angle and have a keyboard similar to external keyboards. This would be a perfect solution for travelers or anyone that does not have room for an external keyboard.

Purchase Information

Laptop Bumpers can be purchased for $14.99 from http://www.bodelin.com/bumpers/

 

Thanks for the review SG, and nice pictures. You can't go too wrong for $14.99, a lot of people do like the inclined feel of a keyboard as opposed to the flat, which is more ergonomically friendly. And if it buys you better cooling and less sliding, well there's not too much to lose!

 

Great Review Amber - It will make a great stocking stuffer this christmas for that computer person you dont know what to get.

 

Pretty basic, yet very useful little devices.

I could probably make those by cutting a ping pong ball in half and....

 

Beh, I've been doing this for some time now, and for much less than $15...












Second picture should be landscape though, took them with my camera phone. All I used were some screws, some teflon tape, a couple of plumbing packs, some spare rubber feet and a silicon gun. They go in any holes meant for your laptop's original screws.

 

Wow... never even thought of that. He should be making some good cash .

Great review Southerngirl.

 

Great find, SG! Those little jewels would be a nice way to get some additional ventilation for a notebook, as well.

I just ordered a Graphite set!

 

Nice review,
Will that create a possible damage to the harddrive? I am curious since the laptop will no longer place horizontally with this thing.

 

No, the hard drive won't have any problems, and neither will any of the other components.

You'll be just fine.

 

Nice find SG! This'll help out those who've got P4s and Athlon 64s

 

Thanks guys. I had alot of fun with this review.

I won't lie, you could go with at home remedies at a cheaper price, but you are going to lose some functions that the Bumpers give. For one, you won't have something that matches your laptop, and probably will look a bit strange to others (if that is something that you care about). Plus with the at home tricks, you are going to have resistance if you try to move your laptop around -- which one of the main points for the bumpers is moving tha laptop around with no resistance.

For 15 dollars, I don't think it is very expensive at all for what all it does.

 

I've heard stories in the Toshiba fourms of people using corks from wine bottles and legos to prop up their P30/P35 laptops (which BTW do have P4 CPUs).

 

LOL, with P4's i could probably understand that.

 

Hey this is the 1000th thread in the News & Reviews forum!

Congrats SG!

 

lol, i should get extra rep for that.... just kidding

 

shrug....I've always used two pink erasers to do this. One in each back corner of the laptop provides the same tilt and cooling. Costs about 30 cents and works like a charm.

 

Great review SG. Neat lil' things those are. But the pieces that actually attach to the bottom of the notebook, are those 'stuck' on for good? (Not the actual bumber, but the part in between the bumber and laptop).

 

Thanks Momo,

Yes/No. You can't remove snap pads like the bumpers, so once you get them on there, you are stuck with them until you don't want to use the bumpers anymore. If you decide that you do want to remove the snap pads, it is fairly easy though. You might have to use a knife or something sharp to help you, but I just used my fingers, and it didn't leave any glue residue behind.

SG

 

Or just use a 12-cell battery to acheive the same result with added benefits.

 

Since I prefer the ergonomics of negative tilt, I suppose I could stick a set on the front side of my notebook...

 

ahh, but the larger battery solution only props up some laptops, luckily for you the compaq v2000z is one of them.

 

i went to home depot and bought a square of some pressed wood that it about a quarter inch thick. then i bought two doorstops. total was about 3 bux. cut the wood to fit my dell 6000 perfectly. glued the doorstops to match where the rear feet on my notebook are.

benefit - nothing attached to my laptop and a flat surface for the entire notebook to sit on so i can use it on my bad and also be raised up.

 

Ah, I see, for everyone else out there it is an excellent idea.

 

Hey. Just wondering what people think of these, having been able to use them for a few weeks. I imagine the only thing that would change would be impressions of durability. I assume they're cheap, hollow plastic and that the paint wears off quickly, but hoping I'm wrong. Have the snap pads held up OK?

Thanks,
Howie

 

Well i've been using them since Thanksgiving. The bumpers themselves haven't cracked, paint chipped off or anything like that. In fact they still look brand new. The sticky pads are still in good shape. A few of the little spikes have bent, but the bumpers still stick very well. They bumpers don't stick as good as they did in the beginning, but its not like they fall off. It takes quite a bit of force to get them to fall off on their own like if i pull my laptop against the carpet or something that isn't very smooth and soft.

 

Ah, I see - do the bumpers attach with a Velcro-like closure?

Howie

 

Yeah, I would say so. When i was doing the review, I almost put velcro because to me it was almost exactly velcro. It is kind of hard to describe. Basically, both sticky pads has little sticks on it that interlock with each other.

 

prettty sweeet review there...from the last time i was here...there were never any reviews for laptop "bumpers" or anything like this!!!