Ducky on an Island USB Fan Review

I've read my share of notebook cooler reviews and, while undeniably useful, notebook coolers just strike me as kind of dull. So when I came across a USB device that featured a ducky sitting on an island with a USB powered palm tree fan I figured it'd be a worth a try as an "alternative" notebook cooler.

USB Ducky Fan (view large image)

Where Purchased

I found this device on USBGeek.com, I ordered it for $12.00 using PayPal and half expected never to see any product arrive because I got no email confirmation or shipping notification. But aboutaweek later the Ducky Fan did show up -- at the wrong address. It actually arrived atthe address of a confused friend in another city, we used to share an address that's apparently assigned tothe PayPal account I used and USBGeek.com decided to send it there. So after I had my friend forward the Ducky Fan to me the experiment could begin.

Design and Build Quality

What do you expect? It's $12 and shipped from somewhere deep insideChina. Yes it's made of cheap plastic, and the ducky came as a seperate piece and was a pain to push onto his island. But amazingly, this thing works. I shouldn't knock the build too much, that palm tree you see is amazingly flexible and easy to manipulate into a position where it will stay. And most importantly, upon plugging the lead into the USB port and pushing the ducky to the "on" position the palm tree whirled into action blowing cool air.

The Setup and Experiment

I use a ThinkPad T43 for coding and work I do on this website.The T43doesn't get that warm (except for when I close the lid, put it in my bag and it forgets to go to sleep -- it happens), but why not see if we can push the temperature down using this fan and have some fun while doing it?

My work setup of a T43, a bunch of wires and a colorful ducky fan (view large image)

I have a program called Notebook Hardware Control installed on my computer. You can install it too, it's free, and it gives you handyutilities such as CPU temperature readouts, processor speed controland other neat things.

Below is a picture of the fan (turned off) next to my T43, the Notebook Hardware Control program reads out the CPU temperature as 50 C and the hard drive temperature as 37 C. Enlarge the below image to see these readings.

(view large image)

Now I switch the Ducky Fan on by sliding the duck to the right, the palm tree is flexible so I direct the air down and across the keyboard.

Blow ducky fan, blow! (view large image)

After giving the fan2 minutes to work its magic, we look at the temperature readings again to see the processor temperature has dropped a whole 1 degree to 49 C while the hard drive remains at 37 C, enlarge the below image to see those readings:

(view large image)

And after a full5 minutes we give the ducky fan a break. Amazingly, the temperature of the processor has dropped 2 degrees to 48 C and the hard drive has droppedone degree to 36 C. Enlarge the below image to see these temperature readings:

(view large image)

Conclusion

Sadly, 1 or 2 degrees really doesn't make much of a difference in perceived notebook warmth or operating performance of a notebook,so I can't endorse the ducky fan as a legitimate notebook cooling device. But that was never the intention of this $12 glorified piece of plastic and styrofoam. It was meant as a fun device that can be used to cool you during the summer. And you know what? The palm tree fanreally does have some serious RPM behind it and does do a great job as a personal cooler. It's relatively quiet, and if you don't have a laptop handy to power the fan it accepts two AA batteries to cool you by the pool.

Here you go, feel the cooling breeze yourself...(view large image)

 

it's a shame the ducky doesn't dance, or would be sold.

 

I can honestly see that ducky with me in my lecture hall with 300+ students and keeping me cool while I'm busy taking notes =]

 

OMG! Does USBGeek.com ship to Europe? I MUST HAVE THAT! MY PLAN OF WORLD GEEK DOMINATION WILL COME TRUE FOR SURE!

 

Haha. That's interesting. I've been looking for a small fan to use since my small table one (I use it around the house wherever I am) ceased. But something a little more conventional may fit me better
Great review though, Abaxter

 

awesome...

 

One word..."interesting"...
Tim

 

this is really c-o-o-l hehehe (pun intended).

 

hehhehe, cute... looks like something a japanese people would design... or somewhere in that area...

 

LOL! Since when did we ever do such geeky and silly reviews?


I should do some

 

this would make a great gift for my female friends! i think..

 

Did anyone check that site ... those USB controlled missile launchers are way too cool ... I think I am gonna order a couple and surprise a friend with one of them, he is a way bigger geek than me Plus today is his birthday, so it will be perfect!

 

yeah a lot of the stuff on that site is way cool, even though it's pretty useless. hehehe

 

I almost bought those USB slippers... they look soooo tempting

 

Nice! But i must say, i prefer the USB missile lauchner

 

This is so wrong ..

Heres what a modder would have done :
1. Raise the multiplier by using several duckies at the same time .
2. Pin mod to overclock the fan RPM .

But I think you all missed the point , Andrew should have point the thing at himself and get a nurse to check HIS temepratures .

 

Words fail me.

 

now, does USBGeek sell nurses?

 

Oh, you're so right on the cool factor with that, in fact Brian asked them to send some for free and I believe he'll be handling that "review"

 

I think it would definitely melt into a blob if any "overclocking" was done.

 

This device brings China one step closer to world domination.