Intermediate notebook cooler with SATA hard drive bay

Appearance:
In matt black and big enough for 15- to 17-inch notebooks Zalmann Notebook Cooler comes along. What directly strikes the light weight of the device is - in the mobile space indeed quite desirable in a stationary solution for the desktop to the low weight but produces a rather skeptical first impression. So dominates the plastic and allows the Zalmann device cheap and fragile appear.

Volume:
Whisper quiet is not the notebook cooler from Zahlmann. However, there is the possibility of the rear panel to throttle the fan speed, so as to minimize the volume. But even at maximum performance the fan remain tolerable by the rather low hum. In medium and low setting outweighs the high-frequency hum of the notebook's fan.

Connections:
The connections of Zalmann Notebook Cooler can be read in the data sheet (3x USB Type A 4-pin; 1x mini-USB Type B, 4-pole, power supply). Power is supplied either by the included USB Y-cable or a not supplied with external power supply. The integrated USB hub with three USB ports is a great way to connect an external keyboard, printer and mouse replaced the external USB hub. For mobile operation I have to solve only a USB cable.
Why the connections and the controller for the fans, however, are mounted behind the device remains a mystery to me. In particular, the fan control would be much better side lifted.
A highlight of the device, however, is the integrated SATA hard drive slot. Through built-in HDD to the Zalmann Notebook Cooler blossomed into a kind of docking station for the notebook. Launched notebook, connect the USB cable of Zalmann cooler, are directly eg external keyboard, mouse, printer, plus external data storage.

Conclusion:
- The volume of the fans are in order and can be as necessary and reasonable noise pollution control.
- Three USB ports may replace the external USB hub.
- Due to the plastic used the Zalmann Notebook Cooler seems cheap and inferior. Aluminien would the device much better to face.
- The highlight is and remains the integrated SATA hard drive slot. As a result, the device blossomed for (almost) full-fledged docking station.

Review:
A solid piece of equipment with a special highlight (disk slot). There are departures for the cheap-looking plastic and unfavorable mounted fan control. The volume development at full load are deductions.
Finally, 3-deserved star.