Is there any way to externally cool a MacBook Pro?

The short answer is "yes", there are a variety of products designed to cool a MacBook Pro, or other notebook, without resorting to opening the case.

Although others are available as well, a quick review of "notebook coolers" available from Amazon.com presented three of potential interest -- the ThermalTake CoolPad Dual, Targus Notebook ChillHub, and CoolerMaster NotePal.

Photo Credit (Left to Right): ThermalTake, Targus, & CoolerMaster.

All three products are similar with two fans apiece, and each will reduce the temperature of your notebook, but there are notable differences.

For the frequent traveller, the ThermalTake might be the best of the bunch, as it is the lightest at 2.2 pounds and ships with a universal travel adapter.

The Targus solution, which seems to be the most popular, weighs 3.0 pounds. It probably won't win any design awards, but it does include a very handy four port USB 2.0 hub.

The sleekest of the three, the CoolerMaster weighs a hefty 4.0 pounds, but is conveniently powered directly from the laptop rather than having a separate adapter.

Even with these products, however, it still is important to heed the warning from page 107 of the MacBook Pro User's Guide:

Do not leave the bottom of your MacBook Pro in contact with your lap or any surface of your body for extended periods. Prolonged contact with your body could cause discomfort and potentially a burn.

For your safety, please be mindful of this advice and not use your notebook on your lap. Should you decide to purchase any of these products, doing so through the links above helps to support the site. Numerous other resellers are available as well.

Reader's Addition:

I've found that the iLap aluminium laptop stand provides good passive cooling. It doesn't need power or batteries and it works equally well on a table, on the bed or on your lap.

Steve
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK