This review of the RNA-7000W qualifies the product as an aid to the laptop consumer, whom looks for a reliable way to chill their internal temperatures.

1. December 9th, 2009
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[WRTG 3035] Technical Design and Communication
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A critique of the Rosewill® RNA-7000W laptop cooler
Roderik Nelson Saleh Alvarado

2. [WRTG 3035] Design Analysis: Rosewill® RNA-7000W
Introduction
Laptops offer great power to owners who transit much and need access to their
personal computer. These portable computers are powerful, but generate a lot of heat.
The heat is undesirable, because it decreases the lifetime of internal parts of laptops. In
addition, the user is also affected since the surfaces heat up. As a result, typing
becomes uncomfortable and resting the laptop on your lap becomes unbearably hot.
Laptop coolers are often a useful accessory for owners of portable computers.
Coolers are a proposed solution to the problem of heat that laptops create. The concept
is simple, it commonly involves a plate with one or more fans installed within to provide
air cooling. The portable computer rests on this plate and meanwhile, it is cooled from
underneath (where the heat-generating components are located).
The heat issues of the portable computer have become a popular topic for
improvement. Laptop cooler manufacturers responded to the consumer’s feedback,
much in satisfaction to the proverb that states: “necessity is the mother of all invention”.
In effect, many cooling accessories are available to the laptop owner, but there is no
telling what distinguishes the best products. This review of the RNA-7000W qualifies the
product as an aid to the laptop consumer, whom looks for a reliable way to chill their
internal temperatures.

3. [WRTG 3035] Design Analysis: Rosewill® RNA-7000W
Product Overview
Those whom expect a complex piece of cooling electronics will experience a surprise.
Rosewill’s RNA-7000W is dead simple and doesn’t leave much to think about. The
packaging reveals just one solid plate and a USB connector. The simplicity gives reason
to expect there’s maximum functionality for a minimum of learning on how to use the
product.
The cooling elements are found within the solid plate. The plate is made of polished
aluminum with an eye pleasing coating of shiny black. A plastic casing houses the two
cooling fans as displayed in figure 1.
Power is fed to the laptop chiller directly from the computer it is assigned to cool. A
USB cord transfers the electricity from a USB port on the laptop to an input on the back
of the cooling accessory.
Aluminum Silent Fans
Plate
USB connector
Figure 1: First impression of the RNA-7000W

4. [WRTG 3035] Design Analysis: Rosewill® RNA-7000W
Usability
Installation
Little can be taught on how to setup the RNA-7000W ready for use. That’s a statement
regarding the simplicity of the design. The manual for use of the cooler counts only one
page and isn’t all that necessary. Most of what needs to be set up has been designed
on principles of affordances and constraints (Norman 9, 60).
The aluminum plate affords support and so, this plate is where you rest the laptop
on. (Cooling is provided to the underside of the laptop; fans push air into the laptop’s
vents.) Once the portable computer lays supported by the solid plate, the two must be
connected by the USB cord. There does not exist confusion as to which end of the cord
goes to which port, for the design makes clever use of natural constraints. One end of
the cord has a rectangular, USB interface and the other has a thin, cylindrical power
jack. On the laptop, there are many shaped ports and each has a symbol. One of these
symbols is also imprinted on one end of the cord to imply that these two ends must be
connected together. The remainder must then be connected to the cooler, into a
cylindrical port.
These constraints make it obvious and easy to install the USB connector and are
highlighted in figure 2. In fact, the usability of the product is enhanced by requiring very
little thought process on behalf of the user (Krug 9). This step will be repeated many
times, since the laptop is an object that is expected to be transported frequently.
Usability in this process is thus critical. Fortunately you need not think in order to install
the product, which is a desirable trait amongst modern electronics.
OFF – ON
Switch Power Feed
Figure 2: The back end of the laptop cooler

5. [WRTG 3035] Design Analysis: Rosewill® RNA-7000W
Operation
Norman’s gulfs of execution and evaluation are well bridged (Norman 49). Again,
simplicity in the design avails usability. Once computer and cooler are connected, a
switch on the back of the chiller must be engaged to turn on the fans. There is only one
control on the RNA-7000W, so this is an easy task. There is practically no gulf of
execution to be bridged. Instantly, the fans are powered after the OFF-ON switch is
toggled. The execution is visible both by sound and touch. Although silent, the spin-up
of the fans is audible when they turn on and the air flow can be sensed on the sides of
the cooler.
Evaluation is directly observable, when the cooler is in its steady operation. The
keyboard on the laptop is where a user rests their hands. An owner of Rosewill’s cooler
is sure to feel the difference in temperature by touch (the human hand is sensitive
enough to sense the desired temperature differences).
Nevertheless, it will be difficult to evaluate the performance according to a global
standard. Laptops differ greatly from each other; heat generation depends greatly on
the type of computer and even on the age. The air flow will be similar for all laptops, but
the effect of the cooling will cause discrepancies. Hence, questions on whether the
RNA-7000W is cooling appropriately or not enough, must be reserved to personal
perception and opinion.
Unfortunately, the RNA-7000W does not allow the user to react upon evaluation.
Owners of this laptop cooler may perceive that either, there is not enough or just
enough cooling being provided to their portable computers. The fans, although silent,
still make a noise that may not be desirable when executing small programs on the
laptop. This Rosewill cooler excels in its simple design. Yet, the design feels
incomplete, because there is no feature that allows you to react upon your evaluation. A
built-in slider could be included in future versions of this cooler. That way, if you feel like
you need more air flow delivered, you can raise the fan speed. Similarly, if your
personal computer is idle or executing small processes, you may lower the fan speed
(and make it quieter). In effect, this slider button comforts your perception and suits your
cooling needs better.
Passive Features
Rosewill’s cooler is an excellent product, but not solely due to its naked simplicity. A
plain, metal plate with two fans stuck to its belly does not make a superb design.
Instead, the RNA-7000W has passive features that add to its value. Two passive
techniques that are implemented are discussed as follows. These techniques are mostly
tools of emotional design.
Support studs
The aluminum plate affords support, so it is made obvious that this plate is where the
laptop should rest on. The studs, shown in figure 3, personalize and refine the
experience. Where the bare plate affords a plain process of “putting” the laptop on top,
the studs afford a more elegant process of “placing” a laptop on the cooler. The set up
is refined and made more exclusive.

6. [WRTG 3035] Design Analysis: Rosewill® RNA-7000W
An exclusive feeling is enhanced in another way. The supports allow your RNA-7000W
to become unique. Portable computers are available in all kinds of sizes and thus, by
fixing the stud’s location, you can customize your cooler to fit your laptop. Voila! You
have converted Rosewill’s cooler into John Doe’s chiller. This characteristic is yet
another technique from successful minimalistic design.
Air Grooves
The grooves shown in figure 3 trigger an emotional reaction. Experience (knowledge in
the head) has it that cool air flows through vents or passageways in cooling applications
such as air conditioning. The presence of the air grooves is welcome, because they
artificially enhance the function of the cooler. The grooves inspire the visual of cool air
through vents (like an air conditioning unit), even though they hold no real function.
Air Grooves
Support
Studs
Figure 3: Passive features of the RNA-7000W

7. [WRTG 3035] Design Analysis: Rosewill® RNA-7000W
Conclusion
Simplicity is central in the design of the Rosewill® RNA-7000W and that is exactly what
makes it so great. Laptop owners are not looking for another intricate software that does
this and that, but something that just gets the job done. The RNA-7000W delivers on
this demand effortlessly.
Emotional triggers increase the value of the cooler. These triggers are seamlessly
integrated into the design of the cooler and it’s all in name of successful, minimalistic
design.
Bibliography
Krug, Steve. Don't Make Me Think! A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability.
Berkeley: New Riders, 2006.
Norman, Donald A. The Design of Everyday Things. New York: Basic Books, 2002.