The PortaPad is a Norwegian invention, an inflatable laptop pad which gives you a surface to put your laptop on when having it in your laptop. My main use for it however is for studying.

The PortaPad itself is a very simply invention but works well. You inflate it, and it gives you a stiff pillow to put on your lap, with ridges to help air flow. It’s cheap, portable and works well. Bought mine last year along with one for my dad’s birthday, and both of us have been using it regularly – although my use hasn’t been for laptops.

Studying is a pain in the ass with these ancient dead tree books, big and wobbly papaerback books which will kill you if you try to hold it like a magazine. I’m just not one to sit by a table for hours on end, studying. I want to sit comfortably when I read long boring stuff. The PortaPad has proven a genius invention for this, since it lets me have a “table” when sitting in a recliner.

If you’re a student and like comfortable chairs you should try this solution, it’s cheap and works well. Even if you’re not, it still works well for the original intent – laptops. There are similar pads out there but I haven’t seen other inflatable ones, which is what makes this so useful and portable.