Hooked Up - CoolIT USB Beverage Chiller
What is it?
The USB Beverage chiller is a device from CoolIT Systems that is designed to keep your beverage chilled all the time. It uses a powered USB connection and proprietary CoolIT technology to keep your drinks cold and ready to drink.
| Product Quick Reference | |
| Company | CoolIT Systems |
| Product | USB Beverage Chiller |
| Price | $24.99 |
| Warranty | 1 Year |
| Power Supply | USB |
| Power Consumption | 1.2 Amps/6 Watts |
| Cord Length | 5' |
| Product Website | www.coolitsystems.com |
Impressions
The CoolIT USB Beverage chiller is a slick little device that delivers as promised. Immediately upon plugging it in, the surface of the cold-plate begins to drop toward its eventual 45 degree temperature that will keep beverages cold all day long. It doesn’t matter what type of container the beverage is in (although basic physics do apply), as all will transfer the cool temperature to the liquids to some degree. I found aluminum cans to be the best, although 20-oz plastic bottles don’t do too badly either. When plugged in, the plate starts cooling down immediately (and will warm up just as fast when disconnected) and stays at the constant temp the whole time.
The only real negative I found was the cord length. While five-foot may seem plenty long, it doesn’t offer much distance for a console that is integrated into a home theater setup or a desktop PC that is on a floor. It is great for a laptop regardless o your USB locations. The fan is audible, but the sound it is very constant and will fade into the background as white noise as you get used to it. The only other thing I would have liked to see was a power switch of some sort to allow for it to be left plugged in to the USB while not having the cooling technology working.
| Pros | Cons |
| Cools Immediately | Fan is Audible |
| Cost for Performance | No Power Switch |
| Looks Great | Cord Length |
| Rugged Construction |
Gaming Impact
This one is pretty obvious, as most gamers have some sort of fuel (drink) next to them while playing. Whether it is a soda, energy drink or alcoholic beverage, the CoolIT USB Beverage Chiller will keep them all cold. Most of the time these drinks disappear quickly, but when you get into that long set on Rock Band, get lost in the world of some RPG or are running from the cops in GTA, you don’t always get to it right away.
The Skinny
While I nitpicked at a couple of things, they certainly do not impede what this little gem does best, and that is keep your drink cold. It doesn’t matter if you drink from cans, bottles, plastic or a jewel-encrusted goblet of gold; expect to have a cold drink while it is sitting on the cooling plate. The bottom line is at $24.99, this is a must have gadget for anyone that drinks cold beverages and uses a computer, game console or device with a powered USB port.
Where to Find/Buy
The CoolIT USB Beverage Chiller can be found at the CoolIT website. In addition, online retailers such as Amazon.com, ProVantage, ANT Online, and BeachAudio carry it.
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About Author
Like many gamers in their 40's, I developed my love of gaming from my Commodore 64 after we wore out our Intellivision. I spent countless hours wandering around the streets of Skara Brae, as my life was immersed in The Bard's Tale series on the C-64, D&D Titles and any/all Epyx titles (California Summer and Winter Games) and sports titles. After taking the early 90's off from gaming (college years) minus the occasional Bill Walsh College Football on Sega, I was re-introduced to PC games in the mid 1990's with a couple of little games called DOOM II and Diablo. I went all-in with the last generation of consoles, getting an Xbox 360 on launch weekend as well as adding a PS3 and Wii in subsequent years. I now am into the current-generation (latest?) of consoles with the WiiU and Xbox One. Recently, I was able to get back into PC gaming and have enjoyed it very much, spending most of my time going solo or playing with my fellow GamingNexus staffers in controlled multiplayer action.
While my byline is on many reviews, articles and countless news stories, I have a passion for and spent the last several years at GamingNexus focusing on audio & video and accessories as they relate to gaming. Having over 20 years of Home Theater consulting and sales under my belt, it is quite enjoyable to spend some of my time viewing gaming through the A/V perspective. While I haven't yet made it to one of the major gaming conventions (PAX or E3), I have represented GamingNexus at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in nine of the last ten years.
Personally, I have been a staff member at GamingNexus since 2006 and am in my third tour of duty after taking off the last year and a half.
