HP's netbook that will keep your lap cool

HP's new netbook computer will be able to detect when it is being used on a person's lap and cool itself appropriately.

Laptop cooling has long been a problem, leading medical experts to suggest that the heat generated by some models could pose a health risk.

However, HP's 11in Pavilion DM1Z comes with a 'Coolsense' sensor that senses the situation in which it's being used and makes sure that, if it's close to a user's skin it doesn't get hot enough to do any damage.

At an event in Taiwan, part of the Computex trade show, an HP representative showed the new model, which you can see in our video below.

Editor's note: apologies for the sounds of a ringing phone and a man laughing in the later part of the video. Nothing to do with our reporter, we can assure you.

The computer uses one of AMD's Fusion processors which combines the main processor and the graphics processor into a single unit, allowing it to cut down on the amount of electricity it uses and therefore the heat it generates.

Although it is yet to be released in the UK, the DM1Z has been available for a few weeks in the USA. It is expected to cost around £400 when it arrives here.

American gadget website Engadget was impressed by Coolsense, saying: "

The DM1Z stayed quite cool during our usage - in fact, it stayed at room temperature most of the time. Those pleasant temperatures can be contributed to AMD's platform improvements, but also to HP's Coolsense technology. HP has designed the vents to direct heat away from the body and has bundled the system with its Thermal Assistant software, which lets you control the settings in different scenarios.

To read more of our coverage from Computex Taipei 2011, click here