At a Glance
The Good: Lighter, smaller and cheaper than its predecessor but has the same speakers
The Bad: No fan, less incline
Design
The N550 carries many of the same features as its big brother. It uses the same mesh fabric for cushioning, although the N550 packs a bit less padding. Since you’re likely using a lighter laptop (it’s designed for laptops measuring 14 inches or smaller), this probably won’t be a concern. It has the same sturdy flip-up feet to balance the laptop, and the same plug-in USB speakers.
Unfortunately, you do lose a bit of the incline that the N700 provided. It will really depend on how you use your laptop if this will be an issue for you. And, of course, if you have a laptop that’s larger than 14 inches, the N500 just isn’t a lapdesk that’s going to work for you.
Speakers
The sound from the speakers have the same specs as the N700 (2-inch drivers) and they’re just as easy to use -- just plug the USB cord into your laptop and you’re ready to go. No software to install, no drivers to download.
As with the N700, the sound from the N550 isn’t audiophile quality, but it’s definitely a warmer, more immersive sound than what you’re likely getting from your laptop. It’s an easy (and comfortable) way to enhance your movie watching if you like to sprawl out on your couch at night with a movie, or your music if you’re up late in your dorm room writing papers.
The controls for the speakers are kept simple. They consist of three soft, sturdy buttons on the right side -- volume up, down and mute -- which can be manipulated without needing to look for them.
The Bottom Line
The N550’s lighter weight and smaller footprint makes it a much more reasonable option for travelers. Although the near-silent fan and the enhanced incline are missed, it’s more than made up for in portability and price.
