At first glance, the CoolIt USB Beverage Chiller ($39.99) looks like the next logical step after USB coffee warmers. The ChillIt, which we picked up at CES, keeps your beverages at a crisp 45 degrees F via a "cold plate." Or so it claims.

In our rigorous real-world testing (I took it home and used it while playing World of Warcraft) the Chiller was less than impressive. Although the cold plate was cold to the touch, it failed to cool a warm drink or even keep a cold drink cold, in glass, plastic, or a metal can. But then, if your drink has time to warm up, you're probably drinking too slowly.

Note: Some interns (apparently "let the intern test it" is a tradition at tech publications) have reported that the Chiller causes Windows problems because it draws too much power. I didn't have this problem. WoW pretty much maxes out my system's resources, so i thought maybe the ChillIt just didn't have a chance. But even now, when I'm doing relatively light work in my cubicle, all the Chiller does is make funny noises and fail to keep my Sprite cold.

[Thanks for the testing and writeup to Nathan Edwards, our intrepid intern this semester]