Are laptop/notebook cooling fans really worth the money?

A cooling pad is what you are thinking about and they are not a wast of money. They help your pc run cooler and this will extend the life of your cpu and all of the important internal components. They are not a sham and do work. It will also extend your battery's life because when it comes to batteries, heat is the worst enemy. In other words, the cooler you keep your pc, the longer you can run it safely.

Yes they are not a waste of money. Im a serious pc user and builder. I usually leave my computer on all the time. Im running three 80mm fans and one 140mm on the very front to keep everything cool

Hi. I would try a less expensive approach first. I use breadboard to keep the vents clear when it is on my lap.

I have a gaming laptop, so the video card overheats now and then. I use this cooling pad:

http://www.amazon.com/Targus-PA248U-Notebook-Chill...

and it works pretty well for me.

yeah. They worth moey man

its benefit is over rated but yeah, it does lengthen the life of the cpu and whatever else.