Let's talk about laptop cooling pads

As the thread title suggest, I'm interested in cooling pads. My laptop (HP) runs quite hot. I regret getting it for this simple reason, but it's too late to return it. As a result I'm looking to get a cooling pad to chill it out a bit.

The real question is: do cooling pads actually work? How well can blowing air on something that already has fans really work? I've never had any experience with a cooling pad, so I am looking to you guys for advice. Do they work? Are there some that work a lot better than others?

My laptop is a Pavilion dv6 (15.6") from late 2010 if that matters. Can anyone recommend a good products? Or maybe an alternative cooling method (I've tried compressed air and raising the laptop on a wire frame already).