A portable cooling apparatus or air conditioner is disclosed herein. The apparatus has a case defining an interior volume. The interior volume contains a cooling substance such as cold water or ice, an intake port, and an exit port. A pathway is defined between the intake port and the exit port for air to pass through the case. The pathway may be defined by a pipe. Alternatively the cooling substance may be contained within one or more containers insertable into the case and that define a pathway between the sides of the containers. A fan with a power source is provided to drive air through the case and pathway. The air is cooled by heat transfer with the cooling substance.