Reply:
Portable air conditioners are useful if you want to cool a single room. They also come in handy if you are a tenant living in an apartment with no A/C.
Capacity is limited so the room would have to be small, don’t expect it to cool very much area and keep the room closed to improved performance.
They usually require you to have either a window open in such a way that a small hose or duct has access to the outside air for heat rejection — or — they require a doorway so part of the equipment can expel the heat.
One other type is a split system with flexible hose pipes between two parts of equipment, same situation here requiring outside access.
Portable A/C fill a gap in the market for flexible small capacity machines. They tend to be expensive when you see what you get (capacity) but for sheer flexibility they are ok.
Recommend DeLonghi if you have them where you live.

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Question:
I have seen people put a fan in the window pointing towards the outside with the idea it pulls the hot air out.

Reply:
Quite frankly if you try this you will get minimal results.
You would be better off opening all the windows and doors in the house and blowing the fan onto you.
Buy an air conditioner if you really want some relief. It is better to be able to cool down 1 room and be comfortable than playing with fans and windows etc.