(Note: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links.)
If you’re using a laptop and are sitting at a desk…
Then, you know the hunched-over contortion you’re making out of your body. Bad for your back. For your posture. Well, bad for many things, but… you can deal with it. Who cares about posture, right?
In my case…
What’s NOT “deal-able” is arching my neck and looking down at a small screen.
Especially for prolonged periods of time.
Without a Laptop Stand ↓.
With a good laptop stand ↓.
A laptop stand is — as the title gives away —a stand, wait no, a THRONE, upon which you set your laptop-dealy onto. Kind of like placing a really big book under your laptop, except better. These stands are made of metal, fairly simple to use and fairly cheap – $20 at the minimum.
So, what’s the big deal?
Why use a laptop stand?
Why?! Well, why watch color, flat-screen tv when you have black and white? Why tell Siri to call someone when you can stick your finger in a hole and rotate the dial 9 times?
Oh, you wouldn’t! Because the former is clearly superior to the latter.
And so are the stands, my friend.
- Elevates the screen so you’re looking straight ahead, not down. Like you would with a normal, desktop computer.
- Better for your posture, back and neck. If you’re no longer looking down, there’s no need to hunch or screw your neck.
- And most importantly, it’s MORE comfortable. Especially if you spend a lot of time by the screen and have work to do.
- Also, if you get a separate keyboard (which I highly recommend), typing is a lot easier, especially when your laptop keyboard is at an angle, while on the stand.
What are some good laptop stands?
1) AmazonBasics Ventilated Adjustable Laptop Stand
Yep, this one is made and sold by Amazon. You can get your laptop at an incline angle of up to 35 degrees. It’s just 2 pounds but is slightly bigger than your laptop in length and width. Best kept at home. If you’re not looking to use your stand outside of home, it’ll do the job just fine.
Will fit laptops of up to 17 inches.
So, overall, not that extreme of an angle, but it does the job.
However, your desk is a little lower or your chair is a little high.. you’ll want something with a greater range.
2) 2 in 1 Laptop and Phone Stand – Bestand Aluminum Cooling Computer Stand
If you want height, this baby is for you.
And, you can also stick your smartphone in there.
The one thing to know is, you cannot adjust the height – which is 7 inches.
Now, if you want some adjustability..
3) AVLT-Power Aluminum Laptop Stand Riser
This laptop stand is on the pricy side but you can raise anywhere between 3 and 11.8 inches.
It can handle 13 pounds and laptops of 17 inches. So, if you wanted your laptop at an extreme angle, this is a good choice.
4) Rain Design mStand Laptop Stand
If Apple decided to make laptop stands, they’d probably look like this.
And by the looks of it, Mac users are definitely drawn to this one.
It’ll raise your laptop by 5 or 6 inches. Non-adjustable. Can handle max of 17 inches. Not much else except the… yes, yes, yes, the design. That’s what caught my eye. So, if you want a sleek gold, silver or space gray throne for your laptop, get it.
5) Pwr Laptop Table Stand Adjustable Riser
Now, if you need something extra adjustable.
In the bed.
On a couch.
Something that can rotate 360 degrees and can handle 17 inch laptops. Can go up to 3 feet in height (36 inches). And even acts as a foot stool, a coffee table, a bed stand or a book tray.
This laptop stand is light, portable and can handle a 15 inch laptop.
Maximum height is 5 inches.
If you need a basic and cheap stand
An Alternative to Laptop Stands
Now, let’s say you like your laptop.
But, you don’t like to sit hunched over.
Perhaps you could do with a bigger screen.
And, perhaps you don’t mind investing in a bigger screen either.
Well, then at that point, you should consider skipping a laptop stand and getting a monitor.
1) Then, you can hook said monitor up to the laptop with an HDMI cable.
2) You can “close” your laptop.
3) Also, get a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard…
4) And now, you have this. A lot easier to deal with. No hunching over. No squinting at a small screen. You can have a desktop experience with your laptop when you’re at home. And you can take your laptop stand and laptop with you when you’re away from home.
Final Thoughts
Why use a laptop stand?
These guys just make life better.
Your screen is at eye level. You don’t have to angle your neck down to stare at some small screen. You can safely sit or lean back in your chair without needing to recreate the Hunchback of Notre Dame.
If you have bad vision , you may still find yourself leaning in… but that’s just a sign that you (and I) need glasses.
What about typing on an “angled” laptop? Is typing on a laptop sitting on a stand hard? No, not really. If it’s not at a steep angle, it’s about the same.
But, if your laptop is almost upright, like mine is now, then yes. It will feel weird to have your hands angled up and your forearms pressing down into your table.
The solution? As you can see in the picture above — a bluetooth keyboard.
So, if you’re going to get a laptop stand, get an extra keyboard too. I keep it on my desk and occasionally on my lap. It works on my Mac and yes, the keyboard is very similar to the mac. So, I don’t have to re-learn where the buttons are.
To writing a ton on my laptop without disfiguring myself.
