Many of the laptop stands we look at are also notebook coolers. The Integ laptop stand, on the other hand, has an entirely different purpose – ergonomics – in mind.
I admit, the first time I pulled it out of its neoprene sleeve, I wondered just how it was going to turn into a stand. The instructions helpfully pointed out the five steps required. It’s a bit like a Transformer, in that regard. Pop out the back stand guide, slot in the stand, pop out the laptop wings, pop the front stand up, and then push it down to create a laptop rest. The first time took a while, but once you get the hang of it, setting it up is easy.
The idea is that you open your laptop to its widest opening angle, for a model like the MacBook, or a comfortably wide angle if you have something like the Lenovo T430 that opens to 180 degrees. The stand at the front holds your laptop at a comfortable four to five centimetres off the desk, which positions the screen at an easy viewing height.
There’s plenty of adjustment to allow for differing desk, chair, and people height. The stand at the rear can tilt the entire device: it provides five angles from around 60 degrees down to around 30 degrees.
Similarly, the laptop rest at the front has six positions upon which you can slot your laptop in its rubberised surface. If my high school combinatorics don’t fail me, that makes 30 possible positions that you can situate your laptop in.
You will need a separate mouse and keyboard to use this: it’s designed for desktops where you will work long hours. But its capable of taking even hefty laptops and my neck is already thanking me for using it to write a review. I only wish there were some way to lock the position of the rear stand – whenever I move the device, the stand guide flops free. But aside from that, this is great: simple, effective, portable and affordable.