What You Should Know About Laptop Stands
October 11, 2021
Ergonomics
Why use a laptop stand? The number one reason is ergonomics. It’s better for your neck if you are able to look straight ahead at your screen all day, rather than hunching over a laptop set below eye level. A monitor can be an easy fix for this issue, but a laptop stand should also do the trick, lifting your laptop so you can stare at it without looking down. Laptop stands that lift your laptop high enough to address this problem must also be used with an external keyboard and mouse.
But your neck isn’t the only body part that can be made uncomfortable via laptop use. Your wrists might also bother you if you spend too many hours typing away at an unsupportive laptop keyboard. Some laptop stands can gently angle your keyboard so it’s more comfortable to type. The downside is that these laptops don’t place your laptop as high as you’d need for neck ergonomics, but since they don’t require an external keyboard and mouse, they have the potential to be much more portable.
You can use these lower angled stands with a keyboard as well if you’d like, but during testing it felt like these took up more real estate on the desk and would only be effective with a keyboard if they were placed further away from you, making it a less-than-savvy use of space. If you want to use a keyboard with your stand, you’re better off getting a stand that lifts your laptop higher.
Portable vs. Stationary Stands
Some laptop stands are truly intended to travel with you. Many of these more portable ones are “x-stands,” which fold up small when they aren’t in use. Some x-stands truly lift your laptop high enough to require an external keyboard and mouse, making them far less portable, while others simply tilt your laptop a bit. The allure of a portable laptop stand is the ability to take the ergonomics of a monitor desk set up anywhere you go. But if a laptop is your primary work computer or a second screen in your desk monitor setup, you might want to look for a stand that’s designed to live permanently on your desk. These stands might be bulkier or made from heavier materials, which means they also have the potential to be more stable and durable.
Adjustability
Many laptop stands are heavily adjustable, with options to raise and lower the height of the laptop or simply fit the laptop to the stand so that it’s sturdy. Some aren’t adjustable, though you can always change the height of your office chair or possibly even your desk.
It’s important to remember that a laptop stand-alone is a step in the right ergonomic direction, but if you want a truly ergonomic work setup, you’ll also need to get an ergonomic chair (or at the very least, an office chair with armrests that can be raised to support your elbows, according to my physical therapist) and play around with the relative height of your desk and chair.
