Targus Chill Mat and Notebook Stand

Price: $60
http://www.targus.com

Targus is well known for their distinguished notebook accessories, mainly their notebook bags and cases, but their Targus Laptop Stand with Removable Chill Mat will give them something to brag about in the cooling department. The stand provides both passive and fan cooling. The optional Chill Mat with two powerful, yet noisy, fans can be attached to provide more cooling power to the notebook. We found the Chill Mat to be, however, a bit hard to remove and at times felt like it was going to break in the process. The stand is sturdy enough to handle the heaviest notebooks and the cradle can fit even the thick notebooks. This is definitely a positive, as other stands seem to have trouble supporting the bulkier notebooks. Opening up the stand reveals the ability to adjust the it to four different angles and also exposes an inner compartment to store cables and small accessories; and by small we mean a couple of thumb drives and maybe a fun-sized Snickers bar.

Verdict: 7

  

 

 Kensington Notebook Stand

Price: $80
http://us.kensington.com

For Kensington, ergonomics is no joke. Kensington’s Notebook Stand features a color-coded hand chart, which allows you to measure the size of your hand and adjust the stand to its corresponding color and angle. What we failed to understand, though, is how this feature has anything to do with ergonomics. The notebook stand is designed to act as an elevated notebook screen so its mounted clipboard panel blocks off use of the keyboard. Without access to the keyboard, the angle of the stand has no effect on your hands. With that aside, Kensington’s detachable 4-port USB hub and clipboard panel are the only things to “hoo-rah” about for this notebook stand.

Verdict: 4

Griffin Elevator

Price: $40
http://www.griffintechnology.com

This notebook stand doesn’t have as many features as most notebook stands would offer. No USB ports, no cooling, and no adjustable height. But if simplicity is what you’re looking for, Griffin doesn’t disappoint. The sleek (and a little Mac-esque) Elevator sets your notebook 5 ½ inches above the desk at eye level to help with ergonomic-conscious user. The sure-grip pads aren’t as “grippy” as we would like them to be, as heavier notebooks (anything above 7 pounds) will slide a bit. The brushed aluminum stands are a bit wobbly and can shake with the slightest bump. After extended use, we found that notebooks with less grip on the bottom could eventually slide off the stand. Thankfully, no notebooks were damaged in the testing process! The Elevator is a bit pricey for its lack of features, but its stylish look makes up for it. 

Verdict: 5

Targus Ergo D-Pro

Price: $100
http://www.targus.com

Targus does not disappoint, again, with its Ergo D-Pro Laptop Stand. This stand is sturdy, even supporting up to 27 pounds in our tests. It offers a document stand in the front with tabs to adjust the angle. In the back, it provides wire management guides as well as a lockable compartment, although the compartment is quite small and can fit nothing more than a few cables or a thumb drive. The grilled back allows air to dissipate through the bottom. There are no built-in USB ports, though, but a separate port replicator is available for purchase as an extension. The D-Pro is not at all portable as it weighs in at a hefty 7.7 pounds, but that is expected when the suggested weight capacity more than five times the weight of our laptops. The steep price tag will hurt your wallet, which is unfortunate because the Ergo doesn’t match up to other stands in its price range (such as the Logitech Alto Cordless).

Verdict: 6