Steklo X-Stand: Clever Things Come in Small Packages
I’ve been enjoying my new Samsung Notebook 9 Pro, but one thing I hadn’t solved was a way to incline it on a desk or table for more comfortable use. In “tent mode” it has to be pretty steeply inclined in order to stay upright and even then it tends to gradually slip. Getting a bit overwhelmed looking at laptop and tablet stands on Amazon (there’s, like, a gazillion different ones), I thought it might be faster just to Google “best laptop stands.” One of the favorites was the $22.99 Steklo X-Stand.
I really appreciate thoughtful design and the X-Stand rethinks the concept of what a laptop stand can be. This may at first seem kind of unnecessary (I mean, how many solutions can there be to support, angle, and elevate a rectangular object?), but the stand proves itself to be a novel solution. Rather than being a typical one-size-fits-all solid stand, the X-Stand can be adjusted in width to optimally fit whatever size laptop you have, from 12″ to 17″.
The best feature, however, is the stand’s portability. Folded up, the stand is only 6.3 inches long by 1.3 inches wide, so it’s compact enough to carry in a laptop bag without getting in the way. Weighing only 5.3 ounces, you won’t even notice it’s there. The all-aluminum design is handsome, but the stand is hidden by the laptop when in use.
Set-up is a snap…simply pull each leg out until the whole thing resembles an “X” (clever, huh?). The legs that support the back end of a laptop are adjustable and can be pulled out longer to accommodate larger devices. Once unfolded and sized, simply drop the machine in place (well, don’t drop it!)
Here’s the whole thing ready to go.
It works great when I’m using the Notebook 9 as either a tablet or a laptop. It feels solid and doesn’t wiggle.
A lack of vertical adjustment is the X-Stand’s only real weakness. The slope of the laptop is very shallow when using the stand, so if you want a more steeply inclined surface, you’ll have use a more traditional stand with height adjustment. But I find it comfortable enough and I love the portability. I have a hunch that’s what the folks at Steklo designed this thing for anyway: it’s so small and light that it can be taken anywhere. Since I do a lot of work outside the office, I appreciate that!
Matt
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