With the rise of Thunderbolt and desk docking stations, it’s not unusual to see extra individuals use their private laptop computer as their solely laptop. However the show of a laptop computer is considerably decrease than a desktop show, which means you’re all the time trying down at an angle.
Kensington’s new SmartView Organizing Laptop computer Riser (K50825WW) — which additionally received a 2022 Pink Dot Design Award — solves that downside by placing the laptop computer’s show up at eye stage, guaranteeing all-day snug computing.
Developed in partnership with Microsoft and assembly the Design for Floor customary, any laptop computer can profit from this riser. Nonetheless, Floor house owners will wish to give it a fair nearer look.
I’ve been utilizing it for the final week, and here’s what it’s good to find out about it.
Kensington SmartView Organizing Laptop computer Riser: Worth and availability
The Kensington SmartView Organizing Laptop computer Riser is now obtainable from Kensington straight with a two-year guarantee for $79.99 and companion retailers.
There are not any choices for configuration.
Kensington SmartView Organizing Laptop computer Riser: Thinks I appreciated
A laptop computer riser is an easy accent: It places the laptop computer at eye stage like a desktop monitor. For the reason that keyboard is simply too excessive, you presumably use Bluetooth or a wired one as a substitute. With a desktop dock related, you additionally get extra ports for a mouse, exterior storage, a high-performance webcam, or a premium microphone.
This riser from Kensington can match any laptop computer that’s 16-inches or smaller, however it’s made with Floor gadgets (like Floor E book, Laptop computer, Laptop computer Go, and Laptop computer Studio) in thoughts.
There’s not a lot to the Kensington SmartView Organizing Laptop computer Riser itself. Open the field, and pull out the assorted elements, together with the bottom, the neck, and the laptop computer riser itself. The bottom and neck have been connected through three hex screws utilizing the included hex wrench, and meeting took two minutes.
The stand is a combo of aluminum alloy and metal with a sturdy really feel and a few weight at 3.9lbs (1.78kg). The underside has a rubber grip, so there isn’t any sliding on the desk. The steel is painted white, which provides a clear, minimalist look, particularly for individuals who don’t like customary naked aluminum or black-painted laptop computer risers.
The colour-coded neck is for use with the instruction guide, the place you may measure your hand measurement. No matter shade zone your hand falls into is the place it’s best to mount the riser in one among 5 positions for optimum viewing. The riser matches in with a stem and will be moved with no need instruments.
The highest of the riser has massive rubber toes at the back and front, which helps preserve the laptop computer in place and prevents sliding. It additionally permits a small hole between the riser and laptop computer to allow air circulation, which is appropriate for non-Floor laptops with bottom-fed air air flow.
On the rear is a headphone hook mount. Drop your headphones onto the hook if you’re not in a gathering for safekeeping.
The underside of the riser has a fabric-covered cutout constructed for putting any fashionable dock, together with Kensington’s SD5750T, Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma, or ones from different firms like Dell (see our greatest Thunderbolt 4 docking stations). On the rear is a few cable administration to correctly channel the dock’s energy twine for tidiness.
Should you don’t have a Thunderbolt dock, you possibly can use the cutout for issues like your smartphone or some other accent for fast entry.
For this assessment, I used the Microsoft Floor Laptop computer Studio. When you may simply put the Laptop computer Studio on the riser like every laptop computer, it was extra enjoyable to reverse the pc and flip the show backward. By doing so, the Floor Laptop computer Studio’s display screen is now a big 9-inches nearer to your face, a nifty trick that no different laptop computer can do (apart from Floor E book).
Connecting an exterior keyboard and mouse and the flexibleness to maneuver the riser nearer, you now have an ergonomic and pragmatic desktop setup.
Kensington SmartView Organizing Laptop computer Riser: Thinks I didn’t like
Whereas the rise is straightforward to pop out and in for toolless repositioning, I wouldn’t thoughts a locking mechanism to carry it in place. There’s a little bit of wiggle with the riser the place I’d desire one thing a bit firmer.
You additionally have to be cautious for those who put any closed laptop computer down on the riser and have it pushed too far again. While you open the laptop computer’s lid, the transferring lid’s backside edge begins to protrude, and it may scrape towards the riser’s stem. Inserting the laptop computer on the riser with the show already in an open place is greatest to keep away from this.
Whereas the raised rubber pads do provide some air flow, I believe a design with grill traces or holes on the riser platform would make extra sense for laptops with bottom-feeding air flow. Granted, this accent is principally positioned at Floor gadgets, which do not need backside air flow making the purpose moot, and common laptops can nonetheless pull in air from the underside sides.
Additionally, in contrast to many laptop computer risers in the marketplace, Kensington’s doesn’t slope at an angle downward. This actually isn’t an enormous challenge, however as a result of Kensington (and Microsoft) didn’t go for entrance “hooks” to maintain the laptop computer in place, it’s a distinctive design.
Kensington SmartView Organizing Laptop computer Riser: Competitors
Laptop computer risers are a dime a dozen on Amazon, however none fairly match what Kensington provides right here, which can assist clarify the $80 price ticket (little doubt discounted for enterprise bulk orders).
The Besign LSX3 Aluminum Laptop computer Stand is simply $28 on Amazon however lacks any devoted space for a docking station, cable administration, or headphone mount. Its peak is adjustable however lacks the SmartFit system for “discovering essentially the most ergonomic peak to your Floor laptop computer display screen,” like Kensington.
The LIFELONG Ergonomic Laptop computer Stand ($59) makes use of a hinge mechanism for peak adjustment, which will be cumbersome, however will get the job carried out. Once more, it omits any devoted space for a docking station, cable administration, or headphone mount.
The Tounee Laptop computer Stand ($65) provides a singular (and maybe gimmicky) 360-degree swivel hinge along with going as much as a really excessive 21-inches, which is sweet sufficient to make it a pseudo-standing desk. It additionally doesn’t have any space for a dock, headphone hook, or cable administration.
Kensington SmartView Organizing Laptop computer Riser: Do you have to purchase?
You can purchase this if …
- You need a correct and official laptop computer rise for Floor
- You need greater than only a generic riser
- Design and appears are necessary
- You’re employed in an workplace or have a severe desktop setup
You shouldn’t purchase this if …
- You need one thing cheaper
The Kensington SmartView Organizing Laptop computer Riser is a stable piece of equipment. It’s easy to arrange, the SmartFit system is intelligent, and I appreciated the added cable administration options, rear headphone hook, and area for a dock on the backside.
Certain, there are different extra inexpensive choices on Amazon that each one look the identical. However the Kensington riser is extra attention-grabbing between the off-white aesthetic, being made for Floor, and value-added options.
This commentary is particularly true for those who personal a Floor Laptop computer Studio or Floor E book the place reversing the show is an possibility.
The brand new laptop computer riser from Kensington is not low cost, however it has a singular, fashionable design and options no different riser provides, making it a wise alternative for individuals who use Floor laptop computer all day at house and the workplace.
