April 12th, 2006
Mobile computing in comfort
Working on a notebook computer while on the go is fraught with peril. Balancing a notebook on your lap, coping with heat and ventilation issues, and working comfortably in a hotel or meeting room are three big issues facing mobile PC users. Oh… and if you’re male, there’s that whole fertility issue to think about if you’re in your child rearing years.
There have been any number of products that have crossed my desk that promise to provide a safe and stable work surface for mobile computing. Some of the recent entries are AC- or USB-powered, offering fans and hubs as ingredients in their recipe. A number of them are in daily use with the various notebook computers in my home and office. But I’ve recently found an ideal solution that is as simple in conception and excellent in execution as anything I have tried.
The Laptop Desk is a dual-purpose device that provides a large, stable work surface for my 14" widescreen Gateway Tablet PC in its unfolded configuration and an adjustable stand that raises and tilts the PC when folded. I’ve been using the Laptop Desk for about two weeks in both configurations but primarily to improve the ergonomics of my desk at home. I can say without reservation that my posture has improved and the crick in my neck which inevitably flares up after too many hours of writing has been wonderfully absent.
As a lap desk, the Laptop Desk works equally well as a surface for conventional or Tablet PC work and the large (20-1/2" x 11" size easily accommodates my widescreen Tablet PC. The molded (not glued on) rubber strips keep my Tablet from sliding around and the air channels do seem to keep the fan off and the unit cooler than simply putting it on my lap or a flat hard surface.
The Laptop Desk is inexpensive ($29.95), lightweight, and fits easily in my computer bag. I plan to buy one for each of my kids - both laptop users - who seem to prefer non-traditional locations to do their computing like the bed, the floor, and the easy chair in the den.
Marc Orchant has been building, testing, and sometimes breaking hardware and software for 25 years. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
