Rain Design iLevel2 Adjustable Height Laptop Stand (Patented) (Silver)

Like so many people these days, a lot of my life revolves around being on my laptop. Like so many people these days, all that time hunched over a laptop was causing physical discomfort. Once I realized the source of my problems and reading up on solutions to common laptop ergonomics problems, I chose this laptop stand as one of my tools to correct the ergonomics issues facing me, and eight months later I am happy to inform you that this has done its job well. Fortunately, I was already using my laptop on a standard-height desk, but having the screen at desk height (30" off the floor) was the major source of neck pain for me. At its lowest setting (the knob all the way to the left), it raises my 13-inch MacBook Pro about 5-3/4" off the table (measured to the bottom of the aluminum body that covers the back of the laptop screen). Note that if your MacBook has a different depth (measured from front to back), the amount your screen is raised will be a little different. At the highest setting (knob to the right), the screen is raised about 7-1/2" off the table. I am just over 6' tall and tend to find that my neck is able to maintain a comfortable neutral position when the knob in the right third of the slide, but of course that varies according to each user, their sitting position, and own comfort zone. All-in-all, this provides a really great range of screen heights that is likely to fit most peoples' needs, especially on 30" height desk. I think the pictures do a great job of covering aesthetics (that is certainly a big part of this purchase). It is high-quality aluminum, and like all aluminum, it is a fairly soft, scratch-prone metal. Mine has remained in nearly new condition after 8 months, and it maintains a clean look that looks almost looks like an Apple product. If you have one of the newer space gray or colored-aluminum MacBooks, that might obviously be an issue. Mechanically, the stand is solid. There are no indents or notches in the slide. There is a slight spring to the upper "lever" of the base such that if you have the knob set to the lower positions, the upper part of the base springs upward to the highest position when the laptop is removed. In the highest position, the stand is already at its highest position, and there is no movement. I suspect that the spring is actually to help the upper arm move upward as the knob is slid to higher positions. One caveat for use of this stand should be used with an external mouse and keyboard. Of course, Apple's Magic line of keyboards, mice, and trackpads work well with this, but the point is that when the laptop is raised, it is no longer comfortable (or ergonomic) to use the laptop's keyboard and trackpad. Overall, this product delivers in every way I need. The price is on the high side, but I hope it will last through the life of this laptop and at least one replacement or three (and maybe even the days when the laptops become archaic relics of the past). The range of screen lift (about 5-3/4" to 7-1/2") suits me well (and I suspect, will suit a large number of people) and the aesthetics are a great match for MacBook users.

OK, I had my doubts. Yes, the iLevel2 is highly-reviewed. And yes, it's really (really) important to have your laptop screen at eye level (get it? iLevel?) But spending 60 dollars on an adjustable laptop stand? Couldn't I just pile up a couple of old books for free? Well, as a contractor once told me when I made a really dumb suggestion, "You COULD do it that way..." The iLevel2's main virtue is that the angle/height adjustment knob is rock-solid, as is the platform. It's just an extremely well-made, solid product. And the adjustment knob, which is on a left-right track on the front of the product, allows you to dial in your laptop's screen height to the millimeter. Result: a totally-custom, ergonomically-friendly setup. Love it.

So the overwhelmingly negative reviews you'll notice for this product specifically surround the "bounciness" of this stand when someone is typing on it—however what is confusing to me is how people are purchasing a laptop stand in theory to optimize their ergonomics, yet also stretching their arms out and elevating them to type on said laptop once it's raised. the point of a laptop riser/stand is to elevate the screen so that you can maintain a more natural posture. One would assume you have an external keyboard to use in conjunction with your laptop once you place it on a RISER, because the idea is to elevate your laptop as a SCREEN and then have a level/flat surface to type on, thereby alleviating any awkward hunching or neck strain looking down or anywhere not naturally eye-level. as it is, it's a perfectly functional and elegant laptop riser. I don't find myself wanting to adjust the height often if ever, but in the one or two instances I experimented with it, found no mechanical issues. It looks nice with Apple hardware and allows me to have my laptop's screen flush with the bottom edge of my additional external monitor, so it serves my purposes well. for people complaining about how it bounces when they type on it ... STOP typing on your laptop's keyboard when you have it elevated on a riser! this defeats the purpose and probably also makes your arms tired—buy an external keyboard!

I purchased this product for my laptop after reading a rave review on WireCutter (NY Times). While I generally like the design there are some definite flaws to it: 1) there is a bit of bounciness and 'springy' shaking when typing on the laptop keyboard. I suppose with a separate wireless keyboard this wouldn't be a problem, however I am using only the attached laptop keyboard. 2) The iLevel is useful in that it has adjustability from a lower to higher height level. The lowest level however still seems a bit high for me, and if I raise my desk chair ro accommodate, then the hand/wrist position becomes uncomfortable. 3) But the biggest annoyance I find, is that the metal edges are all quite sharp. A bit of thin rubber strategically placed at the edges where we lay our wrists would have been a well-added feature!

This is a very nice unit, but if you are on a video conference, due to the springs, when you type something out use the touch pad, your image starts bouncing around, distracting the other people on the call. The bounce is also a little annoying when you are using your laptop for other purposes such as composing emails and documents. I should have returned it when I could and got a fixed mount.

I've always been skeptical about stands and stopped buying them a few years ago, but this one is "da bomb". I have a 15'' rMBP, and when placed on the stand it feels glued to a rock - the front rib has a strip of soft plastic that keeps the laptop from shifting, without scratching edges. The little plastic bumps in corners keep the laptop up enough to stay well-cooled, and the hole underneath further helps dissipating heat. I used to hear cooling fans running most of the time, because I have two external monitors; since I replaced my makeshift stand (a stack of large books) with this, that problem has gone. And of course, it keeps the laptop screen high enough to be much more ergonomic - if you look at the picture, that piece of paper on the right is an A4 folded sidewise; that's pretty high, for this sort of stands. The finish is high quality and matches modern Macs perfectly. One thing I would recommend is to place the laptop on the stand at the lowest setting (i.e. slider all the way to the left) then adjust it. The slider is very smooth to raise, but pretty bumpy and shaky to lower. If you need to lower, I'd recommend holding on the laptop with one hand just in case. Once in place, it holds perfectly. This is the best stand I've bought in a while. I wish they had a model with quiet extra fans, and then it would be perfect.

Excellent Product. Value for money!

Stabil, Höhe einfach verstellbar. Genau richtig für langes Arbeiten am Laptop.

Très design et pratique

After receiving my order on the 27th of February, 2024, I tested it and found it to be defective, matching the issues shown in the video. The gap around the button of the right end is significantly larger than the gaps at the left end. Yesterday morning, I reached out to the seller requesting a replacement or a refund, including the additional delivery fee I paid. However, they dismissed my request, claiming the defect is normal. Despite my insistence, I have yet to receive any further response from them.