Editor's Pick: Laptop Desk v2.0
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The Laptop Desk Version 2.0 from LapWorks Inc. (www.laptopdesk.net ) is one of those ancillary items that you don’t really need, but once you have it you don’t know how you got by without it. At 5/8” thick and weighing just over a pound (1 lb. 6 oz. to be exact), this portable laptop desk is made from durable polycarbonate plastic and molded with no-slip rubber surfaces, which grip a notebook to the desktop or a user’s lap. The Laptop Desk has two functions: It can be used as a portable lap desk by mobile computer users - preventing “hot leg” by providing insulation from heat generated by the laptop - or as a desktop stand for notebooks, with an ergonomically adjustable support arm that raises the computer screen almost 4” closer to the eye. The Laptop Desk also features built-in ventilation channels that reduce heat build-up in notebooks by 15-20%, thereby extending computer life. But the best thing about the Laptop Desk is that since it will probably outlast your laptop, it can also be used with any PDA or tablet PC. The Laptop Desk is $29.95, which includes a lifetime warranty. The company also offers accessories for the Laptop Desk such as a MouzPad attachment and a SwivlPad, which when placed under a Laptop Desk allows for 360-degree rotation and viewing of notebook screens. The three items can be purchased together as a package called the Laptop Desk Ensemble for a discounted price of $49.95. It’s obvious how beneficial the Laptop Desk can be for on-the-go educators, but its classroom applications are just as important. For instance, the Laptop Desk provides flexibility to what are otherwise inflexible notebooks by inclining the keyboard for ergonomic typing and elevating the screen, which are both often overlooked in the rush to bring portable technology into the classroom.
-Matthew Miller
This article originally appeared in the 10/01/2004 issue of THE Journal.