Honestly, I didn't think I'd be as impressed with this thing as I am. At first when I looked at this I thought, '$50 for a piece of aluminum? Are you kidding me?' But once I looked at similar/competing products, I decided this was the best option (for reasons I'll explain below) and after receiving and using it I seriously don't think I could be happier with this product. Short version? If you want a stand to keep your laptop in while you're not using it (or using it with an external display), this is absolutely the best thing to buy.
For reference, I'm using this stand with a 15" Retina MacBook Pro
Sturdy and completely stable, this stand does its job perfectly. The base has an adequately large surface area so that it will NOT just tip over unless you are pulling some serious shenanigans around your computer. It's also got a nice heft to it; you could almost call it heavy. On top of being a great design stability-wise, I think it looks really nice. It has a simple, functional aesthetic to it. I love the flat base surface, as it's a great place to set my phone and/or other small stuff I want around. And that's just the metal piece...
The rubberurethane (or whatever) pieces on this product really complete the package. Whatever magic the material is made of, it's perfect. They placed it in all the appropriate places too, so there are no surfaces that your computer should normally contact that aren't covered with this stuff unless you're doing it wrong. It's not that mushy rubber that feels like used chewing gum (and usually dries out, becoming worthless over time), but it's not 'hard' rubber either. It's firm enough not to lose shape and let things get wobbly, but soft enough to cradle the somewhat fragile aluminum products it's meant to hold. Just the right amount of grip, too; you can actually place the MacBook into the stand, and turn the stand upside down(!) and it'll stay put. Only time will tell how well the material holds up to the wear & tear of daily life, but I'll update if there are issues. Seems absolutely great right now, though.
The designers did a superb job with the measurements, too (at least with the 15" rMBP, which is the only laptop I've tested with). Fits literally perfectly with the appropriate inserts, for which they include a great variety (all of the "current" Apple laptops, as seen in the product's description). Including the 'base' rubber lip (with no laptop-specific insert) the stand can accommodate any laptop less than .98 inches thick. You shouldn't use the stand without the base lip to avoid the aluminum edges scratching things up, not to mention they're glued on. With all the inserts included, this stand would be great for any modern (thin) laptop so long as you like the aesthetic of it.
Compared to its rivals, of which there are realistically very few, this stand ended up being the clear winner for me. First, I ruled out generic stands that seemed too small, flimsy, or otherwise inadequate (of which there are plenty). None of them seemed up to par, so to speak. It didn't have to be made specifically for my MacBook, be made of metal, or even be particularly pretty -- I just wanted something that would adequately do the job of holding the computer upright (to save space while using with an external monitor at my desk, or on a smallish table by my bed when I'm done with it at night).
This Cooler Master L Stand doesn't really raise the computer off the desk much (which can be handy for accessing ports and managing cables) and it was also even MORE expensive ($65 at the time) than this Rain Design stand. Not to mention not looking very good, and having to slide the laptop in and out through a narrow gap could be inconvenient depending on the situation. It just seemed a very... lazy(?) design, as well. Pass.
Then there's the obvious competitor, the Twelve South BookArc for MacBook Pro. Upon reading some of the top reviews, these BookArcs have a few minor design shortcomings, such as; not fitting the Retina MacBook Pros quite right (though others report this being a mistake by the reviewers, for what that's worth), the feet coming off under "normal" use (who knows), and the cord-management hooks not being big enough (subjective, but okay). The big thing that turned me away from the BookArcs, though, was that there are different models for different laptops. I have a MacBook Air floating around in my life from time to time (between me and business partners), and I didn't wanna have to A) pay that much for a separate stand for a seldom-used computer, or B) have more crap cluttering up my life than is necessary. This Rain Design mTower can accommodate virtually any laptop under an inch thick, and I'd feel confident that it'll be safe in the stand (even if I can't flip it upside down); but it also has inserts that will work specifically for the two most-encountered laptops in my life. That made the mTower practically perfect for me. Plus I just didn't much like the arc design of the BookArc for whatever reason. Guess I'm more used to straight edges with electronics or something?
The only complaints I have about this mTower is that it's too expensive and that they don't have one for iPad/iPad Mini. Maybe something that is almost exactly the same, but half the size; this stand actually holds my iPad Air fairly well in landscape (the lip is just too high, so it covers the bottom of the screen a bit and the gap is a little too wide for tablets). Or better yet, an extra slot right in front of the laptop slot for iPads/tablets. Something along those lines. Would that be perfect? No. But I would absolutely buy it, and use it. Then I could have my MacBook and my iPad where I want them, but not taking up lots of space or having multiple stands hanging around. Rain Design, get on it!
Seriously, though, this thing should be $40, not $50. It's a great product, and they deserve my money, but as a consumer I definitely feel like I'm being overcharged. At $40 I could still consider this a "premium" type of product, but also feel I got a somewhat reasonable deal. $30 feels like what it "should" be for such an item, but they obviously take advantage of their niche market (it is a product designed to be used with Apple laptops, after all). Guess ya can't really blame them; for all I know they'd sell less at a lower price. Oh well.
That said, I'm gonna buy another so I have one at my desk and by my bed. It's worth it (even at $50) not to have to carry the stand back and forth all the time. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone with a laptop that'll fit inside it, especially if it's a MacBook. This mTower by Rain Design works great, and looks great. It is great.
Hope you found this review helpful. Always vote on reviews however you feel is appropriate; it only takes a second. Have a great day! : )
| Brand | Rain Design |
|---|---|
| Series | 10038 |
| Item model number | 10038 |
| Item Weight | 1.44 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 9.84 x 4.48 x 3.46 inches |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 9.84 x 4.48 x 3.46 inches |
| Color | Space Gray |
| Manufacturer | Rain Design, Inc. |
| Language | English |
| ASIN | B077YLS9QP |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | December 1, 2017 |
