I have been using laptops for years now. They have several advantages over a desktop computer especially if you travel around a lot. With a desktop, you need to connect a lot of peripheral items such as a screen, keyboard and monitor but with a laptop, all of these are already inbuilt.
But there are some issues with using laptops. One of the biggest problems with them is that there are a lot of electrical and electronic components packed into a small space. These components give off heat and in no time at all your laptop can get pretty hot. Modern laptops are smaller than ever these days but the heat problem is still there.
The other main issue is ergonomics. Using a laptop for a prolonged period of time in its standard format can lead to a number of different health problems. It can get pretty uncomfortable using a laptop for even a small amount of time.
Over the years I have tried and tested a number of different laptop stands. I have found that most of them have helped a lot. So in this article, I want to give you 9 reasons why you need to use a laptop stand.
Table of Contents
9 Reasons Why You Should Use a Laptop Stand
1. Increase the amount of Airflow
It really doesn’t take long for a laptop to get fairly hot. This is understandable as you have a lot of components packed into a very small space. Yes laptops have fans, but they are small as well so there is only so much they can do to keep the computer cool.
When a laptop sits in the normal position there is very little chance of airflow underneath. When you use a laptop stand you change this and it will provide additional airflow all around the computer – especially to the bottom of it.
These days it is possible to get laptop stands that have fans included in them. This is even better as it provides even greater airflow. If you let your laptop get too hot on a regular basis then you can damage some of the internal components and eventually it will stop working altogether.
Not only that but when a laptop is too hot it can actually burn you when you touch it. You might not think that this is possible but please believe me when I tell you that it is. I have actually experienced burning my fingers on a laptop that was really overheating.
2. Improved Ergonomics
Ergonomics is all about comfort and efficiency. If you use your laptop in the standard position for a long time every day then you will put yourself at risk of getting a repetitive strain injury. You can hurt your back and suffer from other health problems such as neck strain as well if you hunch over your laptop for several hours each day.
By using a laptop stand you can raise your laptop screen to the correct eye level. This will really help to reduce the possibility of straining your neck. You will no longer be looking downwards all of the time.
Sometimes you will see laptops placed on books or something else to elevate them to eye level. The problem with this is that there is very little improved airflow to the machine. It also doesn’t do anything to prevent a repetitive strain injury. With a laptop stand, you can position your computer in the most ergonomic way.
3. Typing is more Comfortable
If you spend a lot of time typing on your laptop then this can soon become uncomfortable for you. Think about it for a minute – you are making an average of around 40 keystrokes a minute and repeating this for several hours every working day.
Placing your laptop on a laptop stand adjusts the typing position so that it becomes more comfortable for you. Using a flat surface like a table is never ideal for long periods of typing even though humans have used these for decades.
As soon as you get your keyboard at the right angle you will immediately feel the benefit. Typing will feel a lot easier and this will also help to increase your productivity. You want to find a position where you can keep your back straight and your elbows bent at a comfortable 90° angle or thereabouts.
4. You can adjust the angle of your Laptop Stand
There was a survey conducted in 2015 that revealed almost 65% of adults in the United States were suffering from digital screen eyestrain known as Computer Vision Syndrome. You will find a number of accessories available to combat this problem on the market today.
The best way to alleviate Computer Vision Syndrome is to use an adjustable laptop stand. We are all different and an angle for a laptop that suits one person will not suit another. It is very important that you are able to adjust the angle of your laptop such that it minimizes the glare from the screen and provides the best protection for your eyes.
5. You can Stand while you work
Something that I used to laugh at before I actually gave it a try was the concept of standing at your desk to work rather than sitting. A number of studies support this revealing a lot of benefits to standing up while using your laptop.
If you spend hours a day sitting at your desk then you are very likely to gain weight pretty easily. Standing while you are working prevents this. Some medical professionals claim that standing to work can actually reduce your blood sugar levels as well which will help to keep your heart healthy.
Using a laptop stand is the best way to position your computer for working while standing up. I encourage you to try this out even if you just do it for an hour or two each day. When I tried it I found that my overall mood improved and I had more energy so I was able to get more work done.
6. Lots of useful Features available
In the modern world, you can get a laptop stand that does far more than the basics. It will probably not surprise you to know that as soon as the first basic laptops stands hit the market and were seen to be popular that companies looked to provide additional features for the user.
I have already said that you can purchase a laptop stand these days that has additional fans in it to help cool down your laptop. Other features that you can find with laptop stands include additional draws and shelves, wireless pads, additional USB ports, facilities to charge your smartphone and a great deal more.
There are now laptop stands designed for different purposes. You can get a conventional laptop stand designed for use on a desk and there are also laptop stands for sitting on the couch, laptop stands for using in bed, laptop stands that are an all in one desk and more.
7. You can take your Laptop Stand wherever you go
You want to go for a laptop stand that will fold up to a pretty small size so that you can take it with you wherever you go. I mean one of the major conveniences of owning a laptop is that you can easily carry it around with you isn’t it? So your laptop stand needs to support this as well.
Some people have more than one laptop stand. They have the portable one that they can fold up and carry around with them and they have a more fixed stand that they permanently place in their home or office. This is great if you have the budget to do this.
If you know that you are going to spend a lot of time on airplanes traveling around then look for a laptop stand that will help you in this situation. If your laptop sits on your lap for any length of time then it is soon going to get hot and very uncomfortable for you. So go for a portable laptop stand that will provide a number of benefits in travel situations.
8. Reduce the Clutter in your Office or Home
One of the hidden benefits that I found from using a laptop stand was that it really helps to reduce clutter. I am not a particularly tidy person and often my desk can look like a war has taken place on it! There is stuff everywhere and when I see this it depresses me.
So if you need a lot of other things around you when you are working with your laptop why not go for a laptop stand that provides you with extra storage space? As an example of this, I still like to write things down every day so I got myself a laptop stand that could also hold my notebook and a pen. Simple things like this really help!
9. Manage your Cables
With my laptop at home, I have a number of cables plugged into it. There is the HDMI cable that I use to connect my laptop to my TV. Then there is the cable to my printer and I also like to use an external keyboard. Finally, I have an external hard drive which plugs into a USB port which of course means another cable.
At one stage I had cables dangling everywhere. It was an accident waiting to happen. I found a laptop stand that provided excellent cable management. With this, I could route all of my cables underneath the computer which was a lot tidier and a lot safer.
Conclusion
I hope that through this article I have convinced you of the benefits of investing in a laptop stand. The right laptop stand will not just protect you but also your precious computer as well by increasing the airflow and keeping it cool.
You will find all different kinds of laptop stands available today and it should not be too difficult to find one that suits your needs. Make sure that it is big enough to support your laptop and that you can easily adjust it in the right position for you.
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