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Anyone purchased an mStand for their MBP?

M

milky23

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 23, 2005
161
0
Hi there,

Has anyone got Rain Design's mStand for their MacBook Pro? How is the viewing angle of the screen when the laptop itself is angled so far downward? Does the MBP's screen open up wide enough without obstructing any airflow from the vent on the back of the notebook?

Can anyone give me their thoughts, likes, and dislikes about the product?
Anyone with a 17" MBP try the mStand yet? When using the mStand, is the screen tilted back as far as the hinge will allow?

(i know i posted this on the buying/advice forum, but I figured that more people with the mstand would be reading this forum, thanks)
 
Anyone? Please? 50 bucks is a lot to spend on a stand, so I'm trying to get some solid and varied input. Much obliged!!
 
Give me a linky and I'll give you my opinion - even though I can't try it out.

Try to resemble what the stand does - get a small chair or something and put the MBP on it so it is at roughly the same level as our mStand would be. See if the viewing angle is acceptable.

It should be though.
 
yea, i got mine last week. really nice people they have over there. they let me come by their warehouse and pick one up, since i live in the same city as their headquarters, san francisco.

i haven't really used the thing since i don't have an external keyboard yet. but, the thing does look really nice and matches my 15" macbook pro nicely. it's sturdy and the viewing angle is perfect.

i'm at work right now, so maybe i can answer more of your questions later today.
 
I bought one after seeing a picture of one here on the forums. It is GORGEOUS.

The screen has no issue being completely straightened, in fact it can tip back even further. The raise in height is perfect for me to sit and look at on my desk, and it just looks stunning.

I also agree on it being sturdy. It just feels completely solid, the MacBook Pro (15' model) does not 'bounce' while on it. I could lean over and type or use the touch pad without feeling like I was going to bend or break the stand from downwards force.
It has large pads on the bottom and where the Mac sits, so theres no worry of it scratching anything or sliding unexpectedly.
The main thing I noticed is when the laptop is closed while on the stand, the front lip of the stand prevents you from pressing the button, you have to lift it up to hit it. Not that big of a deal as you only need to open the lid once.
The lip fits just between the infrared remote sensor and the Superdrive slot. It does not impair the use of either of those.

While pricey considering it's just a laptop stand, it really is a beautiful, sturdy and comfortable addition to my desk. I'm no longer looking down at the screen but looking forward at it.
I might take some pictures when I get home tonight.
 
hey ninden and icafe, i really appreciate the good feedback! i think i'm convinced! it'd be awesome if you would take some pics, ninden.

thanks guys!
 
Post some pictures.

I'm really curious to see what this looks like now.
 
Kilamite said:
Post some pictures.

I'm really curious to see what this looks like now.
Click to expand...

I'm an Aperture noobie and do alot of Photoshop work, so I'm also considering something like this.

727088688_55fa268b2d.jpg


727088802_dcee3fc4d8.jpg
 
Wow - very slick.

Does it not look out of place when you have all the cables hanging down?
 
Kilamite said:
Wow - very slick.

Does it not look out of place when you have all the cables hanging down?
Click to expand...

haha I didn't think of that. Ideally it would only be the magsafe and the external display if you have one with bluetooth mouse and keyboard. ;)
 
Well I've got 2 external hard drives and optical out going to my hard drive plus power chord so wouldn't look the most tidy.

Although, hard drives could go wireless, and so could my audio connection going to the Airport Express.

Wish Apple would redesign the the keyboard to an aluminum look to match the MBP - I think it'll look out of place.

But, I am quite fussy and like matching designs (hence why I switched)!
 
Ok, took some pics, click for bigger images.

First is the overall setup:


Here's a closeup of the front lip. I know it looks like it covers the Superdrive slot in the picture, but it's really ends just next to it. Mere milimeters I'd say. I have had no trouble getting cd's in or out. The stand raises the laptop up high enough that the angle of the front is not an issue.


Here's the angle I have my screen at, as well as the maximum possible angle of the MacBook Pro:



And finally, here's the pads I mentioned. Again, no danger of scratching the Mac :)




I'm quite impressed with it. It just adds an nice touch to the desk experience. It feels less like I'm just using a laptop on my desk with an external keyboard and mouse, and more like I'm really sitting in front of a monitor at a desktop.
Cords do just hang off to the sides, but it doesn't seem to look that bad. There's also a hole on the back side of the stand (you can kind of see it on the sideway's picture, not the tear drop), iMac style so you can loop the cords through it and then up to the comp.

Actually... I think I might do that now :eek:
 
thanks ninden, thats fantastic! have you noticed any difference in temperatures since you started using the mpad? do you know what your MBP idles at when on the stand?
 
Kilamite said:
Alex - that is a sexy setup!

Geesh - 2 MBPs! What for?
Click to expand...

Not mine :mad: haha they're flickr finds. I plan to have something similar though, by the end of the summer hopefully. Should be a good dorm-room setup. Still on the fence about the mighty mouse vs a logitech.
 
speaking of rain design products, has anyone tried the iRest in combination with an apple wireless keyboard, or an ilap+mbp? the silver scheme looks nice, especially for the mousepad, but I'm not sure if it's worth the $$$. I don't know if I will like the wrist rest.
 
Alex, I just bought one of those stands in your pictures, the Griffin Elevator, still anxiously waiting for it, however every time I see a picture I think, yes, that was totally the right choice! Have you purchased it/used it yet? I love it but I just wonder about why there is no "lip" on the two arms to keep it from falling off. I assume that it won't because of the pads on the arms, but I'd be more comfortable with a lip at the end. I do like the two arms thought instead of the solid flat surface because another benefit of a stand is to help air circulation around the computer to help keep it cooler... which probably wouldn't happen with the mstand, or if it does, it's only slightly better than the air flow around the computer while on the desk.
 
polycat33 said:
Alex, I just bought one of those stands in your pictures, the Griffin Elevator, still anxiously waiting for it, however every time I see a picture I think, yes, that was totally the right choice! Have you purchased it/used it yet? I love it but I just wonder about why there is no "lip" on the two arms to keep it from falling off. ...
Click to expand...

I have the Griffin elevator and it definitely does keep the unit cool. The "legs" have rubber pads along the whole contact patch - there's really no need for concern as long as you don't let any significant dust build up.
 
I also have the mStand, but the first set of pictures are NOT mStand...it is some other laptop stand. As with functionality, it does help set the viewing angle at a better angle for me to look at. I also need to get a keyboard, since that would help me when I type (I'm breaking the rules when it comes to posture book guidelines, but oh well)
Even my other friends want one, since it looks really good on the desk.
 
forget the mstand or the elevator unless you plan on using an external keyboard. I recently purchsed the xtstand and it is great. it makes the computer a bit higher and lets it breathe so it wont overheat. it is also portable bc it folds which means u can bring it anywhere (library, cafe, etc). An mstand, though cool, is not portable at all.
 
If anyone has a frys near them, they have both the mstand (50) and griffin elevator (40).

Love the look of the mstand, but wasn't out when I bought the elevator.

Only complaints about the elevator is that it can bounce a little, not much.
 
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