Keeping your laptop computer elevated to a comfortable viewing angle and typing angle, while also allowing for good airflow, is the main features of a laptop stand. In the past several years, we’ve reviewed quite a few stands here at The Gadgeteer and now it’s time for another one. The AVIATOR stand from Keynamics is a simplified travel version of one of their stands that I reviewed 2 yrs ago.
The AVIATOR is made of rugged plastic and is available in 3 colors: Black, Grey and White. I was sent the Black version.
The stand is comprised of 3 parts. Two risers and a crosspiece. The innovative feature is that all the parts can snap together for easy transport. Think LEGO.
The crosspiece has 2 dove tail protrusions, and the risers each have a matching socket. Just stack the two risers on top of each other and slide the crosspiece in place and you’re ready to shove it in your gear bag.
Stored Dimensions 12.62″ L x .50″ W x 3.35″ H
Riser: 12.62″ L x .25″ W x 3.35″ H
Crosspiece: 10.5″ L x .50″ W x 1″ H
Riser Spacing: Outer 8.75″, Inner: 5.75″
Riser Top Surface Contact Area 12″
To use the stand, you just slide the crosspiece into the V notches in the riser pieces. If you have a wide laptop, you can use the outside crosspiece slots, or for smaller notebooks, the inside notches. In the image above, I am using the inside notches.
Here’s another shot of the AVIATOR from the side.
And here we have my 12″ Powerbook sitting on the stand. The bottom back edge is raised by a little under 3 inches and the bottom front edge by slightly more than 1 inch.
As you can see from the pictures, the laptop is elevated to a nice angle for typing and viewing. You can also notice that the stand allows for good air ventilation under the laptop. Everyone knows that a cool laptop is a happy laptop ;o)
Even if all you could do is to use this stand on top of your desk, it would be worth the $19.99 price. But wait, there’s more…
Like the original stand from Keynamics, this one can also be used in a cantilevered position. Just orient the stand over the edge of a desk, so that the top corner edge mates with the notch in the bottom of the stand. It even works with rounded edged surfaces like my desktop pictured above.
Rubber strips located on the top and bottom edges of the stand risers keep the stand securely positioned on the desk and the notebook securely positioned on the stand.
I know the stand looks scary perched on the edge of the desk like that, but it feels very solid and secure when in use. The only thing I would caution is to avoid leaving your notebook in this position unattended. Especially if you have pets that like to climb on your desk.
As the name of this stand suggests, the AVIATOR stand is great for air travel. This is due to the fact that it is just the right size to fit on a tray table, even when the person’s seat in front of you is reclined. FYI: I was unable to personally test this stand on a plane…
See it in action…
Click on image to play the QuickTime video (2min 27sec,
4.7mb). The video is encoded in the H.264 codec. You will need the latest version of
Quicktime to view it.
VLC is another free viewer.
The only negative that I can find regarding this product, is the fact that the elevation of the stand is not adjustable. For me, this isn’t a problem, because the angle that the stand provides is perfectly comfortable to me.
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I’ve been using one of these for a few months now. I don’t recall where I first saw it reviewed, but ordered one right off.
I use a pretty big laptop (ThinkPad R52) and the stand is rock solid. I’ve also used it on an airplane a couple times, and it worked well on the tray.
Leo
LeoB:
Thank you for commenting on how it worked on a plane. 🙂 It’s good to know that what they claim is true.
I’ve used this stand around the house for a few months now and love it. I’ve also taken it on trips and it takes almost no space in my travel bag. At home I mainly use it on my lap. I’ve got a Dell laptop that overheats and shuts off if I don’t get good airflow under it. With the other laptop desks I’ve used, they didn’t prevent the shutoff problem because usually a solid surface is under the laptop, allowing little ventilation. With this stand, however, I get great ventilation, and since using it, my Dell has not overheated and shut off once!
I bought one of these, based on your review. I travel all the time, for work, and have been wanting some sort of a laptop stand for some time, now.
The Aviator stand makes it a lot easier to type, and saves wear and tear on my wrists, to boot.
Thanks!
J. Alexander Jacocks
I have been using it for a few months now. I travel constantly and use the stand on airplanes, in hotels and conference rooms.
Everyone who sees it asks about it, and I’ve had three people immediately look it up and purchase an Aviator stand of their own. The stand now come in colors too.
Although is it light, I’m convinced that I could use the stand (when collapsed) as an implement of destruction, so as to open coconuts, or perhaps to tenderize wild boar meat, on an island while waiting for rescue.
I’d also like to re-affirm the sturdy nature of the cantilevered usage mode. It’s surprising and it’s very useful. For example, sometime I’ll book books or a box under the unit to get better height when using the laptop for over-the-shoulder presentations.
Also, I tuck external harddrives and power units into the space that the stand create under the laptop, which makes for a very tidy footprint.
When using the stand on an airplane, you can shift the laptop to one side of the seat tray, so as to create space for a couple drinks/cans… and the stand prevents any spills on the tray from touching your laptop.
Finally, I’ve seen others using metal or telescopic stand, and I’m here to tell you the Aviator stand is better. It’s drop-dead simple, practically indestructible and impossible to screw-up.