Max. screen size
The largest laptop screen size that the stand is guaranteed to be compatible with. For comparison: the smallest netbooks have a diagonal of 10 –
12 ", ultrabooks are somewhat larger — up to
14" ; among classic laptops, 13" corresponds to the most compact models,
15 —
16" — medium format,
17" — large, and
18.4" is actually the "ceiling" for modern laptops.
Usually, the maximum diagonal indicated in the characteristics corresponds to the size for which the stand was originally designed. However the vast majority of models are able to work with smaller laptops, but this point should be clarified separately. In addition, you should not buy a device that differs markedly in maximum diagonal from your laptop — for example, an 18" stand is unlikely to be convenient for a 12" netbook.
Stand material
The material from which the main element of the stand is made is the platform where the laptop is placed. The material of the legs (if any, see "Type") may vary, but this is quite rare.
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Plastic. The advantages of plastic are low cost, low weight, an abundance of possible shapes and colours, as well as strength that is quite sufficient for most cases. At the same time, it loses to metal both in terms of reliability and thermal conductivity — in other words, it removes heat less efficiently. As a result, this option is found mainly among inexpensive coasters.
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Metal. Most metal models are usually made from aluminium alloys. Such alloys are quite light, while they are significantly superior to plastic both in strength and in the quality of heat removal. The main disadvantage of the metal is a rather high cost, so it is found mainly in models of the middle and upper price range.
— Metal / plastic. Platforms that combine both materials described above in the design at once. Mostly these are models with active cooling (see above): a metal grill is made in them, on which the laptop directly stands and under which fans are placed, and the platform frame is made of plastic. This makes it possible to somewhat reduce the cost, while retaining the main advantage of metal platforms — the high efficiency of heat dissipation.
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Tree. This m
...aterial for laptop stands can be attributed to the "designer" options. Wood has an attractive appearance, and is also considered more pleasant to the touch than other materials. At the same time, from a practical point of view, it has no noticeable advantages over plastic, it costs significantly more, and loses to metal in terms of heat removal efficiency. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to wooden coasters if style and aesthetics are in the first place for you, and the quality of cooling does not play a decisive role.
— Textile. A rather non-standard material for laptop stands, which, nevertheless, has its own advantages. So, some fabric coasters look like soft rugs, which can be compactly folded for easy storage and transportation during non-working hours. Such material passes air and heat well (manufacturers select the appropriate types of fabric), is quite pleasant to the touch, and looks good. Among the shortcomings of the fabric, it is worth noting the difficulty in cleaning — if it is enough to wipe the plastic or metal surface with a damp cloth, then the fabric stand will have to be washed (if such a procedure is generally allowed for this model).Table top/platform size
The size of the surface intended for the direct placement of a laptop. This parameter allows you to fairly accurately assess how the stand is suitable for your device — after all, even laptops with the same diagonal can vary slightly in length / width.
Weight
The total weight of the stand. You should pay attention to this parameter first of all if you plan to constantly carry the stand with you, along with a laptop — here light weight can be a noticeable advantage. But if you are looking for an option purely for home use, there is most often no need to pursue low weight: other things being equal, it can be a sign of a small thickness of materials and, as a result, relatively low reliability. In addition, a more massive stand is more stable, it is more difficult to budge or knock over by accidental touch.
