Mantis Notebook Arm
The Mantis Notebook Arm is really a notebook stand with articulating joints that allow you to configure the stand how you want for a versatile and fully adjustable notebook accessory.
Ease of Use, Performance: 23/25
Look & Feel: 23/25
Features 21/25
How much I enjoy 23/25
Total: 90/100
LapWorks brings an articulating or fully adjustable notebook stand with the use of some ingenious geared steel joints that allow you to adjust each section for maximum use. The Mantis stand can be used with any notebook as a stand as well as a portable lectern or stand for a wide variety of uses.
The Mantis can be used as a lectern or stand for sheet music, notes or much more as well as a regular notebook or laptop stand for computing ease whether it's at a couch, bed or the front of a classroom. The Mantis has two legs pieces at a 90 degree angle and three 15.5 inch arm pieces with an adjustable joint between them and the laptop holder.
Each joint between the upright pieces comprises two halves with a round hole at each end and a circular piece in each hole with teeth that match the pieces and holes. The upright pieces and the laptop holder have round toothed ends that fit inside the two round pieces that also fit inside the two halves of the joint to create a fully adjustable joint with two adjustment points.
This allows you to turn each joint around from either the top or bottom and with the three joint pieces you can configure the stand in a lot of different ways. One main stability issue with the stand is making sure your two leg pieces are fully supporting the top section when you configure it.
The two leg pieces are 24.5 inches long with all the pieces being about an inch in diameter with a hollow interior for the two leg pieces. The two legs can have a 1/2 inch iron pipe or pieces of rebar to add weight to the base of the Mantis for a sturdier stand.
The Mantis can have the holder portion of the stand at about 49 inches off the ground for a good height as a podium or lectern and lower down to about ground level if you want. You can adjust or even remove the upright sections however you want as long as you take stability and center of gravity into account.
When you have your laptop stand adjusted how you think you need it you should wobble it around to make sure placing your notebook will not topple the works. As long as you put the laptop and holder about in the center of the legs V shape and toward the center of this shape you should be alright.
A little common sense and a look at the video on LapWorks website will help if you have questions or problems getting your laptop on the stand or if your concerned with using the stand. I have had no problems with my laptop falling off or the stand falling over just from the common sense of centering the holder above the stands legs.
Adjusting the sections and joints requires you holding the upper sections and using one hand to screw or unscrew the joint with the other hand that works out easily. The top most joint that is right on the holder has a half bar because the screw piece is so close to the holder itself and would not be able to use a full handle like the lower joints use.
The half handle is held in toward the joint by a spring and you pull the handle out and turn it to turn the handle without turning the screw. This allows the handle to be half turned and then turned back without turning the screw because the joint is within a couple of inches of the holder.
Using this joint is almost as easy as the others and to adjust the whole affair is pretty simple as long as you mind the center of gravity while configuring. The LapWorks Mantis works extremely well for a notebook stand and with a simple clipboard or even a flat piece of wood works well for a lectern or stand.
I have had the Mantis for several weeks and have had no problems using the stand at a bed, a lounge chair and a couch and being able to configure it for best possible use while sitting or laying down. The stand holds my 17 inch and 15 inch laptops equally well without any problems with the weight or making sure things are secure using the legs and center of gravity.
The stand has two rubber bands to help secure a laptop on the holder as well as two folded metal arms that lock a laptop in place on the stand. The metal arms are curved to reach over the sides and hold a notebook down against the holder and screw in place using a metal block on the bottom of the main holder bar.
The two bottom legs of the holder are rubber tipped with bends to ensure your laptop does not slide off and with the two arms also rubber coated ends make sure you don't scratch your notebook. The stand comes disassembled but putting it together not only familiarizes you with how to use it but it also helps you understand the important center of gravity.
You can purchase the Mantis Laptop Arm at LapWorks for about $200 for a great and versatile stand for your notebook and more, this is a fantastic stand that is very useful for notebooks. I highly recommend the Mantis Notebook Arm for a highly versatile and configurable stand that works for a wide variety of situations.