Hands-On Review--Laptop Desk Futura

Lapworks continues to innovate products for MacBook, MacBook Pro, iBook and PowerBook owners who wish to use their notebooks on their laps or desk. Lapworks' latest product is the Laptop Desk Futura.

The Futura

The Futura is similar to the Laptop Desk 2.0 that we previously favorably reviewed in that it sits on your lap when unfolded, sits on your desk when folded and is made from high impact ABS plastic. But it is distinguished from the other fine products in Lapworks line by being thinner and lighter and having ventilation slots and elevating rubber pads for better cooling. The hinge also has a new rounded design that appears stronger to us although we've never had a problem with the hinge of the Laptop Desk 2.0 in a year's use.

When unfolded, the Futura is a very nice platform for your lap. It's hinge is very strong and the surface is stable. All Apple notebooks from a 12" iBook to a 17" MacBook Pro fit on the Futura. However, because of the Futura's design, if you want to use a mouse with your 'Book while on your lap, check out the Laptop Desk 2.0 and Ultralite models instead. They provide a mousing surface while the Futura does not.

Folded, the Futura forms a desk stand for your 'Book. It has five positions for five different angles to choose from to optimize for a comfortable position. The highest position raises the back of your 'Book by about 3.75" for a much better viewing angle than if your 'Book is flat on your desk. When completely folded, the Futura is about 3/8" thick and weighs a hair over a pound so it's very transportable.

Aside from providing a stable platform for working with your 'Book on your lap or raising the 'Book's rear on your desk for better ergonomics in viewing the screen and typing, the Futura protects your lap from heat and helps cool your 'Book as well. The Futura's rubber pads raise your 'Book an 1/8" off the Futura's base to expose more of the 'Book's bottom surface to air circulation. The Futura's ventilation slots also provide a much better environment for air circulation.

Our use

We tried the Futura with our 12" PowerBook G4, 17" PowerBook G4 and 15" MacBook Pro and found it to be very stable when used as a lap stand. Since we don't use a mouse when working on one of our 'Book's on our lap, we like the smaller and lighter Futura better than the Laptop Desk 2.0 that we've used for a year.

As a desktop stand, the Futura will work in a pinch, like when traveling, or for short periods of time. However, it is less stable for typing than we prefer. In addition, the rubber pads do not grip our 'Books as well as we would like and there is no ledge to keep them from slipping a bit. Really, no portable stand can match the stability and utility of a well-made, specially designed desktop stand for 'Books. Lapworks makes them, too.

The Futura is good for travel because of it is thin and light. If you predominantly use your 'Book on your lap, the Futura is an especially good travel stand. If you predominantly use a 'Book on a desk while traveling, you might check out the ingenious Lapworks Aluminum Desktop Stand that we favorably reviewed in June.

In summary

Lapworks Laptop Desk Futura is a great on-lap platform for using any of Apple's 'Books on your lap. It's very stable and you won't feel excessive heat from your 'Book. Because of its smaller size and improved cooling design, we like it over the Laptop Desk 2.0 because we do not use a mouse while using a 'Book on our lap. The thin and light Futura is an especially good travel stand for those who predominantly use their 'Books on their lap. At $29.95, the Laptop Desk Futura from Lapworks is a very good buy. [Bill Fox]