obVus Solutions minder Laptop Tower Stand 2.0 with Integrated Smartphone Holder Review: Strong and Highly Adjustable

obVus Solutions minder Laptop Tower Stand 2.0 with Integrated Smartphone Holder Review

Mac and PC productivity benefits from more screen real estate. For many, even a large monitor isn’t enough room to do everything. Sometimes you just need that extra window or widget open while you’re working. Laptops, of course, usually get used in extended mode, with the laptop screen acting as that little bit of extra display real estate. But often the laptop isn’t at the right height for comfortable co-viewing with the larger display. Enter laptop stands, like the $89.99 obVus Solutions minder Laptop Tower Stand 2.0 that adjusts the laptop to better meet a line of site for those using a laptop while sitting or standing.

What we like

I can’t imagine a more industrial feeling stand. I worked in aerospace, and the minder 2.0 reminds me of CNC aluminum weapons system parts that we honed directly out of a block of aluminum.

The stiff hinges on the stand securely lift even heavy laptops. It requires a little muscle to move the hinges. Even more height comes from the telescoping base that lifts the main platform.

At a certain height, the integrated lower stand becomes available. While designed for a phone, it will also accommodate a small tablet or e-reader. As noted in the “What could be improved” section of the review, the secondary stand isn’t available if the laptop isn’t pushed high enough. I do like that it can be lowered beyond the height of some non-flexible stands, making the low profile an advantage in one way.

While the obVus Solutions minder Laptop Tower Stand 2.0 is indeed portable, at about 4 lbs, it isn’t the first accessory people will likely grab for a weekend trip, but it may make the cut as an item to move between home and a hot desk back in the office.

Beyond acting as a stand and lifting a laptop above a desk, the minder 2.0 aims at improving posture. Posture doesn’t deteriorate or improve with one item. Improving posture requires the design of a work setting that takes into account seating (or standing), desk height, glasses, stands for laptops, adjustable monitors, and other factors. The minder 2.0 is part of a solution but not a solution by itself.

What could be improved

I own a tall desk, classic, not an adjustable for standing, just taller than most desks. My obVus Solutions minder 2.0 sits high to start with. While the minder 2.0 works well for the laptop, the height of desk results in only a minor extension of the main stand arm, which results in the integrated smaller stand remaining squished beneath the main stand. For situations like this, the minder without the small stand may be a better choice.

Many of the images presume a looking up rather than looking down or across posture. For me, my neck would rather tilt down than up. Eyeglass prescriptions also factor into where a display needs to sit for optimal viewing. While I’m typing this, I’m looking over the top of my glasses because I don’t want to tilt my head back to find the sweet spot in my progressive lenses.

obVus Solutions minder Laptop Tower Stand 2.0: The Bottom Line

I feel very comfortable placing my MacBook Pro or any of the myriad review PCs on the obVus Solutions minder Laptop Tower Stand 2.0. If your desktop is too tall to extend the Tower Stand 2.0, you may want to consider their regular Tower Stand or one of the Twelve South Curve stands (see our Curve SE and Curve Flex reviews for other stand ideas). If the laptop isn’t riding high, then the integrated smartphone or mini tablet stand won’t be accessible.

obVus Solutions provided the minder 2.0 for review. Images courtesy of obVus Solutions unless otherwise noted.

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