For the past seven years or so, an important element of my work infrastructure has been a disarmingly simple but elegant device called a Laptop Laidback - a notebook computer stand designed specifically for use while reclined.

The Laidback's essential distinctiveness is signalized in its name; the stand is engineered specifically for optimum comfort when using your laptop in a reclined position, such as lying on a bed, sofa, the floor, or whatever.

The Laptop Laidback has been as close to perfect at what it's designed to do as any piece of equipment I've ever owned, and has looked (and felt) great doing it. The only complaint one might have is that are that the solid hardwood material is perhaps a tad heavy, especially if you want to take the Laidback on the road, but the extra weight pays dividends in stability on what are sometimes less than stable support surfaces.

The Laidback, in production since 1998, was also a bit pricey for a laptop stand. Fine quality wood joinery and finishing don't come cheaply, and while I would contend that the value was there - after seven years intensive use, my Laptop Laidback 1 looks as good as the day it arrived here - and you can't put a price on the tactile feel of nice wood. However, I expect that the Laidback We "R" Inc. folks did encounter some price resistance, so I completely understand why they have re-engineered version three of the Laptop Laidback, retaining the excellent basic design functionality, but in a substantially lighter, substantially less expensive package.

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