per Alexandre Santiago
I had been looking for a support for my MacBook Pro for a while, because, since I already had the Apple wireless mouse and keyboard, I still had to leave the notebook in a “suspended” position to be worth the set of peripherals I had purchased previously, already thinking about this possibility.
Unfortunately, the final decision to buy such support was made for medical reasons, which in this case was a tremendous back pain caused by several factors, among them to use the notebook extensively looking down. Believe me: one hour it shows up, even more for those who work all day and often, in my case, for full dawns, on long journeys and with the equipment below eye level.
I started, then, the search for the accessory that would help me better with the problem and that also had legal usability, I didn't want any support. In my searches, I found many options on the market, varying between different models, sizes, prices, colors, etc., but what most caught my attention was a product that, interestingly, besides being a support for my MacBook was portable: it is the Flex-Laptop, from Asys, the same creator of UpTable, which strangely is not on the manufacturer's website, but exists in several stores across the internet.
I first liked this model because it is fully foldable and portable and this would help me a lot, as I use the MacBook Pro at home and at work and it would be interesting to be able to carry it in my backpack with my laptop, wherever I went.
As a good Brazilian, once the model was chosen, I started the quest to buy it at some reliable store (for warranty reasons) and at a good price. Believe me, I found variations in prices of up to 60% between R $ 120 and R $ 190 for the same product! As I always say, fundamental research. The store was found, the color was chosen (there are black and white options for this support) and the order was placed, in two days the product arrived here at home.
From the first contact, you can see that the Flex-Lap is very well finished and very well designed; he has a different "way". The support caught the attention of some geeks who work with me on the first day. It gives the impression that it is the type of product that is used by those who invented it.
Most of the support is rubberized (part black), and it is also made of steel and plastic parts. The product is lightweight, very easy to handle and comes with a protective cover that minimizes the possibility of dirt or scratches while folded and stored.
The ease of unfolding and folding it again impressed me. Just press the silver button on the side of the product and it will release the lock on the "legs" of the support, and then you can choose at which angle the support will be open to place your computer on top.
The stand has three settings to adapt to any notebook. The angle adjustment, controlled by the large silver button, which defines the height / inclination that the notebook will be. The degree of openness of the front legs or legs that form the trip serves to adapt it to the size of the equipment and of the extenders that are embedded in these front legs or legs, where the supports for the notebook are fixed.
As previously mentioned, in the front legs, there is an extender built into each one; The locks on which the notebook rests are folded on them and these locks are made of a material that does not scratch or damage the equipment that will rest on them, be it the aluminum of new MacBooks Pro or the plastic of notebooks in general.
This extender unfortunately has only two settings: short or long. Or you use them retracted or stretched to their fullest extent; in both positions there is a type of internal lock that does not allow them to retract or stretch involuntarily. Here is a tip for the next model: to allow the length of these extenders to be regulated, just as it is done with the support body in terms of angle.
Once the regulations are known, the adaptation phase begins: the notebook is placed on the support, the MBP goes up, the MBP goes down, removes, moves the opening of the front feet, opens, closes and closes . Once you have found the ideal position, you start to see how firm the MBP is in the support, and I can say: it is very comfortable and adjusted.
Even in the form of a tripod, the rear foot acts as a base for you to move your front feet to the right or left, either to adjust the notebook, or to suddenly adjust the position of the equipment when someone comes to your side to see something where you're working (or anything in that regard). Assembling and disassembling all the equipment (in my case, the MacBook Pro), folding or unfolding the support is quick and easy, without many complications.
In another test, I accommodated the product inside the notebook backpack with other accessories and it fit properly. Very practical to be taken everywhere and not taking up much space. Just to reinforce, this was another problem, as I had a backpack on my back (backpack) and, with a lot of junk, it became very heavy with time. Also due to medical recommendations, I had to use a smaller model of backpack to then carry less weight, and this decreased my stuff to be carried and the support still fit in the smaller backpack.
In short, I found the cost-benefit of the Flex-Lap very attractive and, honestly, in addition to all the functions that I spent here, I particularly find its design very modern, combining with the Apple products that I use daily. But the most important thing, in my case, was placing the MacBook Pro in an elevated position to work more comfortably and end the back pain. , one hour the “advanced” age arrives.
