Laptop stands on the market generally come in two varieties: Fixed-height…

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…and height-adjustable.

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While some of the fixed-height ones are handsome, the problem with them is obvious: We're all different heights and require eyelines at different levels. The issue with the adjustable-height models is the inelegance/fiddliness of their mechanisms.

Industrial designer Matt Cramsie set a tall order for himself: To design a good-looking, portable, height-adjustable laptop stand with good UX, i.e. an elegant adjustment mechanism. Together with business partner Anhtai Anhtuan he developed the Tiny Tower, which was a year and a half in the making:

The push-button mechanism, which "works just like the extendable handle on checked travel luggage," is probably my favorite part of the design. 

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I'm also impressed with the small footprint, though I do wonder about the stability. They mention that the part of the stand that your laptop sits on is covered in an anti-slip material made by 3M, and I assume there's something similar on the underside of the base.

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While the Tiny Tower is expected to retail for $168, the early bird specials are going for as low as $69. At press time Cramsie and Anhtuan had garnered $15,773 in pledges towards a $65,000 goal, with 28 days left to pledge.

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