Griffin Elevator Vs. mStand

[justinm]

Hey Guys-

I am soon going to purchase a laptop stand for my new MacBook Pro and was wondering which one you thought was better. The Griffin Elevator vs. mStand.

Griffin Elevator-http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/elevator

MStand- http://www.raindesigninc.com/mstand.html

Thanks!

[SnowLeopard2008]

mStand.

[Galley]

The Elevator is collapsible, and thus portable. That mStand sure does look nice, though. :D

[dlamin517]

why would you use one of these? i dont get it

[sangosimo]

to elevate your laptop and they look cool.

[alphaod]

I use the Elevator. Never used the mStand.

And dlamin517, many different purposes from improve ventilation to better clearance, to having a computer that's the same height as the display.

[dlamin517]

I use the Elevator. Never used the mStand.

And dlamin517, many different purposes from improve ventilation to better clearance, to having a computer that's the same height as the display.

haha i think im gonna get the mstand. that thing is extremely sexy:p

[marclapierre13]

I have the elevator.
It does the job great, but the mstand is better for a couple of reasons. The angle is steeper, so you can type easier if oyu need to reach up to your keyboard on your MBP or trackpad. Also, the design looks nicer.

Pros regarding the elevator are it is more affordable, and it is collapsable.

Having said that, they both do the same job and do it well, but if youre looking for something more sturdy get the mstand.

Also, with regards to the comment about why you would want these, there are a few reasons. It improves ventilation, it allows you to use your MBP as a monitor and sit at eye level on your desk, so you can hook up an external mouse and keyboard (thats what I do) and it makes it so you dont ruin you posture and hurt your back.

[stiphone]

mStand. I have one and i love it tremendously.

[yoppie]

I have the Elevator. I like knowing I can take it anywhere.

[justinm]

Thanks guys! I think I am going with Elevator for its portability.

[sinser]

Have been using the Elevator for a few years and love it. The mStand looks over-designed if you ask me. Furthermore, I suffer from cervical and the Elevator has alleviated the problem while using the laptop.

[nfbetancur]

I'm not sure how a single piece of metal is over designed compared to the elevator... In any case, I have an mStand i bought off of Buy.com with a $30 off with their Visa promotion and really like it. How often will you actually be traveling with your stand? I can't say anything about the Elevator but I can say the mStand is extremely sturdy and matches aluminum Macbook (Pros) beautifully. My housemate who could care less about the stuff I buy even commented that it looked really nice.

[Beau10]

The mStand looks over-designed if you ask me.

Eh? Clearly the mStand is designed to integrate with an ACD. If you run a dual screen setup with an ACD it's no brainer.

[MacAlpha]

Another vote for the mStand. It is extremely sturdy, holds the book at the perfect level for comfortable viewing and if you care, matches with the style of the MBP perfectly. I have no use for portability as I am a minimalist when I travel with a computer (just the computer and the plug).

In the interest of disclosure, I have not tried the Elevator.

[Glenny2lappies]

I have both elevators; the older perspex one and the newer metal one. Both are great to lift the MBP off the desk and use a keyboard which means you don't cook your hands.

Couple of points about the new elevator:

It's not really portable; the box is a couple of inches high and roughly keyboard shaped. Agreed, it's a damn site more portable than the old perspex version!
I'm not sure about the soft non-slip coating; when the lid's closed, my 17" MBP fell off the stand and I found it on the desk after coming back from lunch. It doesn't bare thinking about if it had slipped off the desk:-(

Now I'm aware of problem 2, I'm much more careful in repositioning the lappie before leaving it unattended. Incidentally it's fine when the lid's open, as the weight is shifted backwards.

But the bottom line is would I buy another one. Yes I would. But I hope that Griffin change the material they use (or reduce the slope).

[Sgt.Pepper]

Rather than start a new thread I'll ask my question relating to the elevator and mstand here.

As far as looks and design appeal goes the mStand is the winner for me.
But how do they compare in cooling the laptop.
On one hand the elevator exposes the bottom on your laptop and allows air to flow under.
But the mStands aluminum will absorb the heat and dissipate it like I heat-sink I gather.

What I'd really like to know isn't so much a debate of which is better, but are the differences bit in cooling large? I like the mStand more but won't get it, if the Griffin Elevator is much better at cooling. If the difference is only a little bit then I'll get the mStand.

Thanks in advance.

[akm3]

I love my Mstand, however I can't believe they designed the cable routing hole to NOT allow you to fit a DVI cable through it...That was dumb.

[FarSeide]

one of the issues I have with my Elevator is that my MBP continues to slide down and sometimes I fear that MBP is going to fall off. Anther issue I have with the Elevator is the leg. Because it's removeable it can sometimes come out from it's place when I adjust the stand.

Found mStand at costco.com for 49.99 shipped so I bought it. Hopefully the height will match nicely with my LED ACD.

[Sgt.Pepper]

Does can anyone comment specifically on the heat reduction of both of these products?

[MacAlpha]

I have the mStand and can comment on it, don't know about the elevator as I have never used it (though I have seen it in person in a store). The mStand as far as I can tell doesn't affect the ability of the laptop to disapate heat at all. As a test, I put my new unibody MBP on the stand loaded up WoW at full graphics and wondered around towns. The fans eventually started to rev up When I lifted the book off the mStand there really wasn't any heat transfer to the mStand. I assume that this is because, as a general rule, heat rises, and so it always seems to me that the top (just above the F4 key) gets hot, but the bottom never gets too hot. In short, I don't see any difference from when my MBP is on the mStand and when it isn't.

[playalistic]

I have the mStand and a new MBP. It doesn't sit flush to the stand if that makes sense. There is a gap of a few mm which must help airflow to the underside of the machine. Also there is a hole in the part of the stand that the machine sits on, again this must help airflow but I can't say Ihave any scientific evidence ;)

[ZMacintosh]

elevator seems nice if your using it with external displays and kb/mouse


But i use one of these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834998052

cools it, elevates it nicely to type on...still am able to use keyboard/mouse and use both my monitors.

there are some smaller version and a black version

[FarSeide]

I have both mStand and the Elevator now so I will try to post some pics comparing both. As far as heat, I noticed that Elevator might do a better job because there is less surface area where it contacts the MBP. As far as the angle, I like the way mStand props up my MBP vs. Elevator. I get a better angle with mStand. As far as looks, mStamds hands down.

[Pika]

Does can anyone comment specifically on the heat reduction of both of these products?

The trick is to put a bottle of cold water to the bottom of the mStand so that it will cool all the mStand's aluminum. That way it will absorb all the heat caused by the macbook faster... and if you want to speed the process, simply a fans or use an air conditioner... As you can see, the mStand has a hole on the top... where your macbook sit.

Personally, i prefer the cold bottle method because it's quite... no power supply needed... no fan noises... simply letting nature do the work.

[spaceballl]

I love my Mstand, however I can't believe they designed the cable routing hole to NOT allow you to fit a DVI cable through it...That was dumb.
I agree - one way around this is that I have a Dell SP2309W. I use a DVI-HDMI cable to power it and the HDMI fits through the hole so we're good to go :D

Oh and to the OP... I love my mStand!

[msprouls]

I agree - one way around this is that I have a Dell SP2309W. I use a DVI-HDMI cable to power it and the HDMI fits through the hole so we're good to go :D

Oh and to the OP... I love my mStand!

I have the mStand also, I never thought about using DVI-HDMI that's a good call. I just ordered a SP2309W so I am going to do that.

I have been real nervous about the glossy screen on the 2309, but the resolution and pixel density sucked me in. I guess I will find out in a couple of days. I picked up a Dell S2209W over the weekend and it's really nice. The same res as my 24" 2407WFP in a 21.5" panel. As much as I liked the image quality I just could not give up the screen size. So that led me to the 2309. Any thing I need to know about it?

Do not want to hijack this thread, you can PM me if you want.

[Pika]

Pros
• Sleek and tough aluminum construction.
• Ergonomically-sound dimensions.
• Doubles as a heat sink.
• Easy cable routing.

Cons
• Expensive, but we think it's worth it.

[FarSeide]

Next to my 24" LED ACD
http://gallery.me.com/jamesjkim/100024/NextToACD/web.jpg

Side by Side
http://gallery.me.com/jamesjkim/100024/SideBySide/web.jpg

Rear Profile
http://gallery.me.com/jamesjkim/100024/RearProfile/web.jpg

Side Profile
http://gallery.me.com/jamesjkim/100024/SideProfile/web.jpg

[Pika]

I just got my mStand today... WOW! i love it :D

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d4/CCCCP/SDC10110.jpg

[Pika]

Does can anyone comment specifically on the heat reduction of both of these products?

http://www.insidemacgames.com/images/Rain_mStand_003_large.jpg
http://www.insidemacgames.com/images/Rain_mStand_004_large.jpg
http://www.insidemacgames.com/images/Rain_mStand_005_large.jpg
http://www.insidemacgames.com/images/Rain_mStand_006_large.jpg

For $49, the Rain Design mStand is situated as one of the most expensive products in its category. However, I feel that this price is justified. While most competing products are significantly cheaper, none approach the aesthetic appeal and durability offered by Rain Design's precise, well-engineered architecture. For MacBook and MacBook Pro owners in particular, when you factor in the enhanced heat dissipation and free access to the front of your machine that is offered by this design, I can see very little reason why the mStand should not be considered as essential as a notebook case.

[Beau10]

I posted this in another thread some months ago, with pictures and all that...

But for you guys with a DVI adaptor that needs to fit through (I have an early 2k8 MBP + 23 ACD) you can snap the ring in the mstand, dremel the inside of the hole a bit, and put the ring back in with minimal visual impact... you can see it on the interior a bit but not the exterior.

[Soma 115]

can anyone tell me if the mstands size fits well with the 13 inch unibody macbooks?

[mac88]

can anyone tell me if the mstands size fits well with the 13 inch unibody macbooks?

I have the 13" unibody macbook and a mStand. I think that they compliment themselves well. The unibody fits great with it. Buy it, you'll love it.

[mac88]

I just got my mStand today... WOW! i love it :D

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d4/CCCCP/SDC10110.jpg

I love your set-up. Not to get off the subject...

[MattZani]

Im Gonna get one of the 2, originally i was almost certain of the Elevator, but the mStand looks really nice, and definitely looks more secure.

[KnightWRX]

One thing is for sure, the mStand solves the problem people are having with the elevator. There's no way your Macbook can slide off the mStand because of the front bracket it has.

Both me and my GF have mStands, they're wonderful.

[Mr D]

http://www.insidemacgames.com/images/Rain_mStand_003_large.jpg


Can someone tell me why the temperatures don't start of at the same point?

SMH

[kimnkk]

I got both the mStand and Elevator the other day, and don't mind posting comparison pictures if people need them.

Temperature wise, no difference between either or a flat surface. Perhaps maybe there would be a difference if the ambient temperature didn't vary so much and i could keep an eye on the temperatures more often, but i'd imagine the elevator would be the best temperature wise.

The mStand has only a 2-3mm gap for air to go between the stand and the laptop. Stagant air is a good insulator so having this gap is worse than having no gap at all. The griffin would allow air to keep flowing through more freely because of the 6" gap between the laptop and the table.

Aesthetics wise, mStand hands down. The steeper angle looks far more appealing and gives the illusion of taking up less desk space. Also feels more secure as it is supported at the front as well.

I'm definitely using the mStand more often, if not all the time. The Griffin Elevator has just been sitting in its box since the day after i got them. :(

[akm3]

For what it is worth, I have the Mstand and it is gorgeous but my temperatures DO run higher than when the desk is flat.

When I'm trying to game in Windows XP, I crash much less quickly (black screen of death) on a flat hard surface then on the Mstand, which is quite disappointing.

[motox25]

Just got my mstand in today, I love it, it looks great, sturdy and does the job well. Pics to come =)

[Akira1980]

I use to use mStand, but then I needed a USB hub. So I got this.

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/notebook_products/stands/devices/3074&cl=us,en

It doesn't look as nice as mStand, but I like how it adds 4 extra USB hub. Just another option for those looking for notebook stands.