Picked up a new accessory today and thought I'd put up a first look review on it as I haven't seen much out there yet that detailed this one: ThoughtOut's new Stabile Pro pivoting model.
http://amzn.com/B005H3B4KU
There are a lot of stands on the market currently that are designed for either the original iPad or specifically for the iPad 2. In the year+ I've had an iPad, like most of us, I've picked up quite a few accessories both cheap and expensive, including two other stands: the TwelveSouth BookArc and the GroovyStand. The BookArc is my primary "charging station" at night; the GroovyStand, with its lack of versatility and poor access to the home button, is rarely used. Both are designed for a caseless iPad, which can be a nuisance if you regularly use a case of any kind, especially a book style one.
My goal in finding a new stand was simple--I have an upcoming project that requires a significant amount of time keyboarding in front of the iPad, and my neck simply won't take looking down any longer! LOL I needed a stand that would elevate the iPad to a level for comfortable viewing while typing on an external keyboard, which narrowed the field far more than I would have expected. Apparently, most manufacturers don't think we need to have our iPads raised more than an inch or two above our work surfaces, which is pretty bad ergonomically for anyone with neck issues. Portability wasn't a priority in this situation, as I have the Incase Origami Workstation which doubles as a stand for keyboarding needs outside the house.
Additionally, when it comes to accessories, I've become a bit jaded. Most of us change out our devices at least every two years--possibly every year--and accessories aren't cheap. Given the choice between two relatively equivalent items, I'll pick the one that is future-proof as possible. Several options for stands were eliminated due to this factor, as they were fitted with frames or retaining arms sized specifically for the current model iPads.
In the end, it came down to either the original Stabile model, or the new Pro. I couldn't find anything else that fit the height criteria as well, and very little that fit the "future-proof" requirement.
The original Stabile stand has been out for a while, and is generally well regarded overall both in web/video reviews and those found on Amazon. The major complaints I saw were a lack of a adjustability for screen angle, and a general sense that the product might be overpriced. With the new model, ThoughtOut has addressed the first issue, adding a ball joint to the frame to allow the user to position the angle of your iPad. The already high price, as might be expected, was significantly increased due to this new feature, and that increase is sizable enough on an already pricey product that I hesitated over the decision for several days before opting for the Pro model due to concerns about reflection from overhead lighting in my office.
I went with the silver, to match the Apple Wireless Keyboard and other accessories. There were a few comments on the original model about the surface being somewhat rough; either I'm not seeing that or they've improved it, because the finish on mine is well done with almost no visible blemishes, and is smooth to the touch. The color is similar enough to the aluminum Apple Wireless keyboard to not cause distraction, under both natural (gloomy) daylight and compact fluorescent lighting. Overall, the stand is well built and very clean looking, attractive enough even without an iPad sitting on it. My only construction complaint is the plastic sheaths used on the ends of the "X" frame that holds the iPad; the black color against the silver is a bit annoying, and would be more so with a white iPad. Clear would have been a better choice. The plastic does address another common complaint with the original Stabile, which apparently has foam pads that were problematic in early models. These sheaths will protect the iPad from the frame, inhibit unwanted movement of the device, and it's unlikely in the extreme they'll ever fall off or wear through.
The pivoting ball joint works very smoothly so far. Instructions on how to loosen and tighten it are included, but even without them the mechanism is pretty obvious to anyone who has used a similar joint before. The iPad, seated on the frame, tilts easily into place and stays there without difficulty. It will be interesting to see how it behaves over time as these joints often loosen, but at first glance it seems very well constructed.
The height is perfect for me, which is good because it's not adjustable. The base of the iPad sits about 4 3/4" above the work surface, with a small amount of positional change depending on the tilt used. In portrait orientation, that puts the top of the iPad some 13-14" above the desk. I can see where this would be terrific for using FaceTime or Skype handsfree. For any serious typing, it's marvelous, because I'm no longer craning my neck. And it's a really nice height just for viewing video in landscape.
Stability-wise, well, as the name says, it's very stable. Tapping on the screen is a non issue with only a slight vibration, and zero sense that the iPad might fall from its lofty perch. In portrait mode, the X of the frame comes 3/4 of the way up the iPad's back, providing plenty of support. The plastic covered feet will keep even a naked iPad from sliding anywhere. As for a cased iPad, I suspect most cases will work just fine with this stand; an original iPad in a Yoobao Slim case fit squarely on the feet both with the cover tucked completely behind it, and with the cover simply opened to one side (or flipped back over the top of the stand in landscape, home button to the left). I'll test again tonight with my husband's M-Edge Executive, which is a bit thicker, but I don't anticipate any problems. The thinner iPad 2 should have no trouble with nearly any case.
(As with some other stands, if you are going to use landscape orientation with an iPad 1, having the home button on the left and centering the device on the support feet will put pressure on the volume rocker switch. However, in my usage so far, the Stabile Pro is well balanced enough that you can shift the device slightly to your right to avoid this problem, and your device is still seated firmly enough to work with.)
So with all that, what's the issue?
Price. I think the current price dramatically limits the viable audience for this product.
At $99 shipped from Amazon--or even the $3 less charged if you buy directly from the manufacturer--it's easily the most expensive stand I've seen for the iPad so far, and by a significant amount. Most people running an "iPad stand" search on Amazon are going to skip right past this one to the similarly shaped elago P2 at a third the price, or one of the several folding stands from well known brands such as Griffin or Belkin. If there had been ANY other choice for less money that gave me the height this one does, without forcing me into a frame that might not work with the next iPad model, I would have bought it. As it was, the only reason I could swallow the price was that I had enough Amazon Rewards points to cut it down to $60. At that price, I could more readily recommend it to anyone looking for a desk stand as a good value versus cost. At the current price, it's a specialty item for those who really need that extra height on a daily basis and want the tilt aspect to ward off reflections. (Going with the black instead of silver or white will save you $15 on Amazon currently. Skipping the tilt function and buying the original Stabile will save you even more.)
The good news is, it should in theory work fine with future models unless they're significantly narrower than the current iPads, allowing you to amortize the expense over a few generations of tablets. Obviously, I can't vouch for its durability yet, but it appears well made enough that unless the ball joint fails over time, you shouldn't have to worry about it surviving a number of years.
Overall, 4 stars. It'd be a 5 if they weren't quite so expensive.
http://amzn.com/B005H3B4KU
There are a lot of stands on the market currently that are designed for either the original iPad or specifically for the iPad 2. In the year+ I've had an iPad, like most of us, I've picked up quite a few accessories both cheap and expensive, including two other stands: the TwelveSouth BookArc and the GroovyStand. The BookArc is my primary "charging station" at night; the GroovyStand, with its lack of versatility and poor access to the home button, is rarely used. Both are designed for a caseless iPad, which can be a nuisance if you regularly use a case of any kind, especially a book style one.
My goal in finding a new stand was simple--I have an upcoming project that requires a significant amount of time keyboarding in front of the iPad, and my neck simply won't take looking down any longer! LOL I needed a stand that would elevate the iPad to a level for comfortable viewing while typing on an external keyboard, which narrowed the field far more than I would have expected. Apparently, most manufacturers don't think we need to have our iPads raised more than an inch or two above our work surfaces, which is pretty bad ergonomically for anyone with neck issues. Portability wasn't a priority in this situation, as I have the Incase Origami Workstation which doubles as a stand for keyboarding needs outside the house.
Additionally, when it comes to accessories, I've become a bit jaded. Most of us change out our devices at least every two years--possibly every year--and accessories aren't cheap. Given the choice between two relatively equivalent items, I'll pick the one that is future-proof as possible. Several options for stands were eliminated due to this factor, as they were fitted with frames or retaining arms sized specifically for the current model iPads.
In the end, it came down to either the original Stabile model, or the new Pro. I couldn't find anything else that fit the height criteria as well, and very little that fit the "future-proof" requirement.
The original Stabile stand has been out for a while, and is generally well regarded overall both in web/video reviews and those found on Amazon. The major complaints I saw were a lack of a adjustability for screen angle, and a general sense that the product might be overpriced. With the new model, ThoughtOut has addressed the first issue, adding a ball joint to the frame to allow the user to position the angle of your iPad. The already high price, as might be expected, was significantly increased due to this new feature, and that increase is sizable enough on an already pricey product that I hesitated over the decision for several days before opting for the Pro model due to concerns about reflection from overhead lighting in my office.
I went with the silver, to match the Apple Wireless Keyboard and other accessories. There were a few comments on the original model about the surface being somewhat rough; either I'm not seeing that or they've improved it, because the finish on mine is well done with almost no visible blemishes, and is smooth to the touch. The color is similar enough to the aluminum Apple Wireless keyboard to not cause distraction, under both natural (gloomy) daylight and compact fluorescent lighting. Overall, the stand is well built and very clean looking, attractive enough even without an iPad sitting on it. My only construction complaint is the plastic sheaths used on the ends of the "X" frame that holds the iPad; the black color against the silver is a bit annoying, and would be more so with a white iPad. Clear would have been a better choice. The plastic does address another common complaint with the original Stabile, which apparently has foam pads that were problematic in early models. These sheaths will protect the iPad from the frame, inhibit unwanted movement of the device, and it's unlikely in the extreme they'll ever fall off or wear through.
The pivoting ball joint works very smoothly so far. Instructions on how to loosen and tighten it are included, but even without them the mechanism is pretty obvious to anyone who has used a similar joint before. The iPad, seated on the frame, tilts easily into place and stays there without difficulty. It will be interesting to see how it behaves over time as these joints often loosen, but at first glance it seems very well constructed.
The height is perfect for me, which is good because it's not adjustable. The base of the iPad sits about 4 3/4" above the work surface, with a small amount of positional change depending on the tilt used. In portrait orientation, that puts the top of the iPad some 13-14" above the desk. I can see where this would be terrific for using FaceTime or Skype handsfree. For any serious typing, it's marvelous, because I'm no longer craning my neck. And it's a really nice height just for viewing video in landscape.
Stability-wise, well, as the name says, it's very stable. Tapping on the screen is a non issue with only a slight vibration, and zero sense that the iPad might fall from its lofty perch. In portrait mode, the X of the frame comes 3/4 of the way up the iPad's back, providing plenty of support. The plastic covered feet will keep even a naked iPad from sliding anywhere. As for a cased iPad, I suspect most cases will work just fine with this stand; an original iPad in a Yoobao Slim case fit squarely on the feet both with the cover tucked completely behind it, and with the cover simply opened to one side (or flipped back over the top of the stand in landscape, home button to the left). I'll test again tonight with my husband's M-Edge Executive, which is a bit thicker, but I don't anticipate any problems. The thinner iPad 2 should have no trouble with nearly any case.
(As with some other stands, if you are going to use landscape orientation with an iPad 1, having the home button on the left and centering the device on the support feet will put pressure on the volume rocker switch. However, in my usage so far, the Stabile Pro is well balanced enough that you can shift the device slightly to your right to avoid this problem, and your device is still seated firmly enough to work with.)
So with all that, what's the issue?
Price. I think the current price dramatically limits the viable audience for this product.
At $99 shipped from Amazon--or even the $3 less charged if you buy directly from the manufacturer--it's easily the most expensive stand I've seen for the iPad so far, and by a significant amount. Most people running an "iPad stand" search on Amazon are going to skip right past this one to the similarly shaped elago P2 at a third the price, or one of the several folding stands from well known brands such as Griffin or Belkin. If there had been ANY other choice for less money that gave me the height this one does, without forcing me into a frame that might not work with the next iPad model, I would have bought it. As it was, the only reason I could swallow the price was that I had enough Amazon Rewards points to cut it down to $60. At that price, I could more readily recommend it to anyone looking for a desk stand as a good value versus cost. At the current price, it's a specialty item for those who really need that extra height on a daily basis and want the tilt aspect to ward off reflections. (Going with the black instead of silver or white will save you $15 on Amazon currently. Skipping the tilt function and buying the original Stabile will save you even more.)
The good news is, it should in theory work fine with future models unless they're significantly narrower than the current iPads, allowing you to amortize the expense over a few generations of tablets. Obviously, I can't vouch for its durability yet, but it appears well made enough that unless the ball joint fails over time, you shouldn't have to worry about it surviving a number of years.
Overall, 4 stars. It'd be a 5 if they weren't quite so expensive.
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