Griffin Notebook Elevator Review

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by Gerald Edgecomb

If you are like me, you are constantly searching for ways to get more open space on your desk. Notebooks are great for portability, but even the smallest ones can take a chunk out of your desk space, and I have to find room for two! I wanted something that would raise the screen height while using my notebook on my desk and would also provide me with more space to store a second notebook. In my search for a solution I came across the Griffin Elevator, which retails for $39.99. The Elevator uses a U-shaped design so it not only raises the notebook to eye level, but also gives me the extra space I need by allowing me to put something underneath the notebook.

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The Griffin Elevator raises your notebook to create more space and provide better viewing

Design and Build

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The Griffin Elevator is designed to raise the notebook screen to eye level while you use an external keyboard and mouse. To achieve this, Griffin uses two U-shaped brushed aluminum arms that give a minimalist look, which works well with any notebook. The Elevator has a solid feel and uses two long strips of rubber to keep the notebook from sliding off the stand. Its open design also allows air to flow all around the notebook, keeping it cool. While Griffin uses the MacBook Pro in their promotional material, the Elevator is advertised to work with any notebook. By using the U-shaped design, Griffin has made it easier to clear up desk clutter by giving you room to store something under the notebook. I am using the extra space for my wife's Dell notebook, but it could accommodate many things like a keyboard or a few books. I really enjoy the design of the Elevator and thinks it adds to the look and functionality of my desk space.

MacBook Pro with a Dell stored underneath the Griffin Elevator (view large image)

In Use

With the Dell Inspiron 6000 on it the Elevator tilts slightly to the right due to the heaviness on the right side (view large image)

My first concern was how much the stand could hold. I knew it would take my 5.6 lbs MacBook Pro without trouble, but what about my wife's heavier Dell Inspiron 6000d? It holds well, but not quite as well as I had hoped. Apparently, the Inspiron is heavier on one side than the other, so one arm sags a little more. I would feel comfortable leaving it on there, but I am worried that over time one arm will get bent, leaving me with a lopsided stand. Not to mention I don't like looking at a screen that is a little tilted. At this point I was concerned about heavier notebooks on the stand. Not having a heavier notebook to test, I put 10 lbs. of textbooks on the stand, and it held up surprisingly well. The stand supported the weight with minimal flex.

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The Elevator raises the height of the notebook's screen by about 6 ½', providing a much more ergonomic monitor. Whether I am using the notebook by itself or using it as a secondary monitor, the extra height is much easier on my neck and back.

Conclusion

Overall, I like the Griffin Elevator. I think it does a good job of raising the screen to eye level, and gives me the extra space I need to store another notebook. It has a sturdy build, and as long as you have a fairly flat, evenly weighted notebook it should hold whatever you throw at it. I was able to get mine for $29.99 USD, but even at $39.99 USD it is a good deal for those looking for a way to raise their notebook monitor and get a little extra space while still being aesthetically pleasing.

Pros

• Attractive
• Sturdy

Cons

• May not work well with unevenly weighted notebooks.
• Works best with a flat bottom.
  

 

If I were to use this I'd need a wireless external keyboard. I like the idea of raising the monitor for better viewing, but I couldn't possibly type with the notebook on a stand like that -- I'm not sure if you're supposed to? Definitely big on having my arms at a comfortable level.

 

Well, I have usb mouse and keyboard. the idea of rasing notebook is pretty cool. I might get one of those. However, the ports of my laptop is on the side so... it'll leave a lot of wires hanging down on the side of the notebooks. The price 30$ is kinda high.. 20$ should be better. I wait for more of these to come out.

Nice photos too. Taken with 350D and a 50 mm lens, the lighting is good.

 

khanhfat, excuse me for being curious, but the 3Dmark scores in your signature... Memory clock is effective clock, so it's 350/350 out-of-the-box? But how can you push the memory clock to 466 (932 effective)??

 

The stand is designed with an external keyboard and mouse in mind, you could not type using the notebooks keyboard. I mainly use it in the fashion shown in last picture as a secondary monitor. I do use an external keyboard and mouse, but in an unusual way, I use a great open source program called Synergy, it is a virtual keyboard and mouse switch.

Thank you for the compliments on the pictures Khanfat! I had just purchased the "thrifty-fifty" and these are the first images I have taken with it.

 

Interesting product. It sure seems to fit the bill for what you were looking for, Gerald.

I must say that I really prefer to use my notebook on my desk, where I can put it up and away on the "monitor shelf" and back away from it using an external keyboard and mouse. The extra height does make it more comfortable than when I'm using the notebook away from my desk--when it's just closer and lower than I'm used to.

Something like this might be good for me, but I'd probably have one of the awkward saggers .

 

Your Dell is tilting because it is not level on the Griffin stand. It's not centered, hence the nice little lean it's got. =)

-Josh

 

I' want to buy one but i prefer lower price tag.... I stoped by a local compusa store and they ran out of stock on those.