Hands-on Review: Logitech Alto Laptop Stand

I've been looking for something like the Alto for a long time: A stand that props a laptop LCD up to a comfortable viewing height while not obscuring the keyboard (a design issue with many stands), and which I can use with any laptop I own. The Logitech Alto is just the ticket. With only a few minor complaints, it's a fine piece of hardware.

The Alto props up your laptop with a simple flip-up stand in the rear. You just rest the base of the laptop on the stand, against a rubberized foot that holds it in place. In front of the stand is a full-sized, integrated keyboard, complete with numeric keypad.

In the back of the Alto there's a USB plug that you hook into your laptop to allow the keyboard to work. It also includes three USB 2.0 plugs to work as a USB hub. I plugged my mouse into one of these, and it works perfectly. In addition to the standard keys, the Alto features volume controls, but these didn't work on my system (and the Alto includes no drivers disc that may enable them if plug and play fails, nor are there any drivers for the Alto online).

When you're done with the Alto, its genius really shines through. The stand collapses and the keyboard portion folds over the rear of the device, snapping shut with a nifty magnetic clasp and making it easy to take with you (well, as easy as toting a regular keyboard would be) and easy to store.

My only complaints with the Alto are pretty minimal: The styling of the letters on the keyboard makes them small and difficult to read at a glance. I use my laptop in a typically rather dark office, and it can be hard to tell one key from another if I'm not touch typing. The top row of keys is disappointingly not full-sized; the escape and function keys are all tiny chicklets. Finally, the keyboard action is a bit mushy and doesn't have the spring of higher-end keyboards. This may be something that I adapt to over time or which improves as the keyboard "loosens up."

For $100, this won't be an upgrade that everyone rushes out to buy, but already it's making a huge difference on my ergonomics when I use my laptop at my desk. Hunching over to look at the screen on the table just hasn't been doing much for my back, and I suddenly find I'm dealing with an entirely new way to work. It's quite surprising, and I will definitely be using the Alto on a daily basis.

Another caveat: The Alto supports laptops of up to nine pounds only, so if you've got a big bruiser (like some gaming notebooks), continue at your own peril.