As the owner of an adjustable laptop table for a few years now, I’m more than aware of the laptop desk pros and cons. Unfortunately, this information is camouflaged by flashy sales pages, and they are sold as wonder products. But do they live up to the hype? Let’s divulge the good, the bad and the ugly right here!
In a hurry? Here’s a link to the Ergotron products which I recommend due to their high quality and strong ergonomic features: Ergotron products
According to experts, bending your neck to look at your screen can place between 27 – 49 pounds of force on your neck. Source
Laptop Desk Pros And Cons
Laptop desks boast many advantages, the primary benefit being that they can immediately improve your posture, even if you’re on a limited budget. However, they also have some disadvantages which could be restrictive to your ability to work or use the laptop tray. In general, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
These laptop desk pros and cons are provided in the table below.
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Advantages of laptop desks |
Disadvantages of laptop desks |
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Laptop desks provide a better posture |
Laptop desks have a limited work space |
|
Laptop desks provide more comfort |
Laptop desks are limited in ergonomic capabilities |
|
Lap desks help prevent toasted leg syndrome |
Laptop desks may not be suited to left-handed people |
|
Laptop desks allow fans to work unobstructed | |
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Laptop desks can be used for alternative purposes | |
|
Lap desks are more cost-efficient | |
|
Laptop tables are portable |
Advantages of laptop desks
- Laptop desks provide a better posture
- Laptop desks provide more comfort
- Lap desks help prevent toasted leg syndrome
- Laptop desks allow fans to work unobstructed
- Laptop desks can be used for alternative purposes
- Lap desks are more cost-efficient
- Laptop tables are portable
Disadvantages of laptop desks
- Laptop desks have a limited work space
- Laptop desks are limited in ergonomic capabilities
- Laptop desks may not be suited to left-handed people
Advantages of laptop desks
Laptop desks provide a better posture
Lap desks help to elevate the screen of the laptop. This means that when you’re sitting at a desk, or even on the sofa or floor, the laptop screen is more likely to be closer to eye level. Therefore, you are craning your neck less to look down at the screen.
As a professional with years of experience assessing the workstation of office workers, I know far too well how vulnerable the back is to injury.
Therefore, if that’s with a proper workstation, can you imagine how much wear and tear you are imposing on your back by being hunched over a laptop?
For me, and thousands of others, the primary benefit of a laptop desk is that it gives me a better posture so that I can protect my back from unnecessary pain and agonizing discomfort!
Related: How To Choose A Laptop Desk? 12 Expert Tips & Dos & Dont’s!
Laptop desks provide more comfort
Nursing a laptop on your knees can become tiring after a while. Furthermore, hunched over your laptop for hours on end is going to be agony for everybody. Since the laptop is supported at a better height, you can adopt a more comfortable posture while you use the device.
Additionally, if you are in bed, on the sofa, or even on the floor, the weight of the laptop will be supported by the lap desk as opposed to your knees.
This saves you having to bend your knees in a certain angle for you to see it.
Lap desks help prevent toasted leg syndrome
Toasted leg syndrome is a condition where your skin turns a different color as a result of a rash or a burn from the heat on your body. A very common problem is where people are resting the laptop on their thighs for hours.
The heat from the laptop radiates onto their legs and can result in a burn.
By placing the laptop on a lap cushion or lap desk, this acts as a barrier and prevents the heat from coming into contact with your body.
Laptop desks allow fans to work unobstructed
When resting your laptop on your body or even on a couch or bed, there is a risk of these materials obstructing the fan. This could cause the fans to become blocked and the laptop to overheat.
The beauty with a laptop desk is that it enables the fans to perform unobstructed.
Tip: Some laptop desk even come equipped with a built-in fan to help keep the laptop cool.
Laptop desks can be used for alternative purposes
While they are sold as a device to hold your laptop, laptop desks can often be used for a variety of alternative functions. Laptop desks can be used as:
- Breakfast or dinner tray
- Table to hold light objects, e.g., glass of water beside the couch
- A book holder while reading
- A table for writing on
Lap desks are more cost-efficient
Many people are working from home under poor ergonomic conditions. Often you won’t have the money or receive approval from your Manager to purchase a full size standing desk or even a normal desk for that matter.
A laptop desk is a much more budget-friendly option which can be used to vastly improve your posture and comfort while you work.
Although it won’t offer the same level as a desk, it goes a long way to keeping your body in a more neutral posture for a fraction of the cost!
Related: What Is A Laptop Desk? – Ultimate Beginners Guide & FAQs!
Laptop tables are portable
Due to their compact and lightweight design, lap desks are extremely portable. Lap desks usually weigh no more than 2.89 – 7 pounds. They can be used in multiple areas of a room, floor or even in different buildings altogether.
This means that you could transport it between home and the office if you so wished!
I personally use my laptop desk both in bed and at my work desk!
Often you won’t have the space to fit a full-sized standing desk or even a normal desk for that matter. This is where lap desks also come in useful.
Recommended product: Ergotron Neo-Flex Laptop Cart
I’ve also reviewed it here: Ergotron Neo-Flex laptop cart review
Disadvantages of laptop desks
Laptop desks have a limited work space
Height adjustable laptop desks are of a compact nature and dimensions can vary depending on the size of laptop desk that you opt for. This both works as an advantage and disadvantage in some instances.
If you are used to working from a desk and you are trying to compress your activities onto a laptop desk, this may create some difficulty for you.
Lap desks tend to offer enough space for the laptop to fit comfortably. Sometimes, lap desks will feature a mouse tracking pad or separate mouse pad.
However, if you wish to review documents or store miscellaneous pieces of stationery or equipment, don’t expect a laptop desk to offer anything too extensive.
Also, if you wish to use a separate keyboard, you will need to have a desk to use it at. However, from an ergonomic perspective, this is considered best practice anyway!
Laptop desks are limited in ergonomic capabilities
Previously, I highlighted the ergonomic advantages of adjustable laptop desks. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that there are limitations to the ergonomic capabilities of laptop stands.
This is particularly evident if you are working from a laptop cushion desk.
Laptop desks with cushions have minimal ergonomic features and so it’s difficult to adjust the laptop to suit your neutral posture.
Furthermore, if you’re a taller or shorter user, laptop stands may not be fully capable of meeting your height requirements. You may need to manipulate the work environment to suit.
For instance, stacking some books under a laptop desk cushion or working from a higher desk with the laptop desk placed on top of it.
The best type of laptop desk for ergonomics is a height adjustable laptop table desk.
Either way, a laptop desk will be almost guaranteed to give you a far better posture than your current setup.
Laptop desks may not be suited to left-handed people
Most laptop tables either come with a mouse pad or a built-in mouse tracking pad. In some cases, the mouse pad or tracking pad can only be used on the right-hand side.
This is likely to pose an issue to users who are left-handed.
Fortunately, some mouse pads can be used on either the left or right side of the laptop tray. If you are left-handed, pay attention to this when choosing your product!
Conclusion
Theres’s no denying that laptop desks can enhance your comfort and posture to no end. Overall, the advantages of a laptop desk far outweigh the disadvantages.
If you set any value whatsoever on your back and your health, then investing in furniture to improve your posture will be a no-brainer! It doesn’t take a genius to know that 49 pounds of force on your neck is far too much and is likely to lead to injury!
Plus, laptop desks are an excellent budget-friendly alternative to sit-stand desk converters and standing desks!
I use my laptop tray every single day and I’ve owned it now for over a year!
Click here to see why I love my laptop desk: Sit stand height adjustable desk – Newoer Ultra Large Adjustable Laptop Table Desk
Although they don’t offer the same level of ergonomics and space as a standing desk, they are a more compact, affordable and portable option which you’re bound to make plenty of use of.
Do you own a laptop tray or are you considering investing in one?
I’d love to hear your feedback and any queries that you may have! Please leave them in the comments box below and I’ll be sure to get back to you!
