mTower

Honestly, I didn't think I'd be as impressed with this thing as I am. At first when I looked at this I thought, '$50 for a piece of aluminum? Are you kidding me?' But once I looked at similar/competing products, I decided this was the best option (for reasons I'll explain below) and after receiving and using it I seriously don't think I could be happier with this product. Short version? If you want a stand to keep your laptop in while you're not using it (or using it with an external display), this is absolutely the best thing to buy. For reference, I'm using this stand with a 15" Retina MacBook Pro Sturdy and completely stable, this stand does its job perfectly. The base has an adequately large surface area so that it will NOT just tip over unless you are pulling some serious shenanigans around your computer. It's also got a nice heft to it; you could almost call it heavy. On top of being a great design stability-wise, I think it looks really nice. It has a simple, functional aesthetic to it. I love the flat base surface, as it's a great place to set my phone and/or other small stuff I want around. And that's just the metal piece... The rubberurethane (or whatever) pieces on this product really complete the package. Whatever magic the material is made of, it's perfect. They placed it in all the appropriate places too, so there are no surfaces that your computer should normally contact that aren't covered with this stuff unless you're doing it wrong. It's not that mushy rubber that feels like used chewing gum (and usually dries out, becoming worthless over time), but it's not 'hard' rubber either. It's firm enough not to lose shape and let things get wobbly, but soft enough to cradle the somewhat fragile aluminum products it's meant to hold. Just the right amount of grip, too; you can actually place the MacBook into the stand, and turn the stand upside down(!) and it'll stay put. Only time will tell how well the material holds up to the wear & tear of daily life, but I'll update if there are issues. Seems absolutely great right now, though. The designers did a superb job with the measurements, too (at least with the 15" rMBP, which is the only laptop I've tested with). Fits literally perfectly with the appropriate inserts, for which they include a great variety (all of the "current" Apple laptops, as seen in the product's description). Including the 'base' rubber lip (with no laptop-specific insert) the stand can accommodate any laptop less than .98 inches thick. You shouldn't use the stand without the base lip to avoid the aluminum edges scratching things up, not to mention they're glued on. With all the inserts included, this stand would be great for any modern (thin) laptop so long as you like the aesthetic of it. Compared to its rivals, of which there are realistically very few, this stand ended up being the clear winner for me. First, I ruled out generic stands that seemed too small, flimsy, or otherwise inadequate (of which there are plenty). None of them seemed up to par, so to speak. It didn't have to be made specifically for my MacBook, be made of metal, or even be particularly pretty -- I just wanted something that would adequately do the job of holding the computer upright (to save space while using with an external monitor at my desk, or on a smallish table by my bed when I'm done with it at night). This Cooler Master L Stand doesn't really raise the computer off the desk much (which can be handy for accessing ports and managing cables) and it was also even MORE expensive ($65 at the time) than this Rain Design stand. Not to mention not looking very good, and having to slide the laptop in and out through a narrow gap could be inconvenient depending on the situation. It just seemed a very... lazy(?) design, as well. Pass. Then there's the obvious competitor, the Twelve South BookArc for MacBook Pro . Upon reading some of the top reviews, these BookArcs have a few minor design shortcomings, such as; not fitting the Retina MacBook Pros quite right (though others report this being a mistake by the reviewers, for what that's worth), the feet coming off under "normal" use (who knows), and the cord-management hooks not being big enough (subjective, but okay). The big thing that turned me away from the BookArcs, though, was that there are different models for different laptops. I have a MacBook Air floating around in my life from time to time (between me and business partners), and I didn't wanna have to A) pay that much for a separate stand for a seldom-used computer, or B) have more crap cluttering up my life than is necessary. This Rain Design mTower can accommodate virtually any laptop under an inch thick, and I'd feel confident that it'll be safe in the stand (even if I can't flip it upside down); but it also has inserts that will work specifically for the two most-encountered laptops in my life. That made the mTower practically perfect for me. Plus I just didn't much like the arc design of the BookArc for whatever reason. Guess I'm more used to straight edges with electronics or something? The only complaints I have about this mTower is that it's too expensive and that they don't have one for iPad/iPad Mini. Maybe something that is almost exactly the same, but half the size; this stand actually holds my iPad Air fairly well in landscape (the lip is just too high, so it covers the bottom of the screen a bit and the gap is a little too wide for tablets). Or better yet, an extra slot right in front of the laptop slot for iPads/tablets. Something along those lines. Would that be perfect? No. But I would absolutely buy it, and use it. Then I could have my MacBook and my iPad where I want them, but not taking up lots of space or having multiple stands hanging around. Rain Design, get on it! Seriously, though, this thing should be $40, not $50. It's a great product, and they deserve my money, but as a consumer I definitely feel like I'm being overcharged. At $40 I could still consider this a "premium" type of product, but also feel I got a somewhat reasonable deal. $30 feels like what it "should" be for such an item, but they obviously take advantage of their niche market (it is a product designed to be used with Apple laptops, after all). Guess ya can't really blame them; for all I know they'd sell less at a lower price. Oh well. That said, I'm gonna buy another so I have one at my desk and by my bed. It's worth it (even at $50) not to have to carry the stand back and forth all the time. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone with a laptop that'll fit inside it, especially if it's a MacBook. This mTower by Rain Design works great, and looks great. It is great. Hope you found this review helpful. Always vote on reviews however you feel is appropriate; it only takes a second. Have a great day! : )

When I first saw the $50 price tag, I was a bit hesitant. But I knew that out of all the options available on Amazon, this was what I was looking for. I reluctantly placed my order but thanks to prime I got it in 2 days. When I first opened the package it was clear that this thing screams quality. It is made out of a single piece of aluminum, just like the 13" MacBook Pro Retina it was destined to hold. It has these special little inserts that you have to install based on which Mac you have, but I believe it covers all of the current models, as well as those produced within the last 5 years. I have a plastic case on my computer which makes it a bit thicker than if it were to be barebones. This made me a little weary about whether it would fit inside the inserts. However, I put in the 13" MacBook Pro w Retina ones (the ones for my model computer) and it still fits. It doesn't quite go as far into the slot as it would without the case, but it is still sturdy and looks good. This thing saves me tons of space on my desk and helps keep my workspace clean and tidy. The computer stays cooler as well, being held up in the air. I use a 4K monitor with my computer so I was worried about plugging it in. I was previously using an HDMI cable which is on the opposite side of the MagSafe power port (which has to be plugged in to output video while the kid is closed). This was a simple fix as I just purchased a $3 HDMI to Thunderbolt adapter which means I can now plug in all three cords on the same side (USB hub, monitor, power cable) keeping things looking good. All in all I am very happy with this purchase. $50 is a bit much but I would gladly pay it again considering the level of craftsmanship that obviously went into this product. Yeah there are cheaper alternatives out there, but they aren't nearly as well made. I'm keen to voting with my wallet, and the Raindesign mTower deserves all 50 of them.

I bought this stand as an alternative to the Twelve South BookArc, which was out of stock at the time I was interested in clearing up some desk space. It looked like a reasonable alternative and was similarly priced as the BookArc, so what the heck, I went for it. I always read reviews before buying something like this, naturally focusing on the negatives. Several readers mentioned a diminishing of their WiFi reception and what they considered to be the over-tight fit. I have a 15-inch Macbook Pro (an older one, not the Retina display version). When setting up the stand, which requires the insertion of rubber-like tabs specific to each of the Macbook species, I initially grabbed the Retina tabs before noting on their label that they weren't relevant to my computer. That was my fault as each of the options is clearly labeled for its computer type. After applying the correct tabs, my computer slipped into place where it was held quite rigidly in its elegant vertical position. The laptop mounts stiffly in place, and the motion you can induce in it by taking hold at the top of the computer with thumb and forefinger is no more that 0.25 inch. That is not slack, it is just the elasticity in the tabs. I was very impressed that it is held so rigidly. At the same time, though, I found it not at all a struggle to remove it from the stand when needed. If I had mistakenly used the Retina tabs, it would have been a different story as those tabs are thicker and would have very firmly clutched the computer if you forced your machine in place. So, be sure to use the appropriate mounting tabs. As for WiFi reception, our wireless router is located downstairs from my upstairs office and at the other end of the house. I still have five bars of reception, and a few measurements of bandwidth speed using Ookla with the computer in and out of the stand showed no significant different in performance. That's not to say that the complaints in this regard are mistaken, it may be that our cable provider slipped up and gave us a high-quality router. Overall, this is an excellent product with a finish and quality that nicely matches those of Apple products. I'm a big fan of Anker gadgets, and this Rain Design stand from mTower is right up there with Anker in terms of quality. I do agree, though, with at least one reviewer who felt the price is about 20% higher than it should be.

I'm a satisfied owner of the Rain Design mStand. Excellent product. I changed my work environment and needed a more space saving stand for my 15 in. MacBookPro. I looked at other options and felt the mTower was the right choice. My experience with the mStand definitely played a role. The mTower delivers on all its promises. The fit is snug. There's hardly any wobble when the computer is inserted. The base, though space saving, is large enough to provide a very sturdy solution. I have no concerns about the computer falling or tipping over. The rubberized guides and borders protect the MacBook casing. I've noticed no marring of the computer case and I've removed it from the Tower often enough to get a handle on that type of concern. Take the necessary care in this regard and it's unlikely you'll have a problem. I appreciate the overall build quality and design. The open slit in the bottom of the cradle where the computer rests provides the necessary air flow to keep the computer from overheating. the mTower makes an attractive statement should aesthetics play a big factor in your decision. The only potential drawback is the lack of cable management. The fact that cables simply hang from the computer could bother some people. I don't use a lot cables, so it's no big deal. Besides, my monitor hides the arrangement. Of course, a careful look at the design would indicate this potential issue, so it shouldn't come as a surprise or drawback to someone who's done their homework.

Very nice & stylish looking. Seems well made. Rubber adapters come with it to fit it to various laptops. The adapters for the MacBook Air 13" are supposed to work for all models including 2020, but the 2020 M1 model doesn't fit. However... it's possible to pry those out and replace adapters, and the MacBook Pro 13"(2020)/14"(2021) fit ok. The fit is snug and when taking the Air out, there's a tendency for the stand to lift up with it and then fall back, but I expect that will improve over time as the adapters dry out and get less sticky.

As an Apple user, I expect anything else that I use with my MB Pro Retina must be well designed and this MTower stand delivers. First it looks like something Jon Ive designed himself. It looks great beside my Apple Thunderbolt display. I tried the BookArc from twelveSouth and quickly returned and bought this one instead for one reason. The BookArc looks great but it puts a grease or dents in my MB Pro simply because the rubber parts come into contact with my wrapsol skin that I have on the MacBook. This is what I called bad design. I even emailed them about it and quickly got a reply back with the usual, "thank you for your input, bla bla, please go away now". Back to the MTower. It looks great (I said that already). It is super stable and holds my beloved piece of art quite well. I only have 2 cables hooking to it so cable management is not needed. I even drilled a hole on my desk and use a grommet, a cap for the drilled hole, so the 2 cables go straight down into the desk, without the mess. The stand is well padded with rubber parts that protect from scratches. The top rubber parts don't create any kind of greases on my wrapsol skin. The bottom also is rubberized so no parts of my awesome MBP are in contact with metal. The bottom sides are well ventilated so the heat can escape upward no problem. My MBP is running much cooler since it is no longer laying flat on my desk. I got so many compliments from folks. One said to me "I love how Apple creates beautiful products, even their stand looks beautiful". I don't bother correcting him. I just smile and say thank you. Thank you Rain Design for a very very nice product.

I trying to think of negative things to write about for this product, I was hard pressed to come up with anything. It's just a stand for holing a laptop vertically, which it does as advertised (I'm using a MacBook Air with it). From that standpoint of build quality and design, I really can't knock that either. It's solid aluminum and the design is really nice. It does have small footprint, but is extremely stable. I've never had it even being to tip over when occasionally knocked. The stand also comes with various rubber pads that get inserted into the stand to match the width of various types of MacBooks. This makes a very secure and snug fit. If you select the correct pads to use, there is no change your MacBook is coming out of this stand unless you grab it and pull it out. So it is top notch in materials, build quality, design, and function. Even though the price seems high for a something that just holds a laptop, I have to say I feel like I am getting what I paid for, so the price is justified.

Bought one of these originally for my laptop as I have a Lenovo Slim design. Bought one for my workstation and although a little bit snug it still does the job intended. This is my third purchase for my hubby’s new laptop. Highly recommend.