JustMobile AluBase Upright MacBook Stand for MacBook Review

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Gear Diary Just Mobile AluBase

Sometimes simplicity is best. That the case with JustMobile’s AluBase and AluRack stands for the MacBook family of notebooks. Each holds your MacBook in an uncomplicated manner and allows you to connect it to an external monitor, keyboard and mouse thereby using your notebook as a desktop computer.

Let’s take a look at the AluBase.

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From Just Mobile:

AluBase is the vertical stand for Apple MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. Crafted from a single piece of high-grade aluminium, the AluBase™ ships with soft plastic inserts to hold MacBook Pro, MacBook Pro Retina and Macbook Air firmly upright.

Conceived by the award-winning Danish designer Jakob Wagner, AluBase™ is designed to turn your MacBook into a desktop sculpture. It’s the most stylish solution for storing your iconic laptop, and an elegant way to use your MacBook with an external monitor and keyboard.

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In the box you will find the AluBase and two liners. In this case one, of the two liners is already positioned in place while the second sits in its own compartment. This is key since it allows the AluBase to accommodate both thicker and thinners MacBooks without needing to have a cumbersome adjustment system.

Features:

Iconic design

High-quality aluminium construction

Soft plastic inserts for MacBook Pro, Retina and Air

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The AulBase ships with the larger of the two inserts in place and, in order to accommodate my thin 15″ MacBook Pro with Retina Display, I needed to swap the smaller liner in the stand.

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It was an easy process.

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I simply unscrewed the two fasteners, pulled out the current liner, placed the second liner in and reconnected the screws. The entire process took all of 45 seconds and left me with an AluBase that was perfectly sized for the thinner MBP.

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The simplicity shows through here as well. The liner is smooth plastic that won’t harm the laptop. The AluBase is a fixed piece of hardware so there are no adjustments that need to be made. And the base has one height so it sits on the desk and… that’s it. That’s the idea.

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From there you put your MacBook into place, connect all you peripherals to it and get to work.

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This stock photo from JustMobile offers a sense of one way the AluBase can be used. This isn’t the only MacBook-as-desktop holder on the market, but it certainly stands out thanks to its simple design, stable base and small footprint. When Apple sees fit to release a Retina Display, I will, no doubt, be using the AluBase in exactly this manner. Until then, I can’t see using a screen with lower resolution even if it does mean I get 21″ of screen estate rather than 15″. That’s a bummer, since the AluBase would play a nice role in my desktop arrangement. You can learn more and order yours here.

MSRP: $49.95

What I Like: Simple; Nicely designed; Fits all sizes of MacBooks without moving parts; Swapping out liners is simple

What Needs Improvement: Nothing, the AluBase does what it promises — nothing more and nothing less.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

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About the Author

Dan Cohen
Having a father who was heavily involved in early laser and fiber-optical research, Dan grew up surrounded by technology and gadgets. Dan’s father brought home one of the very first video games when he was young and Dan remembers seeing a “pre-release” touchtone phone. (When he asked his father what the “#” and “*” buttons were his dad said, “Some day, far in the future, we’ll have some use for them.”) Technology seemed to be in Dan’s blood but at some point he took a different path and ended up in the clergy. His passion for technology and gadgets never left him. Dan is married to Raina Goldberg who is also an avid user of Apple products. They live in New Jersey with their golden doodle Nava.