$44.99

Adjustable monitor stand doubles as a USB 3.0 hub.

If your workspace is anything like mine, desktop space is at a premium. At one of my workstations in the office, I have an HP Ultrabook connected to a 24-inch monitor, but between the laptop, monitor, external keyboard and mouse, things have been more than a little cluttered. When I ran across the Satechi F3 Smart Monitor Stand, it was almost as if the product was made just for me: an adjustable monitor stand with four USB 3.0 ports as well as headphone/speaker jacks. I actually bought the product to see if it would bring a little order to my workspace.

Out of the Box

The Satechi F3 Smart Monitor Stand has a Mac-esque quality to it, which is not surprising since it was designed to support the iMac. The stand itself is white and measures nearly 22 inches across. On the front are four USB 3.0 ports as well as headphone and speaker jacks. On the bottom of the stand are the ports that you connect to your PC: speaker, headphone and USB. There are also foldout legs that you can insert the two aluminum alloy legs (included) into to adjust the height. With the aluminum legs attached, the stand weighs just less than four and a half pounds.

In the box, you will also find two audio cables, a USB 3.0 cable, two aluminum legs and rubber pads to protect your device and prevent sliding.

Setup

Setup is relatively easy. I began by plugging the USB 3.0 cable into my laptop, along with the headphone jack. I then attached these cables to the bottom of the stand. The stand draws power from your PC in order to power the four USB 3.0 ports. It is also worth mentioning that you need to connect the stand to a USB 3.0 port on your PC in order achieve the high-speed throughput offered by USB 3.0 (4.8 Gigabits per second). Even if your PC does not have a USB 3.0 port, the stand’s ports will still operate, but at the slower USB 2.0 throughput of 480 Megabits per second.

I adjusted the power settings on the laptop so that it would not power down or go into sleep mode when the lid was closed and slid it underneath the stand. I then set my 24-inch external monitor on top of the stand. This immediately freed up a considerable amount of space. In addition, since most laptops only have one or two USB ports, having the extra four ports on the stand meant I could get rid of the old port I was using, which took up additional space. I was then able to connect my external keyboard and mouse to the stand and still have ports for USB devices such as external hard drives or thumb drives. My laptop did not have any problem recognizing the devices and drives that were plugged into the stand’s USB ports.

As I mentioned, the stand comes with two detachable aluminum alloy legs. If you connect them directly to the bottom of the stand, they add approximately two inches. If you want to view the display at a higher level, you can fold down the extension legs and insert the aluminum legs into them, raising the stand 2.1 inches.

According to Satechi, the Smart Monitor Stand’s aluminum alloy legs can support up to 22 pounds. I would not think twice about that weight if I were connecting the legs directly to the stand. I am not sure the foldout extension legs would be able to support that much weight, nor would I risk it. The stand did not have any troubles with my Dell 24-inch monitor that weighs roughly 15 pounds.

Performance

Satechi positions the F3 Smart Monitor Stand as a way to simplify and organize your desktop, and it delivers with flying colors. It allowed me to free up valuable desktop space by letting me move my laptop underneath the stand while elevating my external monitor. It also tripled the number of USB ports I have at my disposal.

Overall

The Satechi F3 Smart Monitor Stand is one of the few products I have reviewed that I have actually bought. It solved a problem for me, which is one of the best things you can say about a product. At $45, I also think it is worth every penny. If you are trying to simplify your workspace or are looking to add USB ports, the Satechi F3 Smart Monitor Stand is worth a look. It has my unconditional recommendation.

Pros

• Allows you to simplify and organize your workspace
• Two preset heights
• Four USB 3.0 ports and headphone/microphone jacks

Cons

• Not recommended for 27-inch iMacs

Satechi F3 Smart Monitor Stand

$44.99 (Currently $44.99 from Amazon.com)