Logitech Alto Cordless Notebook Stand (Review and Video)

Logitech’s announcing the Alto Cordless Notebook Stand later today. The latest notebook stand in the Alto line features a wireless keyboard, making it a simple We got our hands on an early review unit and think it’s a great solution for anyone looking for a simple docking solution that can be set up nearly anywhere.

The Logitech Alto Cordless Stand is easy to setup. Simply unlatch the riser portion of the stand, snap it into place, connect a single USB cable and you’re ready to go.

If you’re on your notebook for several hours a day or use your notebook on a low surface such as a coffee table, you should really consider purchasing a stand. Raising your notebook forces you to have better posture and using a full sized keyboard can be easier on your hands and wrists.

The cordless keyboard is a great improvement over Logitech’s previous Alto model that included an attached keyboard. The cordless keyboard minimizes the amount of surface you need to set up the stand and offers more comfort and flexibility. The keyboard has a numeric keypad and a padded palm rest. Media controls and hotkeys make it easier to navigate through your favorite applications. It runs on a pair of AAA batteries.

The stand has three non-powered USB 2.0 ports, turning it into somewhat of a docking solution. This makes it more convenient to connect to your peripherals, but if any of them require a powered USB port, you’ll have to opt for a $20 AC adapter. This is something I think Logitech should bundle with the stand.

The Logitech Alto Cordless Notebook Stand folds into a very small, compact package for easy storage. This is great for students, or anyone with multi-purpose live/work space.

Logitech Alto Cordless Notebook Stand

While I was impressed with the stand’s design overall I wish Logitech would’ve made the angle of the riser adjustable. It’s set at 45-degrees, which is fine for most notebooks, but too sharp of angle for some of the latest popular consumer notebooks. The HP Pavilion 6500 series and the latest MacBook Pros have screens that won’t open at a wide enough angle, meaning you’ll have to prop the stand back slightly if you want your screen to be perfectly vertical.

As with most all Logitec products we see the packaging and build quality of the Alto Cordless Notebook Stand is excellent. It will be available through most major electronics retailers starting in September for $99 and comes with a five-year warranty.

Logitech Alto Cordless Notebook Stand

Tags: accessories, logitech

Comments

Taarik

Conceptually, the Alto Cordless is a nice product. In reality, I would bet that it is the worst product ever released by Logitech.

I currently own the Cordless Desktop Pro and recently bought one of the new Laser wireless desktop sets for my mom, as I am a Logitech fan.

However, the Alto cordless fails in a big way at two of its claims: cordless capability and the USB hub.

The cordless is simply horrible. Sometimes (2-3 times per page of text), while typing, the keyboard will stop responding and will instead clone the last letter multiple times, e.g. baddddddddddddddddddd

Regarding the USB, I connect a USB corded mouse and a Blackberry phone to the keyboard. When my laptop goes into a low-power mode (not sleep or standby, just a lower-power mode), it seems that the USB connection breaks and needs resetting. In order to reset, I have to shutdown my laptop and power-down the Alto. I think it may be a compatibility issue with Vista Business. It has caused blue screens once in a while.

If Logitech would give me a decent trade-in opportunity to get this out of my hands, I would take it in a heartbeat. Otherwise, I am stuck until I decide to spend bucks to find a replacement.

bineet

nice post .these stand looking to smart

John Greer

As I already have a Logitech ALTO notebook stand-which is excellent- I would like to know if you have a wireless mouse that will work with it?

Xavier

John, any wireless mouse from Logitech, Kensington, etc. will work with it. If your notebook has Bluetooth you can get a Bluetooth mouse so you won't have to use a USB adapter for your wireless mouse.

john

i like this and the idock.you could visit at:www.idock.com.cn

Xavier

The receiver is built into the notebook stand, so you must plug the Alto Cordless Notebook Stand into your notebook for the keyboard. You could put your notebook off to the side, but it'd still need to be plugged in, which would be kind of a mess. I'd suggest getting a wireless keyboard instead of this stand/wireless keyboard combo for your situation.

Tom Gorman

Will the key board work independently of the stand? Or must the lap top be pluged into the stand for the wireless keyboard to work? Where is the receiver for the key board. For example, if yo wanted to use this model in bed, using an external monitor ( ie... tv), can the laptop be set to the side or away from the bed.

Tks,

Tom