by There are times you want to prop your iPad up for hands-free use, and a good stand lets you do just that. While there are plenty of portable iPad stands out there, stationary (or desktop) stands tend to be a bit sturdier and more stable. (See all our iPad-stand reviews.) I took a look at eight stands designed for the desktop or floor to see how they compare.
Before you buy a stand, it’s important to think about how and where exactly you plan to use your iPad. Are you looking for a solution for a business setting? Will you instead be using your iPad primarily in the kitchen, so you can follow a recipe or watch a video while you cook? Or are you looking for a couch companion, to relax with an e-book or movie? Each of these stands I tested will suit different needs, so keep your needs in mind as you read along.
Arkon Tab-Stand 1 and 2
Arkon Tab-Stand2
The Arkon Tab-Stand (3 of 5 rating) comes in two sizes; the $90 Tab-Stand1 (also known as the “4″ Extending iPad Floor Stand with Quick Release Holder”), designed to be set on the ground like a podium stand, and the $40 Tab-Stand2 (also known as the “10″ iPad & iPad Mini Table Stand with Quick Release Holder”), intended for tabletop use. The design of both versions is the same—which size you choose is just a matter of how you plan to use your iPad.
The Arkon stands are made of plastic and metal, and they accommodate any size iPad, including the mini. (It also fits other brands of tablets.) However, the stands hold a full-sized iPad only in portrait mode. That said, the stand’s cradle is quite adaptable, letting you keep your iPad in a non-bulky case; you can adjust the height of the cradle and iPad angle (from roughly vertical to 45 degrees from vertical). The stands’ cradle doesn’t block any ports or buttons.
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