Stacked Laptop Monitor

post by jefftk (jkaufman) · 2024-01-26T14:10:05.297Z · LW · GW · 5 comments

A few weeks ago I broke my laptop's screen and was speculating on whether putting a portable monitor above the screen would do what I wanted. The hope was that it would let me set up a laptop where both my wrists and neck were in comfortable positions. It does!

The monitor is a 1080p model that gets it's power and video signal over USB-C. It's screwed to an aluminum plate with M4 VESA screws, which is connected to another plate with butler tray hinges:

Then the bottom plate velcros to the back of the laptop screen:

I probably should have gotten some kind of hinge that locks, but since I didn't I cut a piece of wood to chock it:

I should sort out something sturdier and harder to lose.

It folds up, with the portable monitor's cover protecting the screen:

It still fits in my backpack's laptop pocket, but only just.

I tried it on the airplane yesterday, and it's so much better ergonomically!

It also doesn't need the chock, since to fold up the seat in front of me would need to not be there.

There are a few downsides, though:

• I need to be careful to position it so all the forces are aligned, and only use it in places where it's not going to get jostled. Building a kickstand (which all the others seem to have) would probably help a lot with this.

• If you use it in a meeting you can't see the person across from you:

  

• If you're nine it's probably too high for you:

  

I've only used it a bit, but so far I'm very happy with it. I'm composing this post on it while traveling, and it's way more comfortable.

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