Logitech Alto Notebook Stand with Integrated Keyboard

Legacy | March 9, 2007 12:00 AM

INTRODUCTION

Having a notebook provides freedom to
work while traveling or from home. Although I have a
docking station, monitor, keyboard and mouse at
work, these items are not available when I travel or
when I work from home. Anyone who has studied
ergonomics knows that notebook computers are not
designed with comfort in mind. In fact, the
keyboards are usually cramped. Since a notebook
screen is often smaller than a regular monitor, you
usually have to strain to see, not to mention the
screen is hardly at an optimal height. This is the
situation I find myself in whenever I am working
away from work.
Logitech thinks they have the solution for people
like myself with their new Logitech Alto Notebook
Stand with Integrated Keyboard. Did it solve my
ergonomic woes? Read on to find out!

WHAT’S
HOT

Logitech has assembled a nice list
of features for the Alto:

Notebook
display riser
Comfort
keyboard
Folds in half
for storage
3-Port
hi-speed USB hub
Optional AC
adapter for the USB hub

SETUP

Logitech always has attractive packaging
and the Alto is no exception.

(images link
to high-resolution versions)

The
Alto comes in a keyboard-sized box that clearly
shows the features of the device.

When
you remove the Alto from the box, it is folded in
half.

Setup of the Alto is relatively painless. First, you
unfold the device.

Second, you press the release button which is
located in the center of this picture. You can then
lift the panel above the release button which is the
display stand.

When
you lift the display stand panel, you can see the
locking mechanism below it. The third step is to
fold the back of the stand and lock it into place.

Once
the stand is locked in place, the fourth step is to
place your notebook on the stand. The Alto will hold
notebooks weighing up to 9 pounds.

The last step is to plug the USB cable into a port
on your notebook. This activates both the built-in
hub and the keyboard. No drivers are needed, which
is especially nice. My workplace does not give me
administrator rights to my notebook, so I would not
be able to install a driver.

The only part that I found confusing was locking the
stand into place. You need to press the release
button to insert the stand into the lock. This is
certainly no deal-breaker… in fact, once you
figure it out, the stand locks in place very
securely. At no time did I worry that my notebook
was going to fall.

PRODUCT FEATURES

The keyboard of the Alto is full-featured
and contains all of the shortcut keys you would
expect to find on a modern keyboard.

The
keyboard is full-sized and has a nice wrist rest at
the bottom.

Although the keyboard is full-size, the key travel
(the distance the key moves when you press it) seems
to be about half-way between a desktop keyboard and
the notebook’s built-in keyboard. Although a desktop
keyboard’s key travel is deeper, I was much happier
with the Alto than with my notebook’s built-in
keyboard. I also really like having the number
pad… something I miss on my notebook’s built-in
keyboard.

The display stand raises the screen to just about
the right height. Most ergonomic experts will say
the top of the screen should be at or just below eye
level. Obviously, how close the Alto comes to this
depends on the size of your notebook. The Alto did a
good job with mine and I did not feel like I was
straining to see the screen. The screen was not too
far away, nor was it too close.

Another neat feature of the Alto is the built-in
3-port hi-speed USB hub. There is one port located
on the top right side of the device and two
additional ports along the top edge.

The
Alto has LEDs to show you if it is connected to your
notebook, if each USB port is active and the usual
keyboard lights for num lock and caps lock. You can
also lock the keyboard itself via a switch which
also has an LED.

If
the USB devices you plan to connect require
full-power USB ports, Logitech offers an optional AC
adapter for the Alto. This adapter comes with plugs
for various countries and costs $19.99 extra.

In
this picture you can see the two USB ports along the
top edge as well as the plug for the AC adapter.

Speaking of USB ports, the Alto requires you to
connect a built-in cable to an open USB port on your
notebook. Logitech went an extra step here and
included a nifty cable management feature for the
USB cable.

The
USB cable has a nice neat home and plenty of slack
to accommodate wherever the open USB port may be on
your notebook.

Logitech did not stop there with cable management.
They also built-in cable management slots into the
top edge of the Alto to secure other cables you have
attached to your notebook such as AC, ethernet, etc.

There are many different sized slots to accommodate
a variety of cables.

The biggest gripe I have with the Alto is something
you may not have noticed in the pictures above, but
is especially noticeable in the last picture. The
Alto is a fingerprint and dust magnet. Every surface
of the Alto seems to attract fingerprints and dust.
I haven’t seen this much dust since I had my Compaq
iPAQ 3600 with its’ famous dust collecting screen.
The hinge that folds the two halves of the Alto
together is rubber, which collects dust. Most of the
other surfaces are shiny or glossy, which also
collect dust and fingerprints. If you are someone
who is sensitive about dust on your devices, the
Alto may not be for you.

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HELP SUPPORT

Logitech includes a
helpful user guide. Once you get the hang of it, the
Alto is very easy to use. Logitech also includes
a 5-year limited hardware warranty, which is very
reassuring.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

All you need
to use the Alto is a notebook computer running Windows XP or later and
an open USB port.

BUGS AND WISHES

The next version of the Alto should use materials
that do not collect dust and fingerprints so easily.

My only other wish is for clearer instructions
regarding pressing the release button to lock the
display stand in place.

PURCHASING

I found the Aura listed for as low as $81.99 on
Froogle.com. The suggested retail price is $99.99.

PROS

Folds for storage
Full-sized keyboard
Secure display riser

CONS

Fingerprints and dust
galore
Instructions could be a
bit clearer
Key travel is not as deep
as a desktop keyboard

Value
Ease of Use
Features
Overall

What
do these ratings mean?