| Cooler Master ARC Macbook and iPad Stand |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Notebook | Compact PC | |
| Written by David Ramsey | |
| Tuesday, 22 May 2012 | |
Cooler Master ARC Macbook Pro and iPad Stand
Manufacturer: Cooler Master Ltd., Inc. Full Disclosure: the product sample used in this article has been provided by Cooler Master. Cooler Master's ARC MacBook Pro and iPad stand is an interesting accessory for the Apple owner. It's a largish, 1.85 pound contraption of aluminum, plastic, and rubber that can serve as a stand for an iPad or a MacBook Pro laptop computer...although not both at the same time. You can place your iPad in the smaller slot, or a MacBook Pro computer (closed) in the larger slot.
A rubber base combined with the weight of the stand keeps it very stable on your desk. As an iPad stand, it works well in "landscape mode". The iPad sits back at a slight angle, and although it's a very loose fit in the slot, the rubber lining of the slot means that the iPad doesn't move around when you touch it.
In portrait mode, though, there's a near-fatal flaw: the thickness of an Apple Smart Cover forces the iPad to flop forwards in the slot. In landscape mode as shown in the first image, you can fold the Smart Cover back on itself so that it's not in the slot, but in portrait mode, this isn't an option. Of course the Smart Cover can be easily removed and reattached since it clips on with self-aligning magnets, but I'd imagine most users won't want to go to the trouble of removing and replacing the cover every time they use the stand.
As a MacBook Pro stand, things look better. The computer sits up straight and the rubber lining provides enough friction so that plugging in cables won't move the computer. 
Cooler Master doesn't provide dimensions for either slot, but a Hewlett Packard Touchpad tablet computer is too thick for the iPad slot-- it fits in the slot, but its curved back forces it to flop forwards. I measured the top of the larger slot at about 1 1/8", so any laptop computer that's less than that thick should work. Still, since it's marketed specifically for Apple devices and sold exclusively through the online Apple store, it's probably best reserved for the devices it was designed for.
ARC Stand Final ThoughtsThere are dozens if not hundreds of iPad stands on the market now, and although stands designed to hold your laptop computer while it's closed, connected to an external monitor and keyboard, are less common, there are still quite a few of them. But the Cooler Master ARC is the first dual-use stand I've seen. It's a clever concept, but I'm not sure how practical it is. For an iPad, there's the aforementioned problem with a Smart Cover interfering with the stand's use when the iPad is positioned in portrait mode. Since the Smart Cover is a very common accessory, this is a real problem, and it's one I haven't seen in any other of the several iPad stands I've tried. Many competing iPad stands feature adjustable angles, but for use on a desktop or counter the ARC's fixed angle works pretty well. 
I was initially surprised that the stand's other slot is designed for the MacBook Pro rather than the more popular MacBook Air...but the Pro is much more likely to be used as a desktop replacement computer than is the Air, so I guess that makes sense. An Air would fit, of course, but it would be very loose in the slot. The obvious improvement Cooler Master could make to this product would be to have replaceable slot inserts to accommodate a range of tablets and laptop computers. Still, considering its name and the fact that it's available only through Apple, it's apparent that Cooler Master targeted their market very precisely. While the product works well with its intended devices, I have to wonder how many people will really use both slots frequently. I wouldn't want to have to remove my MacBook Pro from the stand to use my iPad, or vice versa, so its real utility lies with people who have both devices, yet rarely use both at once. I'm not sure how large a market this is, and you're paying a premium over the cost of a dedicated stand for one device, although it's still less expensive than two dedicated stands. R9-NBS-ARCW-GP ConclusionThe performance of the Cooler Master ARC was excellent: when used with the products it was designed for, the only issue I encountered was Smart Cover interference with a vertically-oriented iPad. The rubber base and weight of the stand keep it from moving on your desk, and the rubber slot linings secure your devices. Cooler Master offers this product in black or white. The smooth plastic cover nicely complements the gray rubber and polished metal accents. A small "Cooler Master" logo on one of the sides is the only branding visible. As far as the construction goes, it's an aluminum core with plastic and rubber coverings. There are no moving or adjustable parts, but everything fits together with sub-millimeter precision. Functionally, the ARC does exactly what it was designed to do: hold your iPad at a usable angle, or your MacBook Pro firmly upright when it's in use with an external monitor and keyboard. As an iPad stand, though, it suffers from lack of adjustability and the inability to position the iPad vertically when a Smart Cover is attached. At $59.99, the ARC is one of the most expensive stands on the market, when considered in isolation as an iPad stand or a MacBook Pro stand. It's cheaper than most combinations of a separate stand for each device, though, so if you fit the demographic, it might be a good choice for you. But most people who need stands for two devices will find separate iPad and MacBook stands a more versatile choice. Pros:
+ Sleek appearance and solid construction Cons:
- Expensive Ratings:
Final Score: 8.25 out of 10.Benchmark Reviews invites you to leave constructive feedback below, or ask questions in our Discussion Forum.
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