Customer Reviews

Targus PA243U Notebook Portable Lapdesk

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

Amazon seems to lumping numerous laptop stand reviews together. This, however, is for the Targus PA243U Notebook Portable Lapdesk.

If you're reading this review, you're likely in the hunt for a new, or more likely, replacment laptop stand for the one simply not up to snuff. Look no further: this is the mecca of laptop stands, and at a great price.

I've tried to Podium Pad (can't really use on a lap), LapBottom (works, but poor craftsmanship), iLap (stylish but useless), and stumbled onto the LapDesk as a last ditch effort for a workable stand for my 17'' Powerbook G4. I struck gold.

It has great grips to both hold the unit in place and likewise the stand on the desk (my computer actually slid off of the iLap to disastrous results). Great versatility in being able to easily collapse it into a lapstand and back again. The typing angle for desktop use goes a long way. Seems very durable as well, easily able to take the knocking around of transporting it. Finally, the price can't be beat. It's less than 1/2 of the iLap's cost.

Targus has a knack for private labeling great products under their name. This is another great find.

I bought this product because my brother had one and it was good quality. However Targus has redesigned the part without changing the part number. The new design part I received was very flimsy and would not support a standard laptop without significant bowing. The marketing photo at the time of purchase was the old, good design. The part shipped was the new, bad design. I returned the part.

I have a Gateway CX2610, and it always got hot in my lap after about 10 or 15 minutes. Enter this Targus lapdesk. When folded out, it provides a nice buffer between my lap and the heat of the laptop even when using the laptop for upwards of two hours.

But wait, there's more! I had also found my laptop awkward to use at a desk because of the poor ergonomics. However, I use this lapdesk folded with the adjustable leg to reposition the keyboard to a better angle for typing. It also puts the screen at a better height as well.

The desk also works well folded in half with my laptop converted to tablet mode. So, it's a very versatile accessory to go with my versatile laptop. I highly recommend it.

Since I enjoy using my laptop sitting in bed or on the couch, this lapdesk works very well. It is wide enough to hold a Dell Inspiron 5100 and have room on the side to use as a mouse pad. Folded, it raises the laptop off my desk giving excellent air circulation beneath.

But, it's mechanism to support the top when folded could be better. As it is, a thin metal bar rests in bilateral rubber grooves. This has a tendency to slip when you try to move your laptop to the side of the desk.

Too, the rubber piece on one side has come off twice. This last time, two days ago, I used rubber cement on it and so far it's held.

Overall, it is handy and works well without using any power.

Please note that 2 of the negative reviews below are for a DIFFERENT product, and not this one!

I bought this lap desk for two reasons---I use my 17" laptop on my lap while sitting on the floor of my apartment. I wanted to use something that would allow the laptop to keep ventilation under the computer so it wouldn't overheat and I wanted something that would keep my legs cool, when the hot summer comes. So I can't really give you much info on my legs yet, this being April, but the laptop is elevated enough to allow the computer's interior fan to do what it was supposed to do---and that's vent hot air. But I can tell you that there isn't much space for a mouse but I don't use one anyway.

After reading all of the other comments about this desk, I don't find any concern about it not being rigid enough. And yes, it does have some "flex" in the plastic but the flex, I believe, would add to the durability. A very hard plastic would shatter if dropped, etc. I don't have any problem with the unit resting on my lap. In fact, it's no different than using my laptop without the desk, as far as comfort, etc.

I'd also like to address another comment that another person made. They mentioned that the desk "folded in the middle, with the computer resting on it, and didn't give enough support". Well then they were using the desk, upside down! If you use it correctly, when you open it, it does not fold past that 180 degree mark so it won't bend in the middle when lifting it by the two ends. Those people who posted that problem were using the lap desk, up side down!

All in all, it does what it's supposed to and I don't have to wonder when, or pay for, two or three fans that make noise or burn out. (Oh, the only reason I didn't give this product 5 stars is because I don't know how well it will keep my legs cool in the summer.) I haven't used the lap desk in the elevated or folded, desk position and probably won't but from what I've read, that set up works pretty well. Ya, I recommend this product.

I was expecting this product to be a lot more sturdy in my lap. It might work great for a traveling business person who has no other options but this product was not made for the home user with a wireless keyboard as it is not very comfortable on the lap and the surface is not big enough for a keyboard and a normal size mouse. Laptop mouse might work within the surface constraints. I do not see how anyone could use this product with the weight of a laptop. Overall, I was disappointed and would not recommend this product to anyone.

In the thumbnail photos below the main photo on this listing (Targus PA243U), there is a photo of a lapdesk without massive grooves, but it has plenty of space for a mouse. This is not the item listed. I own the item listed and would LOVE to buy the one pictured in the thumbnail photos. If you know where I can get one, please advise.

This rating is not indicative of the quality of the listed lapdesk, just given to get someone's attention. I like the listed one but it really lacks in mouse space. Literally the flat mouse space is one inch wide by about 5 inches high. Too small for me.

The delivered item does not look like the picture. The plastic is flimsy. The rubber pads keep the notebook from sliding.
But the edge has a 1/4 inch raise lip on the bottom - making it uncomfortable after an hour with bare skin (Shorts/skirts)

Xbrand XB-1004 Laptop Lap Desk looks better

I bought this product primarily to elevate my laptop for cooling. For that purpose it works however for the price I expected something of a much sturdier construction. This product wobbles when I am typing. I bought this particular product because I thought it would be handy to have a portable lap desk. When used as a lap desk it needs to be supported in the center. If you try to pick up it from the sides with your laptop on it, it starts to bow in the center. I think it would not take much for it to break. I've been using this product for a couple of weeks and I am starting to feel more ripped off the more I use it.

Also I noticed that for some reason not all the reviews listed under this particular product actually are about this product. One review spoke of an on/off switch; there isn't anything like that one this. So read the reviews carefully.

Normally I am usually very pleased with everything I have purchased from Amazon and more then once my purchase has exceeded my expectations. But this particular product falls very short of what I had expected to receive.

This particular product is too flimsy for the price. I'm seriously thinking of looking into returning it even though I think I've actually had it for a least a month.

I purchased the original lapdesk that this product is based on. While this looks the same in the picture, this item is meant for a much much lighter laptop than any I have used. Might be good for the ultra-sub-notebook set, but not much good for anything modestly sized. I suggest that you look for another lapdesk.