Satechi M1 Wireless Mouse / Satechi Dual Vertical Laptop Stand / TwelveSouth HiRise Pro / TwelveSouth Curve Flex - Three Stands and a Mouse

It's accessory time and yet again, it's that hybrid work thing that's got us looking for just the right gadgets.

If you've been struggling away using the touchpad on your laptop all this time, stop being so proud about it, do yourself a favour and pick yourself up a nice, slim mouse. I reckon that's minutes more productivity you'll gain just by doing that.

Then, whether you have some kind of dual-screen setup or you just want to make use of a full-sized monitor, keyboard and mouse when you get your laptop home, you're really going to need the perfect stand.

In fact, even if you just want to improve the angle of your webcam so your colleagues aren't seeing directly up your nose every time you join an online meeting, a decent stand will certainly help.

So here are a few suggestions...

Mouse first. Let's be real, there are a million options out there and most of them will probably do the trick. However, there are a few basic requirements you should be looking to tick off.

Firstly, if you're planning on bunging it in your laptop bag or satchel, it needs to be slim. That doesn't necessarily mean too tiny or flat - then it's going to be fiddly to hold. Ideally you're looking for something comfortable in your palm but curvy enough to slip easily in and your of your bag without leaving too much of a bulge.

Secondly, it's got to be rechargeable. Surely we're past single-use batteries by now, aren't we? The planet certainly doesn't need them and you surely don't need to keep buying them.

Thirdly, no dongle. There are two kinds of wireless mice in this world; the type that has a separate USB dongle to pair it with your device and the kind that connects directly via bluetooth. Unless, for some reason, your computer isn't bluetooth capable (and these days pretty much any laptop should be) you don't need a dongle. It's just taking up one of your valuable ports unnecessarily and it's another thing to lose on your travels.

Lastly, if you're anything like me, you're using both PC and MacOS devices throughout the day. That gets rather confusing when it comes to keyboard shortcuts and mouse buttons. I get that Apple wanted to keep things simple with its virtual buttons and scroll wheel but actual buttons and a physical scroll wheel keep things more consistent between the two platforms. I don't know about you but when I come home from using the computers at work (PC) I can't be bothered reminding myself how to use a completely different kind of mouse (Mac).

The Satechi M1 Wireless Mouse matches all of those criteria. Although it's uber-slim, it still has enough heft to feel solid in the hand and stay in place right where you leave it on your mousepad. Thanks to its brushed aluminium finish, aluminium scroll wheel and contrasting buttons, it's actually quite a classy-looking wee accessory.

It performs well too - a reliable Bluetooth 5.0 connection and good, solid clicks from both buttons and scroll wheel. The M1 Wireless mouse comes with its own USB-C charging cable and Satechi also has a range of keyboards to match it with.

Which brings us to the option of using your laptop in a different way at home. I like to pair my MacBook Pro with an iPad to create a dual-monitor setup. As I write this, I've got the browser window I'm typing into open on one screen and the Satechi and TwelveSouth websites up on another. When I'm finished the article I'll preview the published page on the second screen and make any necessary corrections or updates on the first. See what I mean about making yourself more productive with the right gear?

Anyway, to raise my MacBook screen up to the height of my second monitor, I'm using the TwelveSouth HiRise Pro.

And I do mean exactly the right height; the HiRise Pro features a spring-loaded rear column that can be precisely adjusted using the locking dial at the back. The angle of the V-shaped support arms is fixed but as they're rubber-coated all the way along, the HiRise Pro is compatible with pretty much any sized laptop, although it was specifically designed to match MacBooks and Mac accessories like the Apple Studio Display.

There's a real premium feel to this device, extending down to the vegan leather surface on the base which isn't just for show - it actually conceals the HiRise Pro's most ingenious feature; if you have a MagSafe charger for your iPhone (the 6cm disc version) you can fit this into the base of the stand, meaning you can charge your phone while you work.

This is a top-quality, solidly built product but if you're planning to type on the newly raised keyboard of your laptop, you'll need to wind up that back screw pretty damn tight. The only flaw of the single, centrally positioned supporting column is things can wobble a little if you push down on either edge of your laptop - not an issue for me as I'm using the HiRise Pro in combination with an external bluetooth keyboard, back down at desk level.

However, if it is an elevated typing experience you're looking for - perhaps at a standing desk - or you want even more height than the 6-inch maximum boost offered by the HiRise Pro, TwelveSouth has another, more portable option, the Curve Flex.

This design provides a more balanced support, front to back and can securely angle your whole laptop right up to 45° - combined with its very firm hinge mechanism you can extend the Curve Flex to elevate your laptop screen by a whopping 22-inches.

This is ideal for me at work as the large sound desk I operate in my radio studio is surrounded by many raised monitors and it's much more ergonomic for me to have my laptop screen up at the same height. And as I mentioned in my introduction, the other important reason to raise your screen is to get your webcam up to eye-level. My host is currently broadcasting remotely, so I have a Zoom window open throughout the show to maintain eye contact with him. Thanks to the Curve Flex he now receives the full effect of my dirty look when he's talking too long heading into the news break.

The Curve Flex really is the stand for any situation, as the height and angle ranges from flat to that maximum 22-inch extension and everywhere in between. In TwelveSouth's usual style there's a nice bonus in the box; a soft carry pouch so you can pop the collapsed stand safely into your laptop bag or satchel. This pouch even has a little concealed pocket for the included alan key should you need to tighten the hinges at any stage.

But what if you want to make your laptop disappear completely? You may not have realised it but you can still use your laptop when it's closed. If you're connected to an external monitor, keyboard and mouse and you don't need (or don't have the space for) two screens at once, keep it closed and out of the way with the Satechi Dual Vertical Laptop Stand.

There's really not much to say about this one, other than it does the job simply and efficiently. The Dual Vertical Laptop Stand has been engineered to Satechi's typically high standards - it's subtle, it's robust, it's elegant and it'll hold a tablet or phone as well as your laptop.

There are practical as well as aesthetic and space-saving reasons to store your computer up on its side if you're keeping it closed when in use - primarily it's the best way to keep things well-ventilated and cool. This means your laptop internals will function at their optimum abilities - again, increasing productivity all around.

From here on, we're all likely to be spending a lot more time working from portable devices either at home or out and about. I've discovered, with just the right accessories the hybrid work experience doesn't have to be a compromise, it can be an enhancement.

    

Click here for more information on the Satechi M1 Wireless Mouse.

Click here for more information on the TwelveSouth HiRise Pro.

Click here for more information on the TwelveSouth Curve Flex.

Click here for more information on the Satechi Dual Vertical Laptop Stand.