The drawback is that it's a little difficult to push the button and turn the leg, but not a big deal to me.The versatility that all these articulations give to this stand is great. The "manual" gives you many examples.The articulations lock in specific angles, which allows for easy equalizing legs, unlike a free-rotating articulation. You can, however, write down your favourite configurations and just dial in. Sturdy, light-weight, nice looking, well-built.Great, great stand.It's a little difficult to adjust, because there are 3 articulations in 2 legs, and you have to adjust one by one. I'm now going to work on better affixing my laptop to the tray. Patience may be required for the first use as one experiments to find the angles that work best for them.Lastly, don't fall asleep or fail to pay attention if using this while flat on your back. I have now successfully used this with multiple laptops and my iPad.Second, the holes in the tray allow for heat dissipation.Third, the joints are easily adjusted. At least one frustrated reviewer appeared not to have figured this out. This allows for different laptop designs to be accommodated.
(In retrospect, I realize I instinctively raised my hand to steady the stand while the laptop was free to fall and land on my face.)So either chained cable-ties or Velcro of some sort may be needed to prevent this type of injury if you need to use this while flat on your back.Some other observations: First, the tray is well designed with a smaller "lip" on one side and a larger lip on the reverse. Set-up took only a couple of minutes and all seemed perfectly balanced.After a period of intense email reading, I probably shifted my weight without realizing it and then "BAM," my laptop toppled over and smacked my face so hard, I was left with a nasty gash between my eyebrows that required medical attention. While recovering from a back problem, this described me and my need.
For them, this is a perfect product "as is." If their laptop or iPad topples over while being used, they can just "right it" from their lap with a motion of their hand.Other pictures on the web show people flat on their back with their laptop or iPad higher than their head. Some photos on the web show people sitting up in bed with their laptop screen lower than their head. While this is a well-made product that is probably better than the others offered online, please heed this caution before purchasing.