I have no idea how to pronounce its name properly, but the $80 AViiQ laptop stand is hands-down one of the best stands I’ve ever seen. It’s durable, incredibly light and compact, and holds my MacBook Pro at a very comfortable 12-degree angle above the desk.

I’d marry it if men were allowed to marry metal.

The AViiQ is a premium product, and it’s priced and packaged as such. Inside the gorgeous container you’ll find the actual AViiQ, a micro-fiber bag for transportation, and two extra rubber feet for the stand. I thought the bag would be an interesting little extra, but I’ve learned over the past few weeks that you’re almost required to use it.

This is because the accordion-like design of the AViiQ causes it to spring open whenever you fold it up. Don’t get me wrong: it does fold up into a *very* compact  metal sliver, but without the micro-fiber case (or a rubber band, if you want to MacGuyver it), the whole stand will open up right after you fold it shut, like a Jack that doesn’t want to stay in The Box.

Setting the stand up for use is simple five-second affair. Once the AViiQ is out of its case, simply unfold it and then fold the top portion in on itself until it creates a triangle (there are slots cut into the whole stand so that the rubber feet lock nicely into place). After you’ve locked the stand in place, you can put your computer — any laptop up to 17” in screen size — on top.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit that my first impressions of the AViiQ in action made me quite the skeptic. I’d place my 13″ MacBook Pro on it  and then watch the computer slowly, but surely, slide right off. As it turns out, there’s a bit of a sweet spot you have to find on the AViiQ, where the bottom of your laptop rests on the gray rubber feet at the front of the stand, and the back of the laptop rests on the black rubber feet at the rear. It sounds a little complicated when I spell it out, but it isn’t, and once your laptop is in the right spot, it won’t budge.

I’ve had the AViiQ for nearly three weeks now and have used it every single day. It certainly isn’t the tallest laptop stand (you’ll still want an Xtand if you want to use your laptop like a monitor), but the AViiQ keeps the screen at a much more comfortable viewing angle. I can’t say that the stiffness in my neck after several hours at the computer is gone, but it’s significantly less now that I use this laptop stand. It’s also very handy on the couch or if I use my MacBook for some surfing before I sleep, because of the keyboard’s slight elevation makes it much easier to type on.

So would I pick up an AViiQ stand again? Absolutely. I realize the price level isn’t for everyone, but I put a lot of thought into what I carry around, and the look and feel of the AViiQ fit in perfectly with my MacBook Pro. It’s also a “future-proof” laptop stand, since it can accommodate most any sized laptop (up to 17″), so I’ll still be able to use it if I decide to upgrade to a larger laptop a few years down the line. In fact, I highly doubt I’ll stop using this accessory until I get tired of laptops altogether and decide to hook right into the Internet through an Ethernet socket in my face.

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The AViiQ is available from AViiQ.com for about $80. The unit I used in this review was sent to me by the Max Borges Agency.