Twelve South

Ever wonder what the ultimate Mac “battle station” looks like? A recent review of several of our products on electronista can give you a pretty good idea. They took a BookArc, a HoverBar, a BackPack, and a HiRise for iMac…and came up with something pretty awesome. Check this out:

Here’s what they had to say about BookArc:

“The BookArc is a made out of a beautifully machined aluminum with a high-quality anodised aluminum finish that complements the MacBook Pro very well. Further, the rubberized inserts not only securely hold a MacBook Pro, they are also designed in a way that ensures that users will not be in position where the aluminum MacBook Pro could possibly rub against the BookArc. It has been thoughtfully designed and also looks great while also helping to declutter a workstation.”

And HiRise:
“With our MacBook Pro safely cradled in the Twelve South BookArc, we raised the height of our Apple Thunderbolt display using the new Twelve South HiRise ($80). The HiRise is very easy to assemble and can do double duty by acting as a spot to store and hide an external hard drive, or personal items and other belongings. The display height can be adjusted according to the individual user’s requirements, although at the lower settings, it might only fit a pocket-sized mobile external hard drive. We had it set at the highest position and were able to hide our hard drive, further cleaning up our workstation. It also works just as well with iMacs.”

And BackPack:
“The BackPack 2 ($35) is a tray that is designed to attach to the rear of a Thunderbolt or iMac aluminum stand. It can support weights up to 3.5 pounds meaning that is a great place to store an external hard drive, helping again to free up and unclutter your desk space. MacBook Air users will also be interested note that the BackPack 2 can also stowe their ultraportable notebook out of the way, behind their Thunderbolt displays. Users can also opt to fit the BackPack 2 to the front of their Thunderbolt display or iMac stand as a shelf to keep their smartphone or other items out of the way when not being used. Two BackPack 2s can also be purchased separately and fitted, one to the front and one to the back, without one interfering with the other.”

And HoverBar:
“Of all the accessories from Twelve South we have been using, this is perhaps the most fun to use. We had ours fitted so that the iPad sits suspended next to our Thunderbolt display on the side, putting in our natural line of sight. In the vertical position, it can show documents and other apps like the Pulse visual RSS reader very effectively. Easily rotated, users can then easily switch to having a video playing while you are working. The HoverBar is very well made and inspires us with a sense confidence that it will not, over time, start to weaken and lose its ability to hold an iPad firmly in position.”

If you’re ready to use all your Apple products at once in a clutter-free “ultimate battle station” setup, order today — Twelve South now offers Flat Rate Shipping to most international destinations, so you can order your battle station all at once…and pay only one flat shipping fee.

Twelve South upgrades its popular BookArc Pro to cradle MacBook Pro with Retina display.

While most press coverage is about our products, every now and then, a journalist will call up and ask a few questions about Twelve South: How do you come up with your products? What’s your greatest inspiration? Or “C’mon! Are there really only 12 of you people there?”

We weren’t really sure what to expect when Engadget managing editor Darren Murph emailed to inquire about getting a closer look at Twelve South. But after a few hours together, getting a feel for how and why we do what we do, Darren apparently had what he needed. The result is a terrific piece in Engadget’s Distro publication called “Opening the (Book)Book on Twelve South: Between the Covers of a Mac-Exclusive Accessory Maker,” which captures Twelve South the Company better than anything we’ve read so far.

So if you’re curious about how an “intentionally small” company in South Carolina — of only 12 people, truly — makes BookBooks, BookArcs, and other Apple-only products and has found its niche by staying small on purpose, you’ll want to read this.

We make time to read Design*Sponge every chance we get — their tales of small space renovations for city dwellers and old furniture getting new life are awe-inspiring. We are suckers for great before-and-after shots. (And we should do a shout-out to the wonderful D*S founder Grace Bonney here…her new book, Design*Sponge at Home, is available for pre-order on Amazon.com right now, and you can bet we’ve ordered ours.)

Kate Pruitt, a Design*Sponge Senior Editor whose personal specialty is DIY, is one of our favorites on that site, and on another site, My Life Scoop, where she’s not afraid to show her love of all things tech.

In her words:

“As someone working in the design industry, I can tell you that getting your technology in order is crucial to your success in any creative field. The majority of graphic designers are already on board — take the fabulous typographer Jessica Hische and her streamlined office above, for example. But fine artists, craftsmen and other hands-on, low-tech worshippers should take note–the tech devices available for creatives today are really amazing, and can genuinely help creatives of all kinds spark ideas, manage their workflow, and stay organized and efficient.”

“I’ve rounded up some great gadgets and accessories that everyone in the creative class should check out. Whether it’s scanning and sharing your work online, sketching and jotting ideas on the go, or just minimizing the clutter in your office or studio, these tools can streamline your daily tasks and help open your mind to new ideas and inspirations.”

Thanks for taking notice of our BackPack (shown at #2)…it’s the best way we know of to hide things behind your Apple Cinema Display!

(TIP: If anyone finds #4, at $399, to be a bit steep for a laptop stand, may we suggest a certain “Apple-centric” stand we like to call BookArc for MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or iPad?)

Twelve South introduces a new BookArc tailored exclusively for the MacBook Pro

Charleston, SC, June 28, 2011 – Twelve South unveils a refreshed version of the popular BookArc stand. The upgraded BookArc is designed exclusively for the latest unibody MacBook Pro models. This sleek desktop stand features improved stability, built-in cable management and a more precise fit for MacBook Pro. BookArc for MacBook Pro is available immediately at Amazon.com and other outlets for $49.99. More information and images can be found at  www.twelvesouth.com.

On the heels of the introduction of the BookArc for MacBook Air, BookArc for MacBook Pro is the latest Twelve South stand to be designed and engineered exclusively for a specific MacBook model. BookArc is made from heavy gauge steel and outfitted with wider silicone feet for enhanced stability. A soft, silicone insert conforms specifically to the curvature of the unibody MacBook Pro.

Underneath BookArc for MacBook Pro there are two hidden cable managers that prevent your monitor, USB and power cables from slipping to the floor when you unplug your MacBook Pro. The new BookArc for MacBook Pro also ships with one extra insert to fit legacy models of MacBook and MacBook Pro.

The new BookArc for MacBook Pro also enhances a new OS X Lion feature useful for many desktop MacBook users. The new OS introduces the extensive use of full-screen apps that often work better with one screen, rather than a two-screen MacBook+external monitor setup. If you currently use a dual-monitor setup, it may be the perfect time to consider working with your MacBook Pro closed in a BookArc for a cleaner desktop and a simplified set-up.

Moving from two screens to one external set-up featuring a BookArc also can give your MacBook Pro a performance boost. By reducing the number of pixels driven by MacBook’s internal video memory, graphic intensive Apps like Photoshop and iPhoto can feel noticeably snappier and faster. In a review of the previous BookArc, MacLife Magazine editors observed their “Photoshop Actions test was 22 percent faster.”

“BookArc was the very first product Twelve South introduced when we launched in 2009,” said Andrew Green, Creative Director of Twelve South. “Since then we have learned so much from customer feedback and from creating an entire family of BookArcs, including the recently released BookArc for Air. BookArc for MacBook Pro incorporates all of these advances and is the best MacBook stand we have ever made.”

Click here to read the original release.

Cool Mom Tech, the brainchild of NYC-based power-blogging creatives Kristen Chase (herself a Parents magazine Top 10 Power Moms recipient and guest on both the Today show and CNN) and Liz Gumbinner (ad agency creative director cited on Forbes‘ list of 10 Mommyhood Gurus) is a site dedicated to serving as “the intersection of tech and style, of parenting, practicality and fabulosity.”

We like it because it brings cool techy things to our attention all the time — things we’ve somehow missed ourselves but love love love the moment we see them. (You can also follow Cool Mom Tech and Cool Mom Picks on Twitter.)

So it’s a uniquely fine honor to find our BookArc featured on the site.

Here’s what Liz at Cool Mom Tech (the sister site of Cool Mom Picks) has to say about BookArc:

I love that iPads aren’t just fun little gadgets anymore. Considering all the accessories for them now, you can really make them work hard for you. Case in point: a beautiful, thoughtful stand for those smitten with the Apple aesthetic.

The BookArc for iPad from the clever folks at twelvesouth keeps your tablet upright for easy charging, movie-watching, or digital photo displaying. Add a Bluetooth keyboard and set it on your desk, and now your tablet is your own mini-computer–perfect for those who don’t like the kickstand-style cases and want something with a little more permanence.

I kind of love everything about it.

And if you’re a MacBook Air owner (as I hope to be soon) twelvesouth’s BookArc for MacBook Air looks like an amazing tool. The steel stand is cushioned on the inside to cradle your MacBook Air snugly and securely, with clever cable management built in. But it’s not just a charging dock. If you’re a blogger or design type who works with two monitors, connect your MacBook Air to your external monitor in the BookArc, keep it closed, and apps like Photoshop will run way faster.

Poke around the twelvesouth site for a lot of nifty, accessories for Apple devotees and design minimalists. Same thing, right?

We’d have to agree. Get your own BookArc here…for iPad/iPad 2, for MacBook, and for MacBook Air.

We love to hear from users of our products. This just in from Randy, who purchased a BookArc, and then did some pretty thorough testing of performance while using it. Great stuff!

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Hi,

I just wanted to share some info with you. Before I purchased a BookArc I was concerned about my Macbook Pro heating up with the hinge down. There were many references to this issue on the web. I love the product and need the space, but I also wanted to get the best performance possible.

Therefore I did an experiment. First, I set the MacBook Pro flat on the desk in clamshell mode and started 10 processes (yes > /dev/null &) to get the CPU heating up. I waited for the system fan speed and CPU temperatures to stabilize and recorded the CPU temp and fan speed. After this I put the MacBook in the BookArc with the hinge up and let the system stabilize, recording the same data. Finally, I put the macbook in the BookArc with the hinge down as shown in your ads.

Here are the results:

Flat on desk CPU=86 C Fans=6200

Hinge Up CPU=91 C Fans=6200

Hinge Down CPU=80 C Fans=6200

As you can see, the best thermal performance was achieved in the BookArc with the hinge down. This goes against what some have been writing in the reviews I have read.

The BookArc is functional, attractive and improves the thermal performance of my mac. It is definitely worth the money and I would recommend it to anyone.

Randy

Wow, thanks, Randy! We’re convinced! And everyone else, be sure to get your own performance-enhancing BookArc here.

OmniTechBuzz sees a lot of tech products, and puts a lot of great ihow-tos and tips out there, including some useful stuff about great apps. Last week they tested out our BookArc for iPad/iPad 2 and put together this really professional and straightforward review. Thanks for the coverage! Great stuff! We hope to see more Twelve South products on OmniTechBuzz.

And if you’d like to enjoy the stand that OmniTechBuzz gives “5 out of 5 stars,” order it here.

The folks over at Run Around Tech are starting to get familiar with Twelve South. After reviewing and loving our SurfacePad for MacBook Pro, they decided to check out BookArc, the desktop stand for MacBook.

So was BookArc another hit? Read on to find out.

When I’m in my home office, I run my MacBook Pro exclusively in “clamshell” or “closed-lid” mode, meaning I use an external monitor, keyboard and mouse and keep my laptop tucked out of the way (check this Apple support article if you don’t know what I’m talking about). I’ve tried setting it down in numerous places, but I constantly am knocking out the power cord or reaching behind my desk for dropped cables as I put it in and out of this configuration. I’m happy to say I’ve finally found a solution – and its name is BookArc.

The BookArc is a laptop stand from Twelve South, makers of some fantastic Mac-only accessories, including the previously reviewed, and awesome, SurfacePad.  I was immediately struck with the beauty of this product. Once again, from the packaging to the industrial design of the device itself, Twelve South paid attention to every detail – just like Apple does in its line of portables. The BookArc is a metal laptop stand in the shape of a gentle, curving arc. A notch in the middle holds your closed laptop while still providing access to all the machine’s ports and DVD drive.

Honestly, there really isn’t much more to “review” about this product. It works exactly as advertised, and it looks damn good doing it. The brushed metallic surface and smooth, clean lines match the design of Apple’s laptops perfectly. As you can see from the amount of photos in this review’s gallery, I really like the look of this stand. If you need to free up some desk space or are just looking for a unique way to hold your laptop in clamshell mode, this is the stand for you. I highly recommend this product and look forward to seeing what Twelve South has up their sleeves next.

SurfacePad and now BookArc? It’s always nice to see Twelve South accessories being enjoyed in their natural habitat. (We do wonder what’s next on their list, maybe a BackPack or MagicWand?) Free up some desk space and go “closed-clamshell” by picking up your own BookArc for MacBook here.