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.

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.

Tech correspondent Phil Baker knows his stuff — in his work with The Daily Transcript (San Diego) he’s pretty much seen it all. If it’s been invented and hit the market, he’s probably had a peek at it.

That’s precisely why we’re honored that after enjoying our BookArc for a few weeks, Phil chose it as the “tech product of the week” for his Tech column.

Here’s the skinny, hot off the press:

Tech Product of the Week: BookArc

Notebooks have become so thin, they take up hardly any room when stored on their edge. So Twelve South has created a beautiful arc-shaped stand created out of a solid slab of aluminum for just that purpose. Use it to store a MacBook Air or similar sized notebook while charging or using with a monitor and keyboard. A soft insert firmly grips the notebook for a secure fit while a keyhole routes cables out of the way. ($40, twelvesouth.com)

Thanks for the coverage! Want to clear the clutter on your desk and make maximum use of your MacBook with a monitor and wireless keyboard? Get your own BookArc here.

While we try our best to keep up with the things that are written about our products, somehow we missed this thorough review of BookArc for MacBook. It’s from Tech Trackr (“Tracking Today’s Tech”) and they went deep when it comes to checking out BookArc for increased MacBook performance as a desktop machine, as well as its overall usefulness.

Here’s their take on BookArc:

“From start to finish, Twelve South managed to impress me with its BookArc—here’s why:

First off, the packaging’s pretty impressive. The outer-most box is covered in an attractive stitched cloth material—I’m definitely keeping the box that the BookArc came in (in fact, Twelve South gave me twelve suggestions on what I could do with it!)

In my eyes, the BookArc serves two main functions: eliminating clutter and increasing function—I’m so fond of this accessory because it does both of these things extremely well.

Let’s talk about the BookArc’s “space-saving” abilities first: it’s blatantly obvious that the BookArc frees up a nice chunk of space on your desk in the most elegant way possible. And while it’s true that you could just lay your MacBook flat on your desk, who really wants to give us that much valuable real estate? It’s also incredibly easy to detach your MacBook in case you need to grab it and go—straps and cables need not apply.

And, believe it or not, the BookArc actually increases function. One of the biggest disadvantages of having a laptop (MacBooks especially) is that they overheat. In case you weren’t aware, the entire line of MacBooks actually slows down the processor when the temperature exceeds a certain temperature. The BookArc poses a solution by keeping your notebook cooler.  We found that our early MacBook Pro model ran faster; although the speed increase wasn’t enormous, it was definitely noticeable.

Lastly, it’s worth mentioning the build quality of this thing: the BookArc itself is made from some pretty high-quality aluminum. It has an impressive, sleek design that is truly “Apple-esque.” At just over a pound, the BookArc is pretty hefty so unless you’re unusually strong, I doubt the BookArc’s going anywhere (meaning if you accidentally nudge it, I don’t anticipate any consequences).”

THE GOOD

• Simple, yet elegant design
• Compatible with almost every MacBook ever made
• Awesome build quality
• Practical for both home and office use

Thanks, Tech Trackr…we’ll keep our eyes on you from here on out! Get your own BookArc here. (And if you’ve got an iPad, there’s one for you too.)