When configuring a dual monitor setup, it can be hard to get the panels mounted in a fashion that best fits the user. This is especially true if you are using two different makes or models of LCD panel, or if your LCD panels of choice lack any decently adjustable stands. Rather than suffering from the ergonomic detriments and inconvenience of such a setup, you should look at a monitor stand that replaces what is currently connected to your LCDs. Ergotron is a well known manufacturer of such products, and they sent us their latest multi-monitor stand to take a look at.
The Ergotron Neo-Flex Dual LCD Lift Stand is a simple dual monitor mount that provides full adjustability for two monitors of your choosing. The stand is billed as Ergotron’s most affordable stand yet still sports features such as simultaneous height adjustment (up to 5 inches), rotation of both panels from landscape to portrait mode, 360° rotatable base, and an relatively small footprint. It’s also quite a heavy duty piece of kit, and can support up to two 22″ LCD panels as long as they support VESA 75mm or 100mm mounts.
As for pricing, Ergotron has the Neo-Flex dual LCD stand listed on their web site for an MSRP of $149.99 USD.
Some Assembly Required
At that bargain price the stand doesn’t come pre-assembled so I apologize for getting your hopes up with the introductory picture. Instead you get a whole host of parts and screws, and some good instructions on how to put it together. That’s what we’re going to look at first, followed by an assessment of how this panel does with two 22″ LCDs bolted to it.
The first major assembly that makes up the Ergotron Neo-Flex Dual LCD Lift Stand is the base and neck. These two components contain all the hardware and mechanisms necessary to facilitate the amount of adjustments this stand is capable of. Both of these components I found were deceptively heavy, and felt quite sturdy. This means the hardware used is made of heavy duty materials, and the stand will easily counter-balance itself to prevent easy tipping.
The bottom of the base is metal, and the whole rig sits on an interesting mechanism for rotation. Most LCD panels that I’ve reviewed feature a ring in their base that rotates like a Lazy Susan. The size of this stand precludes such a device. Rather, the Neo-Flex rotates on a single pivot point using two angled plastic rollers on the “wings” of the base. This makes it easy to swing your monitors around. Just watch your head, as two 22″ panels need a lot of swing room.
Next up in this cavalcade of components is the actual monitor arm and mounts. These are pretty self explanatory; the two mounts attach the monitors to the arm and the arm attaches to the base. Both the mounts have a slick sleeve inside them, to allow you to easily slide the monitors up and down the arm. They also rotate a full 360°. The arm itself has a couple of loops that, when coupled with some zap straps, easily facilitates cable management.
Real-Time Price and Stock Check – Find More Ergotron Products Here
Wait…There’s More!
Finally here’s the rest of the shrapnel. Ergotron includes every screw you’ll need to assemble this stand including an Allen Key though you’ll still need a Robertson screwdriver. Zap straps in the box get you started on the cable management, but of course, you can use more if you like. They also include some spacers for 75mm mounts that are recessed into the back of some panels.
As for the instructions, Ergotron has gone to great lengths to ensure that they walk you through each step of the assembly. The three page instruction pamphlet was well illustrated, but it lacked text instructions. This did make some steps a little difficult to fully grasp, but in the end I managed to get everything put together as it should be.
And Finally, with assembly completed, we have come to this. Without the panel mounts, the stand does take on a certain religious motif. Ignoring that, we still have to mount the panels, and adjust the height mechanism to support the weight of two 22″ LCD panels. For panels I chose two different LCDs; a decent Samsung panel and a cheapie Soyo panel.
Doing Double Duty
Though it would seem obvious to some, this whole rig is quite a bit larger then even I was expecting. Still, the Ergotron Neo-Flex Dual LCD Lift Stand handled the mounting of two different monitors with ease. As for adjustability, the two 22″ panels were a tight squeeze, but with some finagling I could easily rotate each panel. This is great for desktop publishing or web design, as when one has the expanse of a 22″ LCD rotated into portrait mode, one can easily see an entire page without scrolling. The single stand now takes up quite a bit less room and thanks to the built in cable management, things on the backside certainly seem tidier.
The only downside with this stand is the static angle at which the panels are held at. As a gamer, I like to have my primary display right in front of me, and a secondary display off to the side. Granted this is meant to be an economical monitor arm meant for desktop and office applications, but it would be nice to tilt one of the monitors so it’s at more of angle to the other. Overall, the stand still does what it says and there is no danger of anything working loose and falling off.
Final Thoughts
In the end, Ergotron has provided a monitor stand that will take two LCD panels and mount them inline with each other. By doing so, it will also give them adjustability ad features that may not have been present in the OEM stand mated to most monitors. This stand is thankfully not tied to any specific manufacturer thanks to the use of VESA standard mounts.
When you take into acount the excellent documentation, you have a stand the is easy to setup, easy to use, and a very good value. There are a few minor faults that I’ve pointed out, but overall I wouldn’t have a problem recommending this product to someone looking for a value added way to rearrange their desktop, save space, and tidy up the cables.
Pros
- Easy to assemble and use
- Fully adjustable
- Supports any LCD up to 22″ with a VESA mount
Cons
- No text instructions
- Relative monitor angle not adjustable
Overall Rating: 8.5/10.0
Discuss This Review in the Futurelooks Community Forums
Real-Time Price and Stock Check – Find More Ergotron Products Here
Ergotron Neo-Flex Dual LCD Lift Stand Photo Gallery
Real-Time Price and Stock Check – Find More Ergotron Products Here