Goodbye Aching Neck: A Practical Test of Two Notebook Stands

2. The Correct Display Position

So how do you position a notebook - or rather its display - to fulfill ergonomic requirements? Two factors must be considered here: line of vision and correct monitor height.

Line Of Vision

If you use your laptop often, it should be positioned so that you can look directly at the monitor without having to tilt your head. If you use it less frequently, it can be placed at a maximum angle of 15 degrees either to the right or the left of your direct line of vision. In that case, you will, of course, want to use an external keyboard, since otherwise you would have to sit at your desk in a crooked position.

Setup for frequent monitor use (source: Richenhagen, Prümper, Wagner, Handbuch der Bildschirmarbeit [Guide for Working with Displays], 2002)

Setup for infrequent monitor use (source: Richenhagen, Prümper, Wagner, Handbuch der Bildschirmarbeit [Guide for Working with Displays], 2002)