Laziness isn’t exactly a bad thing. In fact, it’s been said that laziness is a virtue. Laziness brought us the remote control, and the automobile. Laziness brought us microwave dinners and Amazon. And laziness has brought us the Monkey Kit, the new compliment to your e-reader and tablet that you absolutely have to have.
This product is one of the many that have been successfully funded on Kickstarter, and lets you operate your tablet computer or e-reader without having to hold it with your hands, by allowing you to create a stable stand for to rest your tablet on, or to let it hang loosely from your bed post.
Getting one will cost $69 in the US and £50 in the UK. But is it any good?
Introducing the Monkey Kit
The Monkey Kit is designed to be the ergonomic companion to your tablet or e-reader. It allows you to position the device in any number of ways, enabling you to use it in a hands-free mode, ideal for watching movies and reading books in bed, or turning it into a writing (or even programming) workstation by standing it upright on a desk and pairing it with Bluetooth keyboard 4 Mini Bluetooth Keyboards For iPad mini Typists A keyboard is what you need to prep your tablet for productivity, so we went looking for a few Bluetooth keyboard cases for your new iPad mini. Read More .
It aims to thoroughly transform how you use your keyboardless devices. But is it unique in what it does?
Competitors
There’s no shortage of tablet and e-reader stands on the market right now. These vary wildly in terms of how they work with other tablets, to their affordability and build quality. In the past, we’ve looked at the LazePad iPad Holder LazePad iPad Holder Review and Giveaway The LazePad Holder seems like a clever way to protect your iPad while increasing functionality. At the end of this review, you'd certainly want one! Read More . Much like the Monkey Kit, it is a high-end device, although differs in being proprietary to the iPad, and solidly rigid. As a result, it does not elevate and contort as the MonkeyKit does.
The Monkey Kit stands out in a couple of ways. Firstly, it can be attached to any number of tablets and even objects, provided it has a smooth, continuous surface and is dry. This makes it stand out from the plethora of brand and device specific mounts on the market right now.
Furthermore, as the tail can be adjusted, you can change the height and angle of your tablet. This means that it’s flexible enough to be used and reshaped as you need to.
Initial Impressions
The Monkey Kit itself is a remarkable, sturdy, flexible piece of engineering. We’ll talk about its impressive build quality later, but first let’s talk about what it actually is.
The Monkey Kit comes in a rigid, plastic box. This arrived fairly worse for wear, with the edges bashed and beaten. Inside is some documentation, and the actual kit itself held to the box with some plastic clips. This consists of two components.
The first is an impressively powerful suction cup, called the Vacuum Dock which attaches to your tablet or e-reader. Connecting to that is the impressively built tail, which allows you to position and hold your device.
Using the Monkey Kit
Let’s start off by looking at the Vacuum Dock. This can grip the back of any smooth surface, and firmly hold onto it without your expensive tablet computer falling to the floor and shattering into a million pieces – saving you from replacing the screen How to Replace a Damaged Phone Screen Display Here's how to DIY replace a damaged phone screen display. You don't have to pay for smartphone repairs if you break the screen! Read More at great expense.
This initially was a major concern. After all, tablet computers can be expensive. But, I can confidently say that the suction cup has enough force to safely hold any tablet you throw at it. Once you connect it to your tablet or e-reader, it’s not going to let go without a fight.
It’s also worth noting that the Vacuum Dock also rotates, allowing you to use your tablets in both landscape and horizontal modes.
Setting up the Vacuum Dock requires a huge amount of brute force. To interlock your device, you need to firmly push it against the suction cup, whilst simultaneously pressing the large button located on the side of the dock to expel any remaining air.
Once locked, your tablet isn’t going anywhere. Removing your tablet from the Monkey Kit is a matter of breaking the vacuum seal. This is done by pulling a rubberized tab – something that can’t really be done by accident.
The Monkey’s Tail
Connected to the suction cup is the ‘tail’ of the device. It’s easy to see how this device got its name. It flexes and contorts like that of a monkey. It measures 36 inches, which is long enough to horizontally cantilever an iPad mini at one foot. It also weighs a slightly heavy 1.49 pounds (around 0.65 kilograms).
Bending the Monkey Tail is a bit of an ordeal – one that almost qualifies itself as a workout. It’s consisted out of a pliable metal, with a non-slip silicon coating, and is sufficiently rigid to hold any shape you give it.
Want to hang your Kindle from your bedposts while you read Twilight? Now you can. Want to stand your iPad up whilst you work in Pages with a Bluetooth keyboard? The Monkey Kit makes it possible to do all that.
Living With The Monkey Tail
I tested the Monkey Kit out on my Nexus 7 tablet, a pre-Paperwhite Amazon Kindle and Apple iPad 4. I was interested in comparing how the device would cope with the textured, dimple-covered backplate of the Nexus 7, in relation to the smooth back of the Amazon Kindle and the iPad 4.
The Vacuum Dock coped admirably. So long as the device you’re attaching to the Vacuum Dock is smooth, large enough and sufficiently rigid, you should be fine. With that said, I’d be interested to see how it copes with the wave of curved devices – like the Samsung Galaxy Round and the LG G Flex – that are slated to be released in the next few years.
I was also interested in seeing how it the flexible Monkey Tail would handle the varying weights of each tested device. As mentioned before, I used the kit on a number of devices, each representing the different weight categories of tablet computers. I expected the device to groan under the weight of the significantly heavier iPad 4.
Thankfully, there there was no noticeable sagging or drooping, and the tail faithfully kept is shape without contorting or needing to be adjusted.
That Build Quality
Remember the build quality I mentioned earlier? Yeah, it’s impressive. Take, for example, the Vacuum Dock. This is a monumental specimen of industrial design, and is constructed out of sturdy, thick plastic; with a suction cup constructed entirely of polymer rubber that can firmly hold anything you throw at it.
Likewise, the tail is remarkably sturdy. It can withstand an awful lot of contorting and bending without showing any signs of damage, or wear and tear. It can hold a position almost indefinitely without losing shape, and its thick silicon coating ensures that the chances of it slipping from a slippery surface are next to nil.
Should You Buy The Monkey Kit?
That depends really. The Monkey Kit is a really large, really heavy piece of kit and is not especially portable. It’s also not especially cheap. If you’re just looking for a simple iPad stand so that you can holster your tablet next to your computer, you’d be best looking elsewhere, or making one of your own.
With that said, if you’re willing to spend a premium for a quality, ergonomically friendly tablet stand that can be adapted for multiple scenarios and can take a beating, you might benefit from the Monkey Kit.
MakeUseOf recommends: Buy it, if you use your tablet as a productivity device and tend to work from the same place. When you bring mobility into the equation, it becomes slightly less attractive.
The Winner
Congratulations, AnnaMarie Marigomen! You would have received an email from jackson@makeuseof.com. Please respond before September 7 to claim your prize. Enquires beyond this date will not be entertained.
Send your products to be reviewed. Contact Jackson Chung for further details.
Explore more about: Android Tablet, MakeUseOf Giveaway, Mobile Accessory.
P.S The link to visit the Monkey Kit website, takes you to a page which (with Javascript disabled) displays "JavaScript seem to be disabled in your browser". Perhaps someone could tell the company about their good England.
I'd use it in the kitchen when using an online recipe.
Most definitely. Can think of uses (not just for tablets) for it already.
I will use it to hold my galaxy note 2014 as a second monitor to my laptop. Or try it for my phone on the go.
I will use it to hold my Tab used as a second monitor.
I'll use it outside with my Kindle Fire.
ill use it for my G2 :)
I'll use it for my Blackberry Playbook
I'd use it from my desk to hold the iPad :)
I would use it to hold my cellphone in the position near the window where I get the best reception (in a metal building).
I will use with my smartphone and place it near my bed while I'm sleeping and probably listening to music.
use it from my bed
I'll use it for my tablet and Galaxy S5
going to watch lotsa anime!
for my husbands ipad. I love this product. Never seen it before. :)
For my phone.
with nexus 7
i will use it for my mobile xperia sl
Listening to music while studying.
Place my tablet on my study room desk.
I'll use it with my Nexus 7 2012.
Would use it near my Bose system to have the tablet dedicated for controlling my music.
With my iPad
I'll use it while working in/from the bed.
My laptop computer sits in front of a bedpost. I could put the arm behind the laptop and wrap it around the bedpost so that the tablet hangs above the notebook screen.
i will use it for my mobile
i don't think about it yet
In my car for guiding (gps) it would be perfect
I would use it with iPad.
i'll be great to use w/ tablet, so it wont keep falling off my hands while reading. perfect for reading and watching :)
My daughter is an industrial design student so she loves these uniquely designed products that are highly functional as well
This seems like a far more elegant solution than propping my Nexus 7 up against the side of my desktop and accidentally knocking it over half the time I touch it. Would be great to be able to use my tablet as a reliable second screen and whatnot.
To watch movies with my tablet!!!!
I would use it to read books or to watch movies in bed!
With all the different tablets and devices I have, it would be used daily on anything I can think of.
this would be great for an iPad mini on my desk
I would use for cooking and watching video.
I will use it for my Prestigio Multipad 7.0 Ultra Duo.
i would use it with my ipad . Use Them for watching Youtube's Videos , reading ebook and do my asignment on bed !!
I buy a lot of cookbooks on my Kindle, and this would be perfect for hold the tablet while I cook!
I am going to use it as part of my trading platform
I have a phablet, a 6.1" Huawei phone that is brilliant for watching videos on. However, due to the limited popularity of phablets and specifically, the Huawei phablet, there aren't many (read: 0) accessories for the phone. Currently I prop my phone up using either a tissue box or an old video stand intended for the iPod Touch 4G, however it's near impossible to achieve the perfect viewing angle with these, since the phone keeps slipping on the desk. This Monkey Kit seems like a great solution to this problem and, seeing as how I use a massive phone, portability won't be an issue either.
I would use for cooking and watching video.
I'd use it for my iPad at the table and in bed, watching videos
I would use it for watching videos & reading
Awesome. Just like a lazypod. Tilt anywhere.
For watching movies on my transformer
I would use it with my Ipad
For watching long vids on Youtube, Reading ebook on iPad,..
I'll use it if I win this giveaway. ^_^
I am going to use this for retro gaming where I use an external gamepad.
This would be great to hook over the headboard to read at night, I think.
As a stand for my tablet
I would use it for watching movies!
I would use it with my Nexus 7
I would use this while watching a movie on my iPad
I would use it for watching movies in bed
I would use it for reading
I'd use this everyday...instead of having to hold it or have it in my lap! Paired with my wireless keyboard this is great!
i will use it. that's it
I'm actually thinking of using the tail's shape to attach it to the corner of one of my monitors; it looks like the shape and weight would make it hold well enough.
I'd use it in the kitchen.
I will sell it.
Nice one, I will use this when I'm lying down on bed facing the ceiling. Who's thinking also of watching a movie while you're lying down on bed? Isn't it this cool. Now I can do that already.
This would be great for watching videos on my iPad mini. One day I was watching some in bed and sat the iPad between the arm and the seat on my desk chair lol.
Getting my One+1 soon, this will be a great addition to hold it. Thanks.
In the university
I'll use it to free up hands doing repairs watching "how-to" videos.
Most likely beside my PC to view instant mobile notifications
Well designed and futuristic . A design suitable for all tablets. Love it
Love this stand. I use my iPad in therapy with students who have varying disabilities. I am always looking for ways to position the device to maximize their ability to access, and this looks like something incredibly flexible and functional!
Its the most adjustable stand for any tablet without question!!! So, i'll be using it pretty much always with my tablet on my bed while I am just laying on my bed and watch a movie or anything in any direction as I want without worrying about placing it flat on bed!!!
This would be amazing to watch twitch while lying down in bed <3 sodapoppin
To hold my Nexus 7 while i'm in bed so i can watch Twitch streams without using my hands.
i would give it to my husband
During the day, I have my iPad propped up on my desk to watch TV, run a weather app, etc. This would be a great way to improve my work space.
In the kitchen, while cooking.
I use my tablet for work and play for about 10 hours a day - MonkeyKit would save me a lot of aching finger joints, especially when I am just reading for an hour or two at a time.
Please - make it mine!
To be lazy-ass and lay all day enjoying my Xoom.... Yup, first Xoom...
Books reading.
I really love Monkey Kit to keep my iPad mini standing up!
I would use it on my desk at school
I would use it for my kindle, for easier reading
I will set it with monkey kit in many comfortable positions .
As a lazy person for my tablet.
To hold my phone while I lazily sit in bed.
I would use it to hold my tablet while watching videos or reading.
I would use this to hold my tablet while reading.
I would use it on my desk.
I’d use the Monkey Kit to hold my tablet while reading or watching videos.
I'll use it for my Nexus 7 mostly and occasionally for my exus 5 on my desk while I'm working on my PC to keep it at my eye level.
As a banana holder. It looks way too easy for someone or something to just knock it over. I rather use something with a lower center of gravity when it comes to electronics holders..
I would use it as an expensive beer holder.
It won't work on my note darn it so guess have to use it on other . I liked idea of putting on headboard
I'd use the Monkey Kit to hold my tablet while reading or watching videos.
To hold my tablet for reading and productivity.
This looks like a great device for extended reading. I've got quite a few ebooks I'd love to read on my tablet, but holding onto the thing for hours on end (while the back of the tablet slowly gets warmer, and the tablet slowly gets heavier) isn't my ideal way to spend an afternoon.
I usually watch some prank videos on YouTube with my mom, this would be easier than holding a tablet. :P
I would give it to my daughter to hold her Kindle
a perfect device to hold my e-reader while having sex or masturbating
I really love Monkey Kit to keep my iPad mini standing up!
In any way I could.
I'll use it for Nexus 32GB.
To watch movies while I'm on my bed
Looks like a great way to position my tablet when using a keyboard
As a desk clock, of course!
this nice good one.. but... its more productiv i had seen this product video in kickstarter.com really really love it.. its very useful for student wo regular study from tablet or mobile,
and also useful online watching movie, video or read article... its must use ful even sucessful prdouct.. i think so...
4.5/5.0 rating as per productivity eye
To watch movies whilst I sleep :P
watching movies on the tablet
I would use the Monkey Kit to hold my tablet in a viewable position while I am cooking or working on my car.
I would use it to view all my happy memories (photos) on my iPad and listen to music without any obstruction! :)
Could use that to stand next to me when I'm working on my pc. So I can always view the information on my phone