Too often in my time I've seen people with their iMac or monitor sitting on top of books or some other haphazard system to raise the screen to a more ergonomic level. Worse, I've seen people with their slick little Mac mini shoved behind a monitor, USB hub or some other piece of hardware. There's no need for this kind of nonsense when you've got something as simple as NewerTech's NuStand mini XL at your disposal.

As the name implies, this stand/riser is designed specifically with the Mac mini in mind. Its 3.5" clearance offers more than enough space for a mini and any mini-specific accessories you may have, such as the AirPort Extreme or Time Capsule. And at nearly 14" wide, there's room on the sides for other small items or for cables to slip underneath, if you still have them.

If you don't have a mini, the NuStand mini XL is still good for slipping an Apple Wireless Keyboard or similar sized device beneath your iMac or other monitor. If you're using your laptop with a secondary keyboard and monitor, the MacBook will slide under the NuStand mini XL, as well.

Aside from organization, a great benefit to the stand is ergonomic placement of your monitor. It'll raise a 27" iMac too high, depending upon your chair placement, but I found it a perfect height for the 21.5" iMac. That means it'll also work with with similarly sized widescreen monitors.

The NuStand mini XL is a single piece of solid acrylic, offering a transparent appearance that blends into your desktop. It's a great match for not only the current line of Apple products, but for future products as well. I've reviewed other stands that share Apple's current aluminum aesthetic, and whereas that's all well and good right now, it may look odd when Apple updates its designs.

Equally important, the NuStand mini XL is very sturdy and not easily scratched. The padding on the two full-length legs protect your desktop and keeps the stand in place, and I saw no center bowing during my two-month testing period. It's pretty thick.

The only complaints I have are rather small. It would be nice if a groove had been carved into the surface for placement of a pen or other device so it wouldn't roll off the stand. Not necessary, of course, but I find myself using that feature quite a bit on the other stands I've tested. Second, there's no ability to rotate your monitor. It's an unfair complaint considering the NuStand mini's sparse, single-piece design, but if that's a feature you want, you'll have to look elsewhere.

Those aside, the NuStand mini XL is a great option for those looking to raise their monitor a bit, especially if they're raising it above a Mac mini.

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