Belkin CushTop Notebook platform Steel, Burnt orange

Having bought a new Dell laptop nearly six months ago, I felt I also needed something to rest it on when I'm online and want to sit on the sofa or one of the armchairs and this cush-top looked ideal.

It's made by Belkin, a reputable brand, and a household name in electronics accessories.

It's fairly rigid and reminds me of the memory foam that's used in mattresses now. My one is grey on the outside although the inside (strangely called the pocket) which is where you thread through any cables, is a lime green, and not burnt orange as in the description given here.

My laptop is 17 inches diagonally, and this cushtop fits it perfectly. It measures 25 centimetres in depth at the top and 32 centimetres at the bottom. The width is 29 centimetres at the top and 42 at the bottom. Belkin have tried to make this as ergonomic as possible for laptop users, because the angle my laptop sits at means that I get a clear view of the screen and don't have to lean forward or backward to get a better look.

Since I bought it I've found it's so much easier than just having my computer on my lap. It keeps the laptop stable when I'm typing by absorbing any movement and so my legs don't feel the constant keystrokes. It's also really lightweight, considering how firm it is, so I hardly notice having it on my lap when I'm online for long periods.
When I want to use my laptop, I simply lift up the cushtop by both sides of the 'pocket' to get a grip, there's no fiddling about trying to get my hands underneath it.

I paid nearly £20 for mine from Dell when I bought my laptop five months ago, but prices appear to have dropped, with Dabs.com selling them for only £12.23 now so it's worth shopping around if you're thinking of getting one yourself.

If you own a laptop and usually sit with it on your lap, then I would recommend you look at getting one of these, you'll find it keeps your computer a lot more stable than using just your legs to balance it on.

If there is a downside then it has to be the colour. I'm sure Belkin could have made these in a more attractive colour than just grey. Although, as I said, the 'pocket' together with the little rubber Belkin tag is green, it's barely noticeable and the overall appearance is somewhat bland.

This is a really short review, but that's because there isn't really anything else to say!