Just saw this and had to jump in! I am absolutely obsessed with finding the perfect budget setup that actually keeps your gear safe!! Honestly, spending 90 bucks is wild when you can get amazing metal ones for way less. Quick question tho, what size laptop are you using? Some stands get super shaky if you have a heavy 16-inch machine on them and I would hate for yours to tumble while you are working. Here are two I love for being cheap but super reliable:

• Nulaxy C3 Foldable Laptop Stand Aluminum Alloy
• This one is fantastic because it folds flat and feels indestructible since its metal.
• iVoler Laptop Holder Stand Adjustable Aluminum Multi-Angle
• Really stable base and usually under 20 bucks on sale! Metal is definitely the way to go for peace of mind... I would be so scared of cheap plastic snapping mid-work! Better to save the cash and get something solid.

Honestly, I totally get the frustration with the price of the Roost. 90 bucks for some plastic is a tough pill to swallow, even if it is the gold standard. I bought a cheap knockoff once and the leg snapped while I was at a library... nearly killed my laptop. Not a fun day. Unfortunately, most affordable stands are either super flimsy or way too big for those tiny Seattle cafe tables. You finally find a spot to work and then realize your setup needs its own zip code. Since you're on a budget, I've had some luck with these:

• iVoler Adjustable Aluminum Laptop Stand 6-Level Design
• This is what I usually toss in my bag now. It's solid metal, not plastic, and folds into a tiny stick. It feels way more premium than the price suggests, tho it doesn't get quite as high as the Roost.
• Moft Invisible Slim Laptop Stand Adhesive Version
• I really wanted to love this one because it's so thin, but it only has two height settings. It's great because it sticks to the laptop, but honestly, it didn't save my neck as much as I hoped. Basically, if you want to fix the neck pain, you need to get the screen to eye level. Just keep in mind that using a stand like the iVoler means you'll need a separate keyboard. Typing on a laptop that's tilted up at 45 degrees is a nightmare for your wrists. Trust me, I learned that the hard way after a week of typing on an incline... my hands felt like claws.

Been working remote for over a decade now and honestly, I went through a dozen stands before I finally figured out the perfect setup. One thing people always forget when they're hunting for a stand is the actual desk height in these Seattle cafes. Some of those tables are weirdly low or super tiny, which changes everything for your posture. Quick question for you tho-what's your keyboard situation? Are you planning to type on the laptop while it's elevated, or do you have a separate Bluetooth keyboard? If you're typing directly on a raised laptop, you're just trading neck pain for wrist tendonitis, which is a whole other nightmare. You really need a separate keyboard if you're going for true ergonomics. In my experience, if you want something that isn't a plastic toy like the Nexstand but also doesn't cost a fortune, you might like the Besign LS10 Lightweight Adjustable Aluminum Stand. It's way more stable than those cheap scissor-style ones that wobble when you breathe on them. Another solid pick is the Rain Design mBar Pro Foldable Aluminum Stand. It's super sleek and fits in a sleeve without adding any bulk. Pro tip: if your budget is tight, just skip the fancy carrying case and wrap your stand in a spare thick sock so it doesn't scratch your laptop while it's in your bag. It sounds a bit janky but it works like a charm... anyway, let me know about that keyboard and I can give better advice.

Ugh, I feel this so much!! Honestly, it is such a scam how these companies charge a premium for literally a handful of plastic parts that feel like they came out of a 3D printer! It drives me crazy because I've spent hundreds over the years trying to find something that doesn't feel like it's gonna dump my $2000 MacBook on the floor.

• The pricing is absolutely wild. Ninety bucks for a stand? That's like a car payment for some people, it's just plain greed at this point!
• Quality has gone off a cliff lately. I bought one last year that looked premium online and it literally wobbled every time I breathed on it. I was terrified my laptop would hit the deck during a zoom call.
• Companies just don't care about our health or our wallets anymore. They know we're desperate to stop our necks from snapping like twigs so they hike the prices up to see how much we'll take. It's honestly ridiculous how hard it is to get a decent, reliable piece of gear without getting totally ripped off!!