I purchased this for my husband, who could not find a comfortable way to use his laptop in the family room. It was easy to assemble and took about half and hour to put together. It works either at the couch or in front of a chair. (Though, if you want the legs of the stand to fit under the couch, this might not be the product for you.) The platform is big enough for his 17 inch laptop, mouse, and a mug of coffee with room to spare. The look is fine in a officetech sort of way. If you want an elegant looking product or are picky about matching a formal decorating style, you may not like the look of this product. My husband, who using the laptop for gaming, says that the product sturdy enough and just right for what he needs.