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I bought an Asus ROG Ally in 2023 which, if you aren’t aware, is a Windows-based gaming handheld. It has a pretty crummy out-of-the-box experience, which I think has hampered its uptake, as it’s a very capable, powerful system for handheld gaming and some light productivity on the go. Maybe I’ll write more about it later or do a YouTube video or something, but it had a “feature” that a lot of people complained about, but which I think is pretty dope.

Inside the box is a pressed-paper stand that was the source of derision in some corners of the internet. The argument is that a device that retails for upwards of $6-700 (though it’s frequently discounted), a paper stand feels cheap, with some reviewers saying that Asus shouldn’t have bothered at all.

I couldn’t disagree more. The stand is a great way of turning the product packaging into something useful. I hate all of the wasteful boxes and protective materials that I have to throw away or hope gets recycled, and it’s pretty novel to see it repurposed as something functional.

It’s light, seems plenty durable, packs away easily and is completely recyclable. It’s great not to see some cruddy piece of plastic and, in this case, the paper stand does the trick nicely. Everybody wins.