Turn your Surface Pro into a flexible desktop PC with the Octa Spider Monkey

By Daniel Rubino
last updated

The Octa Spider Monkey is a cool accessory if you use the Surface Pro a lot.

Although some of us have both a desktop PC and Surface Pro for travel, many people make the Microsoft two-in-one their central computer all the time. One trick in doing that is using a Surface Dock and some accessories like an external full keyboard and mouse.

The Octa Spider Monkey is a $69 part that you can pick up on Amazon. The concept is simple: a metal coil lets you mount the Surface Pro wherever at almost any height. The "claw" grip holds on to the Surface Pro, and the user can adjust the coil appropriately.

I've been using the Spider Monkey for the last week, and it's an ingenious device. Some uses include:

  • Mounting the Surface Pro on an elliptical or treadmill to watch TV when exercising.
  • Using in the kitchen when cooking and following a recipe (or watching the news).
  • Leaving at work as part of your Surface Pro desktop setup.
  • Using it in bed to hold your Surface Pro while watching a movie.

The quality of the Spider Monkey is excellent, and while you may worry about it being top heavy, I didn't find any deal-killers when using it.

Sticking in a bag is possible as you can straighten it out, but it's a bit awkward depending on the size of your bag.

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Octa Spider Monkey Surface Pro

Overall, I think the Spider Monkey is a worthy purchase if you use a Surface Pro for media consumption, or take it almost everywhere in your house.

Check out my video review above and let me know what you think.

If you have any other Surface-related accessories, you want me to review let me know in comments, and maybe we'll take a look!

See Spider Monkey at Amazon (opens in new tab)

Pros:

  • Quality materials and easy to use.
  • Lets you use Surface Pro is new ways.
  • Great for Surface Pro-as-desktop setups.

Cons:

  • A bit expensive.
  • Can be finicky with some bounce and movement.
Daniel Rubino
Daniel Rubino
Editor-in-chief

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007 when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and for some reason, watches. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.

6 Comments
  • I like it. Not sure the flex cable thing wouldn't get in the way, but it looks great. Right now I sit my Pro on the HP Elite X3 box 🤓☹😣 so this looks like a much better solution.
  • Can it also hold surface in portrait orientation?
  • Ok I found out on Amazon it can hold surface in portrait orientation.
  • Nice. The height of a pro just sitting on a desk is not ideal due to neck strain.
  • Picked one up. Now that I found out how to use the rotation lock to keep it from spinning, it's perfect.
  • Has anyone used this with the Surface Book screen? I can see it being helpful depending on the angles and firmness for writing or viewing at an angle without getting the screen wobble like when it's attached to the base.