As mentioned by #-Link-Snipped-# and #-Link-Snipped-#, most of the routers have omnidirectional antennas whose signal radiation spreads in the pattern of doughnut. The radiation is maximum in a plane perpendicular to the antenna and goes on decreasing as one goes to the ends of the antenna.
Hence to get a maximum signal from the router to your laptop etc., one should keep all three antennas:
1. Parallel to each other
2. Perpendicular to imaginary line of sight connecting your laptop position to somewhere in the middle of the antenna.
If all the three antennas are interconnected as single set, which is usually the case in maximum indoor routers, then all three should be positioned parallel to each other as a single set: ||| or \\\ or ///. If there are three antennas in total, two antennas connected as pair and remaining antenna connected as a separate transmitter, then the two sets can be pointed in different directions: ||/ or ||\ etc.
But as we have multiple devices using the same router, the antennas can be kept in \|/ position. As the range of operation for all devices mobiles, laptops, etc is confined indoor and does not extend beyond few meters, I think difference in signal due to \\\ ||| /// or \|/ position would not be noticeable. Please comment if anyone notices difference in signal due to change in antenna positions.
Source:
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omnidirectional_antenna" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Omnidirectional Antenna</a>
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipole_antenna#Radiation_pattern_and_gain
P.S. What would Mr. Spock do? \\/