desks...

[mikedoggy]

i look at my current setup and i have these (fairly) nice computers and laptop, a nice comfortable chair... and then this pile of crap desk that cant even fit all my stuff so i have this little end table on the side with my laptop.

so im finally thinking its really time to get a nice desk. i mean i have a good job and the money isnt a problem. i spend enough time playing and useing my computers should do it right.

but now my problem is i go looking for desks and im just not really finding much in the way of desks built for 3 to 4 pcs/keyboards/mice. any suggestions? i dont mind paying well if im getting a quality product that will last a long time.

thanks and i know this isnt quite hardware... but it seemed like the best place for this type of question.

edit: spelling

[Xzin]

Hint: nearly every desk made in China with glue and wood chips (Office Max, Staples, Target, Wal-mart, Best Buy, etc) is going to be woefully inadequate for multiple monitors and subsequent load bearing.

Also, none are designed for multiple monitors and few support ergonomic height adjustments or keyboard trays.

If you have the $$, go custom or look for high end vendors, not the crap they sell in big box stores.

Another idea that I just had:

Buy a slab of real wood and go nuts one afternoon in the garage and make a solid desk to fit YOU. 4'x8' sheets of solid wood, some steel pipe cut to length, tapped (free at Lowes, Home Depot) and screwed into some flanges that you screw into the wood and presto.

Add a sliding kb tray and presto. Not much to look at but not terribly expensive either.

You could make a sturdy as anything 3 part, U shaped desk. Screw it together where the edges meet up with some thin steel bar stock and that thing isn't going anywhere. Total cost: maybe $200 and some of your time. If you want to get fancy, route the edges and sand it down.

[Shogun]

What Xzin said tbh, go custom, I got lucky and found a nice desk top that suited my needs in a bargain corner, just had no legs/frame. Ikea do cheap legs that are fixed and I had some fittings lying around to make them adjustable, but Ikea do do adjustable legs too, and they're pretty sturdy.

Kitchen worktops are another route I looked at, but felt they weren't deep enough to get what I wanted on them.

You can buy the runners/brackets for under-desk keyboard trays, I had some from an old desk and used a 4ft (1200mm) length of wood about 400mm deep, have a 1ft long mouse mat on one side, Logitech G15 in the middle, N52 to the left and about 8" (200mm) left spare...

My monitor stands are the same Ikea legs actualy... bought cheap tiltable LCD mounts that are designed to be mounted straight to the wall, drilled holes for the bolts in the upside down legs, which are attached to small 250x200mm boards for support... works great, cheap, adjustable and expandable

I keep meaning to get pics up, but the 4th monitor is broken atm so I'm holding off on pics of the setup etc ;)

[Diamndzngunz]

Ikea has some bad ass Computer Desks. yes you have to buy different parts but its all good. Here is my desk I got from Ikea.

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/3680/dsci0333tb2.jpg
This is a older pic few months but yeah other then that its good.

It also comes with a Swiveling table thing that hangs from the side for your printer.

[Vyndree]

Ikea has some bad ass Computer Desks. yes you have to buy different parts but its all good. Here is my desk I got from Ikea.

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/3680/dsci0333tb2.jpg
This is a older pic few months but yeah other then that its good.

It also comes with a Swiveling table thing that hangs from the side for your printer.

QFT. Look into the IKEA "business" desks - very customizable and you can choose between tons of sizes/configs and they hold up very well to suvega's and my setup.

When in doubt, just get the biggest desk that fits in the space you have. Extra shelves and do-dads are just clutter.

[Ughmahedhurtz]

I've got the cherry version of this:

http://www.officemax.com/omax/catalog/sku.jsp?skuId=20846532&searchString=bowfront&productId=prod670017

I've had a 21" CRT and 2 17" CRTs on it for a couple years now. Very solid and has had no issues with flex or loading or anything else wonky.

[binkiebink]

i want http://www.cool-desk.com/images/CoolDesk.jpg

[Diamndzngunz]

i want http://www.cool-desk.com/images/CoolDesk.jpg

looks cool and plain at the same time.

[binkiebink]

makes it perfect

[mikedoggy]

ya the pcs/monitors im not too worried about. would be nice to have a terraced row of 3/4 keyboards. most everything im seeing though has one tray and a desk so you can get 2 which i may have to settle for but ive seen some pics of multi keyboard trays.

im thining the custom option is the best more i look. my dad has all the woodworking tools ill ever need so i can just swing by his garage one day.

[ngilbert]

Easy way to get a desktop is to purchase a solid core door. can get it up to 7 foot wide by 3 foot deep. Just need to add legs (pipe and pipe flange for a cheap solution.. or build something more substantial) and a keyboard tray.

I held up 7 17-21 inch tubes on one of those, with 6 computers, keyboards and mice no problems.

Have since upgraded to a tanker desk, steelcase... 6 foot by 3 foot deep, adds drawers and just looks more finished.

Check your local goverment liqudation sites for surplus ones. They are pretty much indestructible.


I got mine on ebay (example: http://tinyurl.com/37kxfg) for 50 bucks. There are a couple different types, basically the top, if its even with the sides all the way around or if it extends over the sides/back.

Restoration hardware used to sell the exact same desk for 1000

[mikedoggy]

i like the idea of the door. my dad works construction so ill have him look out for next time they are dumping one on a demo.

id prefer no droors but if i did those tanker desks look like beasts.

i may browse for a local one though... 50 bucks is like nothing for a desk like that.

[Dezeral]

http://www.anthro.com/

Excellent desks here that can hold a ton of gear. They are expensive though.

[Khayos]

I went for the kitchen top route but with style.

I brought a Breakfast bar top, 3m x 90cm in size so its fricken huge, then got the height I wanted from my current chair, built the frame and stuck everything on top and made custom drop downs underneath for the Cases and then mounted all the adapters, router, hub etc underneath on backboards that are attached to the walls. I have a full reclining leather work chair with adjustable back, lumber, height depth height and width with a black leather bean bag for my feet underneath. The monitors are on top with the kb and mouse and printer and anything else that clutters my desk. Gives you a crap load of work space and looks teh shiz too.

:)

[ngilbert]

I want that Anthro Verte chair! And the monitor system from the "carl" line of desks..

[Herc130]

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/9407/21616173i01ne3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://www.officemax.com/omax/catalog/sku.jsp?skuId=21616173&cm_ven=Performics&cm_cat=DealShouter.com&cm_pla=Primary&cm_ite=Primary&affcode=performics&siteID=k142690&mid=

I just got that. I like "L" desk and been using em for a while. The one I have has 4 17" widescreens, 1 42" lcd , 1 24" LCD, keeyboards, mouse and whatever else on is of lesser quility then this sharper image and it has no problem holding everything....I added support under the spot where the 42" screen sits because I have it on the corner where they did not design it to hold much weight. However this sharper image L desk is much thicker glass, thicker steel and the most important part for me....the corner has no legs in the way. I usually sit right in the corner and look left or right to my bot screens. My current L desk is two desk joined in the corner with a little corner addition, so there are desk legs right in my way. The sharper image on is like a uni-body for the two halves and has no legs in the corner, plus the corner should be easily strong enough to hold my 42" monitor without added support. I'll also be adding one table section from my old "L" desk for more space....either make it into a "U" desk or just lengthen the short side of the sharper image desk.