Slashdot Mirror


iWorkstations?

YoDave writes "Have a slick new iMac and a boring old desk? This BBC report may be music to your eyes. John Treby from the University of Hertfordshire has designed the iDesk. It has space age styling with space for all your Apple goodies and not much else. Rain Design of San Francisco is shipping a similar stand called the iGo. PC users can prepare to drool with envy, again."

18 of 332 comments (clear)

  1. No offence... by Chicane-UK · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I don't think PC users drool with envy over Apple Mac computers.. i'd like an iMac, and if I really wanted one that badly i'd sell my PC and buy one. But at the end of the day, an iMac can't do everything my PC so i'm going to stick with it for now.

    Anyway... for me, computer ownership shouldn't be about having to re-mortgage my house just so I can be a trend-whore ;) :)

    --
    "Hey! Unless this is a nude love-in, get the hell off my property!!"
    1. Re:No offence... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful
      You know, I used to think like you. Then I got into business and realized that you must project a certain image to your potential clients.

      There are two critical factors: 1) how your office looks and 2) what kind of an attitude your employees project.

      Beige PC boxes, some of them open and leaknig out a tangeled mess of wires and hard drives on the table, discarded fast food packages on the floor and a tower of Coke cans and bottles in the corner does not send out the "we're professionals - you can trust us" image. It screams: "we're a bunch of losers who can't even keep their own office clean not to mention their code". Employees who wear stained t-shirts, shorts and whose personal hygiene resembles that of a soldier from a WWI trench makes it even worse.

      Slick high tech desks and esthetically pleasing computers with all the wires hidden all project a professional, cool image your potential clients appreciate. Employees should wear comfortable khaki trousers and collar shirts buttoned up. Suit and a tie is an overkill, so relax I'm not talking about a dress code here. But it's worth to remember that an employee who does not care about his or her looks will most likely not care about his work or code either. Messy looks, messy mind.

  2. Looks great by Tim+C · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm all for eye-candy, but the desk looks to be unsuitable for my needs (ymmv, of course). At work, I generally have a couple of books close to hand, printouts of specs, a project plan or two, etc. The paperless office is a nice idea, but I don't see it happening any time soon...

    At home, my desk is a complete mess. CDs everywhere, a book or two, assorted junk that I really ought to put away but never quite get round to doing... There, a desk like this might actually make sense, as it would (hopefully!) force me to be a little tidier. For work, though, it's simply not practical.

    Looks utterly gorgeous, though.

  3. Re:It just looks better. by Bio-Hazzard · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Mac doesn't have the money to do major product placement and why dont we see massive product placement from M$? IMHO movie producers are gonna think something along the lines of "Our main character cant be seen to be 'mainstream' or 'usual' so lets give them something just a little unusual"

    --

    Give a man a fire, he is warm for a day.
    Set a man on fire, he is warm for the rest of his life.

  4. Not very ergonomic design. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Watching monitor on that desk would cause enormous strain on my neck. It's really not nice to look upwards.

  5. iRealityDistortionStations ??? by vnv · · Score: 5, Insightful
    It's always interesting to see how Apple people create designs that contain severe ergonomic flaws, but because they are for Mac, they are hyped to be some sort of revolution.

    For either of the linked iRealityDistortionStations, there is no place to put CD's, papers, a drawing pad, or any other tools. Much less a drink. Or for the Mac crowd, their reality distortion equipment.

    If you want a good workstation desk, check out the following companies. They make excellent systems for a variety of uses, including video and music production.

    Biomorph Interactive Desks

    Anthro Workstations

    Many of the big companies (such as Steelcase, Herman Miller, etc.) that make office furniture also make high quality workstation systems. With all the leftover dotcom equipment lingering about, you can often find tremendous discounts if you dig around at used office furniture and dotcom liquidation companies.

    1. Re:iRealityDistortionStations ??? by squaretorus · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The whole point of these things is less to make your workplace more efficient, more to make any guy/gal you invite over to your place want to have repeated sexual intercourse with you.

      Its about aesthetics and attention to detail. See a mac on this desk and you automatically assume the owner has a nice clean shower cube with none of that orange goo on the tiles, a well services toilet, plenty of paper, and bed sheets that get changed more than once a month.

      You also assume the owner makes full use of the shower cube on a daily basis - probably twice!

      Oh - and you assume they have a bucket of cash because it looks expensive. They don't call these things 'fucking expensive' for nothing!

  6. Where do I put my stuff? by evilempireinc · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Where the hell do I put stuff like reference meterials, notepad, or even, god forbid, a cup of coffee? At least the boring desk works

    --
    we can rebuild this sig. we have the technology
  7. Non practacal by __aafkqj3628 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It may look good, but its functionality as an office workstation is impaired. Unless, of course, you have managed to eliminate all need for paper and take all coffee/meals away from the machine (which is highly inefficent).

  8. Re:useless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    If nothing else the desk shown in the article is an attempt to give each component of a computer its place. Your simple square topped desk does the same of course, and would be my choice too.

    I find it distressing walking into the local furniture store (Harvey Norman here) and finding a dozen computer desks setup... and only one or two even have a place for a mouse. The demo computer systems on most of the desks either have no mouse attached, or a mouse sitting up next to the monitor as it's the only place it'll fit, what with a keyboard drawer only just fitting a normal keyboard in. Heaven help anyone who needs to use their computer for more than a few minutes at a time, the arm strain has to be incredible reaching up to the monitor just to move the mouse.

    And anyone with a slightly larger than normal "internet keyboard" is SOL; they just don't fit under many of the desks.

    Big, rectangular and flat for me thanks. Enough room for 3 PCs if I need.

  9. Re:dumb by invalid_user · · Score: 2, Insightful

    too expensive,too "chic".

    In other words, perfect for your average Mac user.

  10. Re:useless by shepd · · Score: 2, Insightful

    >Instead, get something like this.

    Or, better yet, this!

    Oh how do I love those desks, perfect for everything, and indestructible.

    That last word would explain why nobody makes them anymore. Better for the economy to make sawdust ikea crap that needs to be junked every few years.

    --
    If you could be told what you can see or read, then it follows that you could be told what to say or think - BoC
  11. My desk contents by OzPeter · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Lets see .. whats on my desk right now (from right to left, over about 6 linear feet)?

    80C51 Programmer that I finished building yesterday

    My scanner

    5 photos I have been scanning

    5 rolls of film for my camera

    Circular polarising filter for my camera.

    A copy of Mastering Linux (hardback edition circa 1988) that I use to prop up the screen from my notebook when it is on my desk.

    USB cable for my digital camera.

    A CD of the last film that I got processed.

    A box cutter

    My desktops monitor

    A pile of 20 receipts that I need to sort through

    My cheap as Epson printer

    Remains of photos that I am NOT going to scan

    Several PC cords for my film camera

    Last back up DVD from my desktop

    Pile of my business cards

    Photo loupe for looking at negatives

    More film for my camera

    Some floppies

    Pile of paperwork I have to sort through

    Small lightbox for viewing negatives

    A photo album

    Various negatives that I have been sorting through

    Various pens etc


    So remind me again. Why am I drooling over the apple-like desk that would have 90% of my stuff sitting in the floor???? Not to mention that I rest my arms on my desk whenever I am not typing.

    --
    I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
  12. I agree. by SubjunctiveSam · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You know, that fancy sleek iDesk looks awkward to me. I'm nearsighted so I really have to strain to see text on the screen if my face is more than 18 to 20 inches away. From the pictures, it would seem one's head would sit a good two and a half feet from the screen at least. I have contact lenses, but I can't look at computer screens for very long with them in before they start hurting. For some reason I don't blink as often looking at computer screens. Rewetting drops work for a while, but it's just easier to sit closer. I agree with you completely big, rectangular and flat is the way to go. Much more comfortable.

  13. Re:It just looks better. by gellenburg · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Yes, but even if the Apple logo is taped over, one still recognizes it *as* an Apple. I thus contend that Apple *doesn't* need to plop any money down because they're already getting free publicity and product placement.

    Anyone remember the Drew Carrey episode where Drew was dancing with his iMac in his office?

    Since Apple's machines are as much about style as they are substance, one doesn't necesarily need to see the Apple logo to know it is one.

  14. how did this guy get honors in product design? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Dunno how this guy got honors in product design, the ergonomics of the idesk are terrible. The monitor/lcd is too high, causing the neck to be tilted up, rather than being slightly below the line of sight. This is basic stuff that any ergonomics text book on workstations outlines. FFS

  15. Re:hmm by dipipanone · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Its called the gayDesk, and it has a similiar gay and fruity design as the iMacs

    You're missing the point entirely (though this isn't at all surprising.)

    Guys who use Macs on desks like the one in the picture, get to go out with girls like the one on the picture.

    Guys who use an overclocked Athlon in an aluminum Lian Li or Coolermaster, stuck on top of an old door on bricks get to stay at home Saturday night and surf pr0n.

  16. keyboard centering by chocolatetrumpet · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Along the lines of poor design... the keyboard tray is physically centered with the display. Unfortunately, the useable center of the keyboard is not the physical center; the numeric keypad offsets everything. The useable middle of a keyboard is between the G and H keys.

    --
    Spoon not. Fork, or fork not. There is no spoon.