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PCs in the Living Room?

Posted by Cliff on from the comfortable-and-portable-yet-unobtrusive dept.

mwebert asks: "OK. I figure a large number of my fellow Slashdot readers have encountered this same scenario, so please respond. Right now, we keep our Dell Inspiron notebook on the corner of our coffee table in the center of our living room, accessing our home wireless network, and allowing the user to see the TV and multitask their little heart out. (Yay, IMDB!) That said, sitting on the edge of the couch (or worse, the floor) is getting old fast. Of course, I could get a true desk, but I don't want it to face the wall or corner, and I don't want it to turn the decor of my living room into a dentist's office reception area. I'm looking for a handsome (yet unobtrusive and functional) rolling workstation, preferably with a shelf/drawer or two. I've checked out http://www.anthro.com/ - but their offerings look pretty utilitarian, don't they? Any other ideas?"

8 of 78 comments (clear)

  1. IKEA by LostCauz · · Score: 3, Informative

    http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Prod uctDisplay?catalogId=10101&storeId=12&productId=11 533&langId=-1&parentCats=10121*10390

    Boom.

  2. Um. Simple. by Seumas · · Score: 2, Informative

    I have a couple "buffet" tables (the long brown kind with the folding legs that you see in office buildings) from OfficeMax. You can get them for about $40 each. I stuck them in my living room in front of the widescreen television - about where most people would put their sofa (I dont' have a sofa or loveseat or recliner or anything).

    Then, I put my chair in front of the desk.

    Then... I do my computer stuff at the desk. And I can watch TV at the same time.

    As far as decor.. who cares. Are you Martha Stewart? Unless you're a millionaire, your home is never going to look like anything more than a cheap regular-people home with matching IKEA products. Go for spare. Go for sparse. Go for utilitarian.

    I don't care that most people think it's weird that I have no dining table or seating of any sort (other than an office chair). I have a TV and a desk in the living room, because I like it and I can do everything I want (except sleep) in the same room.

    As for drawers... just drop $40 on one of those plastic rubbermaid shelving units on rollers that you can get at Staples or OfficeMax. Put it next to yoru $40 buffet tables. Now you not only have tons of storage, but you can move it if you need to.

  3. Better coffee table by Nutria · · Score: 3, Informative

    At an "unfinished furniture" store, we (wife & I) found a coffee table where the "upper flat part" of the table is on spring-loaded hinges.

    Thus, if you are sitting at the edge of the sofa, you lift up the top of the table, and it pivots up to you.

    Very handy.

    --
    "I don't know, therefore Aliens" Wafflebox1
  4. White Trash Coffee Table by Anne_Nonymous · · Score: 3, Informative

    Y'all need a white trash coffee table, boy. Whoo-hoo! You c'n get 'em in a variety of styles an' prices, an' they look plum elegant in most any doublewide.

  5. Coolpad and a Lap by JPyObjC+Dude · · Score: 2, Informative

    If you don't mind using a touchpad, I strongly suggest getting a coolpad and just lap your laptop.

    http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=P A241U

    The Coolpad is probably the best money I have spent on a product for my laptop usage. By positioning differently for different conditions. ie. laying down in bed, leaning on steering wheel while parked, or just on a desk).

    JsD

  6. laptop cart by Vacendak · · Score: 2, Informative

    I use my laptop in my living room just like you. My wife bought me this for Xmas and it works great for me. http://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/S taplesProductDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10051 &langId=-1&productId=101575&cmArea=SEARCH

  7. a 'keyboard' stand by Alrescha · · Score: 2, Informative

    I use one of these:

    http://www.thehumansolution.com/45170.html

    Which is a Balt Key-Rite keyboard stand. It's more than roomy enough for a large laptop.

    A.

    --
    ...bringing you cynical quips since 1998
  8. Lap Desk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Actually, I used to use a laptop on the couch and in bed a bit and found that a "lapdesk" worked really well. They are cheap, protect you from burns, and (can be) quite comfortable.

    Here are some ideas of what I am referring to:
    http://www.organize-everything.com/lapdesks.html
    http://www.organize-everything.com/laptraywhite.ht ml

    One note: The ones that have sides are more comfortable since they rest on the couch/bed and don't even touch you lap (depending on your size of course...)

    The one I had (from Bed, Bath, and Beyond IIRC) was wooden, pleasant looking, and had a surface that would raise/tilt which made it great for reading books also.

    Hope this helps.