Slashdot Mirror
Home Computer Furniture Solutions
Yet Another Anonymous Coward (that will be an acronym, someday) asks: "I'm tired of trying to cram my 17" monitor, keyboard and case on my desks. And I'm tired of compromising having a nice-looking writing desk for a genero OfficeMax pressboard-desk for my computer. Does anyone know of, or have any personal experience with more creative and ergonomic solutions for their computer? I have investigated quite a few monitor/keyboard arms, but they all require that you mount them on a desk or wall or something. Does anyone know of a free-standing monitor/keyboard swivel-arm mount that actually LOOKS GOOD? "
I have a Jerker, too, although I'm not using it right now (complicated
situation -- bought it in Canada, took it to California, and then came
back to Canada, so I left it with my brother in Seattle, who uses it
with his SPARCstation, 20" monitor, etc.). It's a nice desk, and is
very adjustable (provided you get someone to help you hold various
pieces in place while you move the screws -- I put it together by
myself, but needed help to take it apart and put it together again).
The Jerker was available in the States as of April, 1999 -- I saw it
there when I was visiting Seattle.
I'm currently using an Effektiv desk from Ikea's business furniture
section. It's a beautiful (beech top, silver legs and rails), if
basic desk, 160 cm x 80 cm (5'3" x 2' 7.5"). We splurged and got an
80 cm x 80 cm section as well (yes, that's right, the desk is 80 cm
(2' 7.5") deep and 240 cm (7' 10") long, with a total of seven legs,
one of which is a special leg that supports the joint between the
desktops but still allows you to scoot back and forth without hitting
anything). All of the legs adjust in height. Total cost was
somewhere around CN$550, I believe. My computer sits in the corner,
with my monitor next to it, and my keyboard and trackball in front.
Our printer lives on the far end, leaving me plenty of space in the
middle for writing, piling stacks of paper and books, and all the
other traditional uses for flat surfaces.
For a chair, I'm using a PostureBall -- a 65 cm diameter
rubber ball. Believe it or not, it's really comfortable (once you get
used to it), and it's helped my posture a lot (since you need to keep
your legs on the floor to keep yourself sitting up, you have to sit up
straight). The PostureBall sells for US$45 (we also bought the
optional pump).
What you need is a keyboard monitor that can be hung from a ceiling joist. Make a bracket that could hang off of a 2x4 (not just bolt into it), put some decorative facade to hide the hole in the wall, and hold the damned thing from on high! You eliminate most of the torque problem, since the monitor can be directly below the arm.
Anybody ever see anything like this, or know where to get an industrial-strength Erector set for same?
--The basis of all love is respect
Does anyone know of a free-standing monitor/keyboard swivel-arm mount that actually LOOKS GOOD?
Well, I've used some really nice desk-mount keyboard arms from SteelCase at former jobs.
Monitor arms is where you're just asking for problems--
First, you need to accept that a 17" monitor isn't light by any means. We'll just assume they're 50lb, as mine specs out at 49lb. You're then looking at most arms can be extended by 2' or so...so we're talking about 100ft-lb of torque on the arm. Most arms attach into a little tiny bracket, maybe 6" across or so, and 4" deep.
As we're looking at the weight of the monitor to support, plus the torque it creates, we increase the shear on one side, and decrease it on the other. So, well, assuming that we're only dealing with a line, we've got (50/6) lb/in for the weight, and if memory serves (it's been a few years since I've had to do this), ~200 lb/in at the extremes. So, somewhere about 210lb/in, along a 4" edge, on somewhere near 50psi.
And you want that free standing?
And so you think 'but what if I don't extend it all the way?' Well, unfortunately, I've actually tried putting a 17" monitor on a stand. (well, it was for a friend at work). We cut a hole into the sheet metal, so the bracket could attach, had his desk put back together...only to find that the arm's hydraulics/springs/whatever it had (and it was a SteelCase, also), couldn't keep the monitor lifted...it kept falling back down from the weight.
So, now that I've been completely long winded, here are my recomendations -- if you're going to be shelling out for a swing arm, shell out for an LCD panel first...it'll make it actually functional.
(After that article of the recliner with built in fridge, massage, etc, I was thinking someone needs to upgrade it for a swing arm w/ LCD & keybd, so you could keep a watch on your systems while watching TV.)
Build it, and they will come^Hplain.
Get a piece of paper, get the dimmentions of the room and the area that you could put your pc desk into... Next... Get a program like autocad/something simpler and figure out what you need in the way of space, not just on top of the desk, but draws etc... then build it
Nothing will ever meet your needs as well as something build and customize yourself.
The Reality in which we choose to live in really sucks
IKEA's US website is www.ikea-usa.com . I've ordered other furniture from them and have had a good business relationship. Just get their catalog via the request form and then browse to your heart's content. Their newest catalog just came out (got it last week, actually) and I love it. Good quality and good prices too. Shipping CAN get expensive though. I have never worked for this company, by the way. And I can't wait for their Boston store coming sometime in 2001.
I was in a similar situation not long ago, though my monitor is 21" and my computer a full tower.
More folks should consider ergonomics -- especially furniture manufacturers. Most of the truly ergonomic furniture is extremely expensive, but if you're mindful of the seat-desk-keyboard-monitor relationship, then even lowly stuff can be made to work.
Here's what I bought:
OfficeMax#:01215553
Product Name:Cherry Corner Desk
Dimensions:29-5/8"h x 47-3/16"d x 47-3/16"w
I also purchased a 36" Desk from this collection -- the Bush OfficePro Cherry Collection -- to complement the right side of the corner desk; that way I can place my printer and some other devices nearby but away from the general work area on the corner desk.
OfficeMax#:01215688
Product Name:Cherry 36" Desk
Dimensions:29-5/8"h x 26-13/16"d x 35-3/8"w
The corner desk costs US $179; the 36" desk costs $139. I also purchased on clearance a retractable keyboard arm that normally sells for about $225 for about$100 but still haven't installed it; the combination of a good chair and the corner desk orientation gives me loads of depth so that I can rest my arms on the desktop. (The high-quality office chair w ason sale for $99 from $170).
Though we're fortunate to have an IKEA nearby, they didn't have a desk with the depth that I required. Also, the Bush furniture has been of decent quality -- and it's far cheaper.
Good luck.
Go to OfficeMax and follow the links to "Desks - Modular Office Systems" for more info.