The Ultimate Computer Desk

[hop-frog]

I am building myself a computer desk and thought I would ask around for ideas regarding the design. What desks have you used or seen? What did you like or dislike about them? Are slideout keyboard shelves nice or an annoyance? Share pictures/links if you like.

[JayMan8081]

If you have a CRT monitor I think a corner unit makes better use of space. I would say that a keyboard tray is nice to have. It's not really an annoyance and keeps the keyboard protected when not in use.

[hop-frog]

Yeah, it is CRT. Is the mousepad usually placed on the sliding tray with the keyboard?

[psych-major]

I've used both: mouse on the keyboard tray, and not. I preferred a setup where the keyboard was on a tray but the mouse (optical, no pad) was on the desk. Using the mouse on the tray seemed a little awkward to me.

[JayMan8081]

I've also used both ways for the mouse as well. At work I have the mouse on the keyboard tray, but at home I have it on the desk. I have it on the desk at home because I do some gaming and it gives me a lot more room. At work where I am just doing programming I don't need to move my mouse a lot in a small amount of time so it is okay for it to be on the tray. So I guess it depends on what you use your computer for most of the time.

[Hmse]

I personally dislike the keyboard trays.
One very nice thing is to put the monitor on a shelf with space under neath it for papers, etc.
Another, if you use cds often is to incorporate a cd rack.
But the biggest thing I have to say is important is make it big. My desk is about 4x3 and its way to small.

[psi42]

I have the mouse on the keyboard tray, because then I do not need to move my hand vertically to use it.

[TheSpeedoBeast]

I always DESTROY my knees on keyboard trays, so I stay the HECK away from them whenever possible.

[DimGR]

just a long regular table will do it for me:)

i have 1 pc 2 monitors and 2 laptops on a long table and its just fine

[Parcival]

I tune in to the chorus of those who have the mouse on the desk, but for a different reason:

When I have the mouse sitting on a tray of its own, my arm hurts a lot more at the end of the day, especially if I don't work but play games that require moving the mouse a lot. I have positioned my mousepad on my desk in such a way that my entire forearm can rest on the desk so it's more or less only the wrist that moves, and I have never had any pain ever since.

[mrBen]

/me uses a trackball :)

[eskaypey]

Hey there is a thread where people posted the desk shots of their own, and you can find it HERE (http://www.justlinux.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=138789&highlight=computer+desk+setup) .
Personally i dont like keyboard trays. For me it just feels a bit gauche.

[JamminJoeyB]

Kill the keyboard trays. Also bigger is better. If you have the room get/build the biggest thing you can. Also make sure what ever you get you have easy access to the box for trouble shooting purposes. I hate it when friend askes me to help them with a pc problem and the dam thing is stuffed into one of those cabinets that is only slightly bigger then the box to begin with. 20 minutes of wrestling the dam thing out to trouble shoot is a PITA.

FYI
I'm having a friend build be a custom monitor stand that will hold one 19'' and 2 17'' monitors. It will be "T" shaped as I want the 19'' on the bottom and the 17s on top.

The 19'' will be powered by an AGP nvidia 6600gt and the 17's will have dedicated dedicated PCI riva tnt cards.

Gotta do something interesting with the two samsung monitors I picked up for $30.

[heckle]

I'm having a friend build be a custom monitor stand that will hold one 19'' and 2 17'' monitors. It will be "T" shaped as I want the 19'' on the bottom and the 17s on top.

Are these all on different machines? If so, why not just use a KVM switch for them.

[JamminJoeyB]

Guess I should have been more specific. They will be on one system. Currently I have two 17s running. I'm getting the 19'' and the nvidia 6600gt next month.

The fun part will be doing screenshots with xinerama on. :D

[LNXchd]

Posted by DimGR

just a long regular table will do it for me

I like that idea....if my office was big enough I would just use a rectangular table as well. Makes playing with them lots easier than having them under a desk and fighting cables all the time. Makes it hard to keep 'em nice and neat.

[Alex Cavnar, aka alc6379]

This would be my ideal desk:

http://www.lian-li.com/Product/OA/OA_F1.htm

schweet...

[TheSpeedoBeast]

Originally posted by Alex Cavnar, aka alc6379
This would be my ideal desk:

http://www.lian-li.com/Product/OA/OA_F1.htm

schweet...

WEIRD, I had no idea lian li made desks! WEIRD!