Computer Desks, What do you look for?

I'm moving to my new house in just over two weeks time.
Right now I'm using a kitchen table and some shelves to setup my desktop system.
When we move my wife wants to use a real computer desk. I have been ordered by the wife that I cannot use the table we're using now. She wants to use the table for sewing and wants it set up in the basement. She doesn't even want the computer set up on the table temporarily until we find a computer desk.
I'm frustrated because we're moving and I don't see the necessity to spend money right now on computer desk when we have a perfectly good table to use.
So far everything I have seen hasn't made any real take home impressions on me.
Currently I use a kitchen type table. On the table I have the mid-tower, monitor, speakers, UPS, docking station for my camera, docking station for my pocket PC, keyboard and mouse.
On shelves screwed to a wall I have my three-in-one printer, router and dsl modem. I also use the shelves to store software CD ROMs, floppy disks, hardware tool kit, headphones and owner manuals.

My goal is to have all this equipment housed inside and on a computer desk but not have to spend alot a money. I will need a chair too.
It's not a problem finding a chair for $100.00 but I don't want to spend more than $300.00 on a desk and chair combination.
The only problem I have not found a desk I like in the $200.00 range. I realize I'm not going to get solid wood for that price point. I don't have a problem with composit products. My problem is all the desks I have seen are too small or too large. I'm having Goldylocks issues. Nothing seems to be right. I really don't like the big wall style computer desks. I find large desks overwhelming and an eye distraction. I'm looking for desk that can hold all of my equipment but in a tasteful size that's not an eye distraction. I'm looking for desk that looks like a computer desk but not something that demands your eye attention when you walk in the room. I'm looking for something that is small but large enough to suite my needs.
I would like to keep the mid-tower off the ground to limit the amount of dust and carpet fibre being sucked inside the case. I don't like things at my feet. The last thing I want to do is kick the mid-tower or UPS block. I also don't want the mid-tower inside a paneled shelf and behind a door to prevent heat build up. Also I like the look of my mid-tower. It's not too bad to look at. I call it <b>"My Tower of Power"</b>.
Hoping Eden will be able to help since he works at Office Depot/Staples or some other big chain office supply retailer.
So far I have gone to a couple of furniture stores but I haven't had any luck.


<font color=red><i>Doctor Hooter</i></font color=red> <A HREF="http://www.page3.com/" target="_new"><b>(·Y·)</b></A>

Yeah we have Ikea.
I was thinking about getting a kitchenette table with a couple chairs. For $300.00 you can get a plain solid pine or solid oak table and chairs. And it would be large enough to hold all of my equipment without having to screw shelves to the wall.
That would be a last resort if I can't find a computer desk I like. Also I don't think my wife would like it if I used another kitchen type table as a computer desk.

<font color=red><i>Doctor Hooter</i></font color=red> <A HREF="http://www.page3.com/" target="_new"><b>(·Y·)</b></A>

Basic table. I have a heavy old dining room table. Very plain. It works great and provides plenty of space for everything.

s signature has been formatted to fit your scr

I've had the same scandinavian designs desk for over 18 years. You could go there and see if you like anything. The quality is very good.

</font color=red><i><font color=red>GOD</font color=red> <font color=blue>BLESS </font color=blue><font color=red>AMERICA

For that amount of cash, you need to either build one (if your not handy, maybe you have family member or friend build), buy used furniture like from someones garage sale, or improvise like ya been doing.


_____________________________________________
<font color=red> And the sign says "You got to have a membership card to get inside" Huh
So I got me a pen and paper And I made up my own little sign </font color=red>

I had an awesome desk that I had to give up due to space considerations. My wife convinced me to get this armoire desk to put in the living room (she wanted it to look like furniture). Don't do it man. The thing is too small and cramped. I have nowhere to stretch my legs (I'm 6'1 and I really need to stretch out)or stash my stuff. Next time I'm going to build my own.

Homer: Son, a woman is like a beer. They smell good, they look good, you'd step over your own mother just to get one! But you can't stop at one. You wanna drink another woman.

Bought an Ikea "L" shaped desk several years ago.
Plenty of room for 2 desktop machines and a laptop.
Bought 2 stack shelf systems to sit on top for stuff.
I'd take pics, but my wife won't let me have a digi cam. She's already got one, and doesn't understand why I want my own. pfftt....

<font color=blue> "Always bear in mind that your own resolution to success is more important than any other one thing" - Abraham Lincoln </font color=blue>

Thanks for all the great tips.
I feel like I'm fvkced on the desk issue.
I like what I have now because it works for me.
Wife....Websters definition should be "Demon"

<font color=red><i>Doctor Hooter</i></font color=red> <A HREF="http://www.page3.com/" target="_new"><b>(·Y·)</b></A>

Lumber must be cheaper up north. For everything, I had roughly $150 in mine and mine wasn't nothing fancy. (Pictures in my signature) (That total includes all wood, screws, stain and such, drawer hardware)

Cabinet grade plywood (Perfectly straight, and no knots, 3/4" ) was roughly $40 a sheet. (Best price I could find locally)

If I had more room I defaintly would have built it much bigger. But it is defaintly tons better than the cheap thing I had before. And I gauruntee it is ten times stronger than anything you would buy from a standard furniture store (non-commercial).


My Desktop: <A HREF="http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html" target="_new">http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html</A>

well as an industrial designer i study "ergonomics"

one of the largest issues is the computer desk, and ironicly mine is a very very bad example of one.

the desk should have a lowerable keyboard rest, that will be able to lower to the hight of your knees, and preferably tip backwards about 5 degrees.

the height of the top part of the desk, should leave the monitor, at just below eye height, eyes hitting about 2/3rds up the screen when looking straight. this will stop neck strain, and slouching. (mine does this ok)

your desk should have the right chair with it. a good chair could cost $600 (which will last you a lifetime and be good for your body)

the chair should be fully adjustable, angle of the seat, depth of the seat, height of the chair, angle of the backrest, lumbar support.

the height of the seat is whats comfortable to you, but it should be about the "sitting popliteal height" this is the crease at the back of your knees.

i hope some of that helps.

if you have any questions that are more specific feel free to ask, i have a number of contacts in the industry who know everything (chair and desk designers)

but for your lifetime health, you are going to need to be prepared to pay, it can get expensive.

Alltaken

<A HREF="http://www.mudpuddle.co.nz" target="_new">http://www.mudpuddle.co.nz</A> its where its all going on, oh and its also all going on HERE <A HREF="http://doug.mudpuddle.co.nz/gallery/" target="_new">http://doug.mudpuddle.co.nz/gallery/</A>

I looked for a good commercial desk for a while, but really couldn't find one in decent shape locally that didn't cost a fortune. Just seemed like a used desk shouldn't cost $300.

Actually I probably would have used boards as well to build my desk, as I really only wanted functinality, but my girlfriend said it had to look like furniture, so I decided the plywood was the way to go, overall I am happy with the way it turned out.

And for the formica, its great for holding up against abuse (As you already know). I had wore the finish off of my other desk where the mouse sat (Well I guess you really wouldn't call it a finish).

My Desktop: <A HREF="http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html" target="_new">http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html</A>

Now my car parts and powertools go in a different catagory then furniture.

I just couldn't justify $300 for the desks that I was finding. Had they been a little less beat up, or been something truely nice, it could have been more justified. I just didn't want to spend a ton of time searching surplus stores and such.

My Desktop: <A HREF="http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html" target="_new">http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html</A>

All the advice is great.
About now I'm so frustrated I feel like selling my desktop, selling my old notebook and going out and buying a new notebook with a DVD-+RW and wireless nic with basestation.
I've had it with all the wires and peripherals.

<font color=red><i>Doctor Hooter</i></font color=red> <A HREF="http://www.page3.com/" target="_new"><b>(·Y·)</b></A>

I feel your pain. I also went the kitchen table route when I was looking for a good desk. It seems that anything that came close to what I needed would cost $600+. It's not that some of the cheaper desks you find in Staples, K-Mart, or Home Depot are not good, but they just don't work for everyone. For me, I needed space for dual CRTs, pro-audio monitors, and a synth keyboard or mixing board, plus have access for the cables. I used a 4-port KVM to connect 3 systems, and made a keyboard drawer to put under the table.

I still look in case I find something better, but I keep running into the same sticker shock. You may just want to frequent the Goodwill and Salvation Army stores in the area and see what might work with a little modification. You can usually find some decent furniture for under $100, then just spend an extra $30-50 over at Home Depot for the extra supplies you need to modify and enhance it to work for you. Nothing extravagent, just a couple boards, drawer slides, maybe a wire grommet and a small piece of house gutter to hide wires, etc. The extra cash you save can go for a good chair or the extra 6-pack of beer you'll drink while enhancing the new desk.

The only other option would be to build from scratch, as you can build it to suit your needs. I'll probably build my next one from scratch using scratch-and-dent kitchen cabinets and countertops (the benefit of working for a lumberyard ). You may want to try that route too, but make sure it's not new stuff, or you'll be paying fine furniture prices.

Jarrett

You're right!
By the time I purchased the hardwood, hardware, finish and tools needed to build my own desk it would cost me close to a grand.
Although I could use building a desk as a good excuse for buying some nice new power tools. But the problem is I don't want to spend any money on any of this stuff because I'm moving into a new house in two weeks and I don't have any money to waste on needless things.

<font color=red><i>Doctor Hooter</i></font color=red> <A HREF="http://www.page3.com/" target="_new"><b>(·Y·)</b></A>