I prefer floor since it gives more desk room, but keep it on the desk instead since it seems safer for the computer. My first computer, a PCjr, died from getting peed on by a cat. Another time I had left Nero burning a disc and it ejected it when done. A friend came and used the computer and accidently kicked the tray that was sticking out, breaking the drive. It was my favorite drive too, an expensive SCSI Plextor. T.T