is Ikea the be-all, end-all for computer desks?

[nageov3t]

should I bother looking elsewhere?

my needs are pretty simple... I just want something long and narrow, at least long enough to have room for 2 x 24" monitors and my desktop (I like to have it on top of the desk for easy access + less dust). no drawers, no hutch, just a table + legs. a hole or two for cable management would be nice, but I'm not averse to drilling them myself.

I'm defaulting to Ikea, but debating if I should be looking anywhere else too. (real wood instead of pressboard might be nice, but I'm not sure it's worth the money right now when I'm only renting... long-term, if I ever owned a house, I'd probably ring up my craftsman cousin and commission him to build me a custom desk)

right now, my desk is just a repurposed dining room table, but I have to use the leaf insert to have enough space and I feel like the leaf is a total dust/crud magnet... every few weeks, I have to clear off the entire desk so I can dust out the spaces where the leaf connects to the table.

 

[KaOTiK]

I'm using an old school science table. Made for 2 people to sit at, lots of room and its metal with a lament wood top. Sturdy as hell and been using it for close to 12 years. Bought it from a local high school that was sells off old equipment each year for like $50. Love it.

 

[Juddog]

The Galant (Ikea) series is pretty solid and I would recommend it. They are a lot more sturdy than they look and you can customize it in all kinds of crazy ways.

You can always try looking around on craigslist also for good bargains.

 

[Doppel]

Frankly I would not even burn Ikea furniture for warmth if I were freezing to death, that is how little I think of it.

I am currently using a 5' long desk I built out of $50 in wood from Home Depot. 1.5" thick top of solid wood and 3.5" thick legs. Even if you are not very inclined with wood working you can throw something together based on simple plans online with a drill and screws.

 

[JBT]

The Galant (Ikea) series is pretty solid and I would recommend it. They are a lot more sturdy than they look and you can customize it in all kinds of crazy ways.

You can always try looking around on craigslist also for good bargains.

I've got a Galant series as well. It works great and is a lot better quality for the price than others I've seen. Its not high end by any means, but its not going to be destroyed when you move it either.

 

[FallenHero]

Frankly I would not even burn Ikea furniture for warmth if I were freezing to death, that is how little I think of it.

I am currently using a 5' long desk I built out of $50 in wood from Home Depot. 1.5" thick top of solid wood and 3.5" thick legs. Even if you are not very inclined with wood working you can throw something together based on simple plans online with a drill and screws.

Dont even need that if you want it easy. Menards sells table tops and simple metal legs. Buy screws and you are set.

 

[Imp]

Love GALANT, I use one.

But I found something cool over the weekend. Google Blockworks furniture. Not cheap, but very interesting. You essentially build your own furniture (desks, shelves, tables, chairs) out of four major parts. Modular.

 

[mugs]

Frankly I would not even burn Ikea furniture for warmth if I were freezing to death, that is how little I think of it.

I wouldn't burn Ikea furniture for wood because whatever adhesive is used to make particle board probably isn't healthy to inhale. They do make some furniture that is acceptable quality for price-conscious shoppers. I made my last desk with metal legs from Ikea and wood from Home Depot.

I am currently using a 5' long desk I built out of $50 in wood from Home Depot. 1.5" thick top of solid wood and 3.5" thick legs. Even if you are not very inclined with wood working you can throw something together based on simple plans online with a drill and screws.

It sounds like you made the top out of 2x8s or something like that and the legs out of 4x4s? I think I'd rather have a desk from Ikea.

 

[Anubis]

my desk is like something you would fine in an office. i got it from an office supply place. just a big rectangle with some grommit holes in it

 

[fralexandr]

you can easily make cheap desks
http://thestir.cafemom.com/home_garden/124958/make_your_own_table_with

basically some of these with a piece of wood (using 1 or 2 pieces of wood (depending on how deep you want your desk to be) from home depot or something
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/workspaces/11845/
trestles/sawhorses make things easier if using more than 1 piece of wood

home depot also sells furniture
http://www.homedepot.com/Decor-Furn...&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053&searchNav=true

staples and office depot also have a variety of cheap desks
http://www.staples.com/Sauder-Kirby-...product_132552

http://www.officedepot.com/a/product...ons-Desk-32-H/

 

[ElFenix]

i hate having my keyboard on the desk. ikea's keyboard tray for the galant looks like it blows. max weight 14 lbs? wimpy.

suppose i could just buy some slides and do it myself.

 

[xeemzor]

I love my Ikea Jerker and have been using it for over 5 years. Yes, the name is dumb but the desk is awesome.

 

[nageov3t]

my desk is like something you would fine in an office. i got it from an office supply place. just a big rectangle with some grommit holes in it

I've always wondered where companies/labs buy their stuff from.

I've seen some neat computer workstations at training labs I've been in before.

 

[preslove]

I got something like this on sale for $100 at office max: http://www.staples.com/Altra-Aden-Gl...product_100780

Stapes, office depot & office max have them on sale pretty regularly.

 

[Anubis]

I've always wondered where companies/labs buy their stuff from.

I've seen some neat computer workstations at training labs I've been in before.

this is basically exactly what i have
http://www.everythingfurniture.com/60desbusfurw2.html

 

[Gooberlx2]

I just use a folding table. Works fine.
http://www.costco.com/6'-Center-fold-Multipurpose-Table.product.11488588.html

 

[blackdogdeek]

We were in a similar situation as you. We bought a cheap table from Ikea, just a flat surface and you could mix and match leg styles. You just screw the legs into the underside of the surface and you're good to go. It was less than $100 total and was a nice big surface for multiple monitors and keyboards.

 

[davmat787]

I love my Ikea Jerker and have been using it for over 5 years. Yes, the name is dumb but the desk is awesome.

Agreed. The Jerker is by far the best computer desk I have used, at least in the home-not insanely priced category. Plus you can buy addons to it to expands its usefulness.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Dont even need that if you want it easy. Menards sells table tops and simple metal legs. Buy screws and you are set.

So does Ikea which is where I got mine. Piece of wood and metal legs. I think it was like $30-40 total.

 

[ichy]

Agreed. The Jerker is by far the best computer desk I have used, at least in the home-not insanely priced category. Plus you can buy addons to it to expands its usefulness.

You could buy add-one. Ikea stopped selling the Jerker years ago.

 

[BrokenVisage]

Obligatory IKEA post: Can't beat a good Jerker!

 

[Imp]

You could buy add-one. Ikea stopped selling the Jerker years ago.

They replaced it with something similar... Not exact, but similar. There's a monstrosity called the FREDERICK with an eff load of attachments and whatnot.

 

[Patranus]

Only Ikea desk I would buy.
(In a difference color of course!!!)
(One of the only Ikea products I would and have bought. 99% is crap!!!)

 

[xeemzor]

They replaced it with something similar... Not exact, but similar. There's a monstrosity called the FREDERICK with an eff load of attachments and whatnot.

Can you use those attachments with the Jerker as well? I have all of them but the computer holder attachment.

 

[nageov3t]

once LCD's became commonplace, I felt like my Jerker was a bit too deep. the back half never got used for anything except collecting dust.