Mine is still going strong. I wanna say its almost been 10 years, but I can't be sure. I know its been at least 8 years. I got the one with the shelves, an additional laptop swivel stand, and the matching equipment rack. My only complaint is that it is not easily adjustable, and that its not wide enough to accommodate two big monitors, so I have my 23" and 27" at angles. In retrospect I wish I bought two of the kind without the shelves, and another equipment rack. Great desk though...they never should have discontinued it.
Mine is still going strong. I wanna say its almost been 10 years, but I can't be sure. I know its been at least 8 years. I got the one with the shelves, an additional laptop swivel stand, and the matching equipment rack. My only complaint is that it is not easily adjustable, and that its not wide enough to accommodate two big monitors, so I have my 23" and 27" at angles. In retrospect I wish I bought two of the kind without the shelves, and another equipment rack. Great desk though...they never should have discontinued it.
I would stay away from the cheap Ikea table tops like Amon/Linmon because they are fiberboard and paperfilled combo which is weak. A few cold drinks with condensing water trickling down (or just sweaty arms resting on the sides) will seep through the thin melamine foil and cause the paperfilled fiberboard to swell up and the desk will cave in. The cheapest $3.50 tableleg is sturdy but may be slightly too short to accomodate a keyboard tray. The $15 adjustable legs are better.
The Galant desktops are better because there is a metal frame going underneath the desk and they actually have some solid wood and less of the weak stuff (still has some fiberboard and paper). Its good enough for the average user who is careful with spilled liquids.
I thought maybe there's a market to design a computer gaming desk - they seem way too hard to find. Hm.
I found one I really liked at world plus, went back to get it, sorry that was a promotional item, never seen again.
I found one I really liked at world plus, went back to get it, sorry that was a promotional item, never seen again.
I still have a lot of Ikea stuff from 20 years ago. Sturdy, nice, good looking. The newer stuff, cheezy, falls apart quickly.
My desk here is a slab of plywood on top of two inexpensive file cabinets from KMart. Once again, it's lasted over 20 years and survived several moves.
And, am I the only one who dislikes the new Ikea Catalog? Can't stand the layout, too many odd colors and color combinations.
My desk here is a slab of plywood on top of two inexpensive file cabinets from KMart. Once again, it's lasted over 20 years and survived several moves.
And, am I the only one who dislikes the new Ikea Catalog? Can't stand the layout, too many odd colors and color combinations.
Imp
Lifer
- Feb 8, 2000
- 18,828
- 184
- 106
I like the new catalogue. My impression was that they were going for a bright and colorful, and industrial look -- in other words, the 60s/70s and the 30s/40s.
No giant dog wang though, which is unfortunate.
Juddog
Diamond Member
- Dec 11, 2006
- 7,851
- 6
- 81
With computer desks, there is really a tiered level in terms of what you get depending on how much you want to spend.
Small desk / cheap - Fredde for $200. Great for small spaces, decently sturdy.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50219044/
Big desk, spread out - Galant - this can run you $300-$400 depending on how many add-ons you want.
I would recommend this thread as starters for ideas as far as what you can do with some cheap furniture:
http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1341821
Beyond that you can get into the more expensive range with Bush or higher grade furniture companies, or for a ton of money get someone to design one for you. So while Ikea isn't the end-all, be-all, of computer desks, they are generally better than what you would find at an OfficeMax / OfficeDepot for the same price as their desks are often weak as hell. The Galant is heavy and sturdy, heavier than it looks in the pics.
Small desk / cheap - Fredde for $200. Great for small spaces, decently sturdy.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50219044/
Big desk, spread out - Galant - this can run you $300-$400 depending on how many add-ons you want.
I would recommend this thread as starters for ideas as far as what you can do with some cheap furniture:
http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1341821
Beyond that you can get into the more expensive range with Bush or higher grade furniture companies, or for a ton of money get someone to design one for you. So while Ikea isn't the end-all, be-all, of computer desks, they are generally better than what you would find at an OfficeMax / OfficeDepot for the same price as their desks are often weak as hell. The Galant is heavy and sturdy, heavier than it looks in the pics.
If you have anywhere from a $50 to $150 price range, and IKEA jerker or galant are going to be by far your best bet. You can go above that a bit with addons to the galant.
- The Jerker is discontinued so you can only find it used. (The Fredde is an awful modernized version of the Jerker)
The Galant is still able to be purchased new. (T-legs are best legs btw)
I can't sing the praises of the Galant enough:
- Adjustable height
- The bottom has a metal frame, making it SUPER sturdy.
- It's modular so you can add things on later.
Depending on where you live, you can find a Jerker or Galant on craigslist cheaper than you can new, and most likely, due to the build qualilty, in near-new condition.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8702436@N05/4680250779/in/photostream/ - This is a Galant with an extenstion that I bought off craigslist for $40.
- The Jerker is discontinued so you can only find it used. (The Fredde is an awful modernized version of the Jerker)
The Galant is still able to be purchased new. (T-legs are best legs btw)
I can't sing the praises of the Galant enough:
- Adjustable height
- The bottom has a metal frame, making it SUPER sturdy.
- It's modular so you can add things on later.
Depending on where you live, you can find a Jerker or Galant on craigslist cheaper than you can new, and most likely, due to the build qualilty, in near-new condition.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8702436@N05/4680250779/in/photostream/ - This is a Galant with an extenstion that I bought off craigslist for $40.
Juddog
Diamond Member
- Dec 11, 2006
- 7,851
- 6
- 81
The Fredde isn't that bad; there is also the Fredrik (in my opinion the quality order is Jerker --> Fredde --> Fredrik) that you can probably find used for fairly cheap on craigslist like you said.
I picked up my Galant pre-cursor on Craigslist and it was way heavier / sturdier than I had imagined it to be. It had a few waterstains on it but it tanks damage pretty good and I covered up the water stain part with a big pad.
I was briefly in love with the Fredde, but I think that the side bars/panels might spoil future expandability.
currently leaning towards the Galant (although who knows when I'll actually be buying the desk -- I'm waiting on contractors to rip out the radiator in my spare room and replace it with baseboard heating, after which I'm going to bring in a painter to repaint the room... and I'm hesitant to buy any new furniture before painting since it may get covered in paint flecks)
actually had one in my last apartment, but threw it out when I moved because it was getting beat-up (I got it used from my office, where it had been used as a desk for 2-3 years before I got my hands on it... it was also the L-shaped galant, which I'm not a huge fan of)
currently leaning towards the Galant (although who knows when I'll actually be buying the desk -- I'm waiting on contractors to rip out the radiator in my spare room and replace it with baseboard heating, after which I'm going to bring in a painter to repaint the room... and I'm hesitant to buy any new furniture before painting since it may get covered in paint flecks)
actually had one in my last apartment, but threw it out when I moved because it was getting beat-up (I got it used from my office, where it had been used as a desk for 2-3 years before I got my hands on it... it was also the L-shaped galant, which I'm not a huge fan of)
anyone have any experiences with drilling into Ikea desks? curious if drilling a hole would cause the particleboard to fall apart.
I'm figuring I'd want two holes, one in back of the monitors to route the video/keyboard/mouse/speaker cables and one in back of where I'll place the PC to route them up through (and both holes used to route the power to a surge protector that I'll probably mount on the wall behind the desk)
I'm figuring I'd want two holes, one in back of the monitors to route the video/keyboard/mouse/speaker cables and one in back of where I'll place the PC to route them up through (and both holes used to route the power to a surge protector that I'll probably mount on the wall behind the desk)
bigrash
Lifer
- Feb 20, 2001
- 17,648
- 28
- 91
more room if you wall mount your monitors
the one in the middle and the one on the right are wall mounted...plenty of room on my L-shaped glass table I got from Frys awhile back...
I never cared a whole lot for multi monitors, but that looks awesome.
I've drilled holes in my Jerker for a keyboard tray, and holes in my gf's Galant for a keyboard tray and to swap the side of the desk the extension went on.
I'm using a $40 Walmart desk. Works fine, fits 2 monitors, and has a storage area underneath to put a tower.
Imp
Lifer
- Feb 8, 2000
- 18,828
- 184
- 106
I've "drilled" four tiny holes to put in a SIGNUM cable rack in a GALANT desk before...
They also offer this for sale now:
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/90171484/
The picture shows it being used with a GALANT desk top. It's particleboard, but relatively thin because the steel frame supports it. With pure particleboard desks like the VIKA stuff, I'm not sure.
Never been a fan of those holes myself. I use them because they're available at work... I'd never make that a requirement.
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