Networked Tables?

[olds]

WTF is this called and who sells them?
Power,data port and phone line in tower.

 

[OCGuy]

That definitely promotes synergy. In for 2.

 

[rudeguy]

start here

http://www.smartdesks.com/conference-table.asp

 

[inf1nity]

Is that thing real?
If yes, are those blocks collapsible(do they go down into the table when you're finished using them)?

 

[olds]

Is that thing real?
If yes, are those blocks collapsible(do they go down into the table when you're finished using them)?

correctamundoe

 

[olds]

start here

http://www.smartdesks.com/conference-table.asp

No. I already did. That's where I got the pic but their site sucks so much I didn't find that table.

 

[OCGuy]

You should see the workshop I could lead with that table....

 

[nageov3t]

that feels like it would have been really useful 5-7 years ago.

do they even make laptops with NIC's anymore?

 

[olds]

that feels like it would have been really useful 5-7 years ago.

do they even make laptops with NIC's anymore?

Ya, we are in the 90's. The 1890's. It's an improvement from what they want to do. 25 port switch on the floor with cables running everywhere.

 

[Gunbuster]

Executive status symbol. You'd still have power bricks sitting all over the table and most iproducts don't even have ethernet anymore.

Personally I'd hack some Ikea tables to hide power strips and make sure the room had excellent WiFi coverage.

 

[JManInPhoenix]

My old company had something similar to that - dont know who made the table...

 

[lxskllr]

do they even make laptops with NIC's anymore?

Don't they? That would suck if not. I haven't been in the market for a long time, but I dropped my trusty netbook, and it quit working. I don't need anything now, but I will eventually, and I want it to have ethernet.

 

[nageov3t]

Don't they? That would suck if not. I haven't been in the market for a long time, but I dropped my trusty netbook, and it quit working. I don't need anything now, but I will eventually, and I want it to have ethernet.

I couldn't tell you the last time I've seen one, but there's always the option of a USB -> ethernet dongle.

I looked at a random Lenovo "business class" laptop and it does look like it has ethernet, so maybe it's just selection bias that I only see super-thin laptops around here.

 

[Rakehellion]

Everyone sitting at a table with a laptop sounds like a coffee shop, not an office building.

 

[rudeguy]

No. I already did. That's where I got the pic but their site sucks so much I didn't find that table.

Call them.

For this kind of thing you want to talk to a rep. Browsing the web is going to burn up your time and frustrate you. Take 5 minutes and talk to Saul.

 

[rudeguy]

I couldn't tell you the last time I've seen one, but there's always the option of a USB -> ethernet dongle.

I looked at a random Lenovo "business class" laptop and it does look like it has ethernet, so maybe it's just selection bias that I only see super-thin laptops around here.

You are correct. Ultrabooks do not have ethernet, most others do.

 

[_Rick_]

If laptops would just use common 12V inputs, you could actually put a beefy PSU into the table, and have retractable cables.
But of course, that's just a pipe dream.
It's imperative that 9.6V, 11.2V, 14.8V and whatever else is used.
Yes, it might make battery design a bit more difficult, but some external connectors already have enough power to run most ultrabooks. (USB 3.1: 60W)

 

[lxskllr]

If laptops would just use common 12V inputs, you could actually put a beefy PSU into the table, and have retractable cables.

and hook it directly to a car for charging/operation.

 

[ultimatebob]

What I'd rather see is one of those Microsoft Surface tables with wireless charging ports.

Toss your laptop on top of one of those, and not only will it charge but it will give you the opportunity to sync to the other devices connected to the table.

 

[xanis]

What about this? http://www.knoll.com/product/propeller-conference-table?section=Design

 

[WackyDan]

that feels like it would have been really useful 5-7 years ago.

do they even make laptops with NIC's anymore?

UHm yeah... and I use my laptop NIC everywhere I can. There is no substitute for the security and bandwidth a cable gives you.

Secondly, don't try and tell me wireless is fast enough. When you are opening a management console reading from a large database, you feel it on wireless.

 

[pontifex]

pretty sure most laptops come with at least an onboard ethernet port. some of the ultraslim type stuff might not, but your average laptop should.

 

[nageov3t]

UHm yeah... and I use my laptop NIC everywhere I can. There is no substitute for the security and bandwidth a cable gives you.

Secondly, don't try and tell me wireless is fast enough. When you are opening a management console reading from a large database, you feel it on wireless.

sorry, sorry

just speaking from personal experience... at big conference room meetings and stuff at my company, it's ultrabooks and tablets all around the table (at least for the purposes of conferences... for production purposes, people obv. go back to their work stations and desktops)

 

[sdifox]

http://www.mayline.com/showcase/transaction/tech_conference.html

 

[Homerboy]

quite honestly, any decent board/conference room table is going to have power and RJ6 jacks in them. Not cheap by any means, but pretty standard nowadays.