From a strictly functional standpoint, I've found it
very difficult to find the right computer table. Based on years
experience at home and in the cubicle, my specifications included:
- minimum 30"/75 cm depth
- sturdy
- inexpensive
I don't care too much about appearance or pigeon holes or CD racks.
I just want something to hold a bunch of computer equipment.
I have a lot of computer desks that are 20-24" deep, but that either
means the computer sits off to the side or the keyboard hangs off the
front. The 30" depth was the most important item.
I had a design all worked out in my head. The desk would fit in a
corner with a 4'x4' piece to hold my main computer. It would have wings
30" deep on each side. And of course the corner piece would have a
corner cut off to match the 30" wings.
A few weeks ago, I found almost exactly that at
Office Depot. It's
the Ambassador Desk (01991) by Fournier Furniture - and it has 30" deep
work surfaces. At $200, I put it in the back of my mind. But last week,
it was on sale for $170, so I bought one.
The design is remarkably practical. Three work surfaces (a corner
piece plus two wings), four supports, a keyboard drawer, and some
bracing. Setup was very easy, until the head broke off a "minifix"
bolt. A quick call to customer service and a replacement is en
route.
So my desk is 80% built. The corner unit holds my Quadra 660av,
topped by my 17" monitor, as well as my SuperMac J700, a MoniTerm
switchbox (see review), my Zip drive,
and a 3Com ImpactIQ ISDN "modem."
To the right, the wing holds my scanner, the network hub, and our
OfficeJet 600 - a short term replacement for the StyleWriter 4100
undergoing repair. (I'm using PowerPrint to run the otherwise-Windows
only printer. Again, see our
review.)
I don't know just what will go on the left wing when the bolt
arrives, but we'll figure that out as we go along.
The Ambassador Desk is remarkably sturdy, affordable, and, to top it
off, it looks great. Even the keyboard drawer, a feature I usually
hate, is solid and large enough to hold a keyboard and mouse.
If you're looking for an attractive, functional, and affordable
computer desk, this one merits a look.
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