The Collapsing Desk

@korybing: I'm glad you pointed this out - and that you crushed the troll on your way past go and over to intelligent discussion.

Seriously - the entire premise of this comment thread is "you shouldn't spend that much money on computers when you can spend it on other things." The whole OP should have read "You shouldn't spend that much on something I wouldn't have because I have the right to tell you how to spend your money."

@Josh Lewis: If by pathetic you mean absolutely correct, then sure.

I don't believe no one has mentioned the fact that the Mac on the right there is running Twistori non-stop:
[twistori.com]

That's really cool. :)

@Smiling_Gandalf: As long as the pull out drawer for the keyboard is just marginally smaller than the desk itself, wouldn't it work just as well as folding down? The drawer here looks about the same size, but the photos aren't helpful in making a size comparison.

I think this is cool, but I don't like the keyboards attached with velcro part from an aesthetic viewpoint.

@SundariEpopeus: or Input Director

gpzbc

@Deprong Mori: Ah, but for anyone but the stockholders, the important question is: how have they done that? Apple products cost more, and offer no more real functionality. You may have reason to buy Apple stock, but why should I buy Apple products? Once enough users realise that, the stock price will go down a lot faster than it went up. MS is in even more trouble: more and more users in this economy are figuring out Linux is no longer difficult to use. The first time I tried Ubuntu, I had an easier experience - with an entirely new OS - than I have each time I am forced to upgrade a product I already paid for. And Linux is free. Free now, free whenever you need or want to upgrade. When enough users figure that out, and perhaps a few of the more sensible businesses, MS stock will tumble, too. If all you can see is what their stocks have done in the past, and cannot learn from other examples throughout history, then I hope you aren't the guy your friends turn to for stock tips...

ZafinaDogg

@Horusz: Umm, not quite. The Mighty Muggs toys on the left and the right.

Platypus Man

I so wanted to build something exactly like this, but I didn't know how to do it!

@Platypus Man:
I cringe at the sight of those Mighty mice.

Worst. Mouse. Ever.

Horusz

Didn't Red Green (my hero) make one of those once? I kind of remember him saying that Harold's lap was no place for anything of value (like a laptop) and he figured that if they could make a computer that folds up compact, then why couldn't they make an entire portable office?

kc0tma

@chrishad95: Comment of the week right there - this could not possibly be more true in my apartment (and my work desk too, I guess).

@Majandra:

I just noticed that I have those same toys on my desk @ work.

<3 toys meant for kids my daughter's age.

Majandra

I have 2 laptops and a desktop personally, live in a small apartment, and carry a smart phone.

When you look at my horrid desk, you see a desktop with it's monitor, my printer, all my networking gear, and an xbox 360. Even if the 2 laptops aren't on my desk, they're probably in the picture somewhere.

It's just 'natural' for my electronics to gather in a central location.

Lately I keep my newest laptop within arm's reach at all times (new toy) as I'm still learning the ins and outs of OSX. I'm a former Windows system admin, and haven't used a Mac since my high school journalism days 10 years ago.

The other laptop is in the process of being bought buy a coworker who wanted something for his wife to use.

On an unrelated note, I'm watching Wall-E with my daughter right now, and just noticed he makes the sound that Macs make when they turn on. I had a smile about that.

Majandra

@SundariEpopeus: stole my thunder man. Synergy Rocks! Unless you dual boot...

WaldoMacrotainer

@Josh Lewis: Wow, your well thought out, mature, and insightful comment has made me see the error of my ways. I am indeed pathetic.

@Witherslick:

As both a shareholder of AAPL and MSFT, I will point out that MSFT has followed the S&P 500 over the last five years. AAPL has outperformed the S&P 500 by around +600%.

While Microsoft is a fine company and I am happy to accept dividend checks from them (yielding about 2.7%), Apple has increased value to its shareholders far more than Microsoft.

Just to let you know.

Deprong Mori

@phlavor: Same here in Chicago.

@Don Southard: My guess is you don't live in a crowded city where space is a premium.

@32ndnote: I don't know about the OP, but I'm a designer so I find that often too much of my desk space is taken up with the monitor, printers, speakers, etc., and I need space to draw, spread out supporting documents, etc. This solution would definitely help with that.

morganlh85

I think you should try Synergy KVM. One keyboard / mouse for all three of your computers. Convenient and reduces clutter.

Josh Hepworth

The great thing about a desk that folds up is that you and the other people who live there can't pile junk on it when you aren't using it. Horizontal space is a clutter magnet in my house.

@ericesque:
oops this isn't Digg. Being a jerk on LH doesn't get you dugg up. Wish there were a delete/edit...

ericesque

Eww mac stuff

Witherslick

@korybing: thats pathetic

Josh Lewis

@Warren Atwater: Publishers dont care, as long as the hit count for the day stays high.

Josh Lewis

@korybing:

yes it does. Those aren't even his computers. All 3 are borrowed for the pics.

It's all about the e-peen.

ericesque

@Don Southard: BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

lfrogkisser

@jkrell: Do you know what they do for a job? Perhaps they need those three computers? Just because you have a small apartment doesn't mean you're poor.

@Don Southard: I just bought a new MBP and a Cintiq this year, and I live in a crap-ass teeny apartment and drive a dying car and I eat toaster waffles for my main source of food while watching a 12-inch TV I found in the garbage. I just value my workspace more than the rest of my living space. You don't have to have everything in your life even out to be the same price/economic bracket. It all depends on what you personally value..

@CapitalC: Yeah, for a quarter of the price. but also 4 times the thickness :)

Alfonzo

@Don Southard: Then again, if he went for a regular ol' desktop then that would probably take up all the extra space he could afford :P (note: this is the case with me)

Alfonzo

@CapitalC: its using velcro buddy. not defying the laws of physics.

zmnatz

@jerkstore99: The company I work for's entire infrastructure is based on an outdated ASP.net setup, so there are several back-end admins that I have to use daily that only play ball with IE, and my home computer happens to be a Mac. I don't feel like shelling out the dough for another copy of windows to dual boot on my mac, so on my work from home days I have to go back and forth between my mac and a windows laptop.

Andy Hunt

@Smiling_Gandalf: My thoughts exactly. At first I didn't understand why this design would be better than that but there's the answer.

zmnatz

Underwhelming. Between this and the $20 standing desk you guys are running out of material.

Warren Atwater

@Smiling_Gandalf: Perhaps he does need them. I'm currently working in a walk-in closet with four 22-inch monitors. I don't have to explain why. You don't know the details of his life, work, etc. Besides, perhaps he doesn't NEED them, maybe he just WANTS them. In fact, maybe he doesn't WANT a bigger apartment. Point is, he created a desk setup that works for him in his apartment, and that's a win.

RexGabsta

I like the set up, but I think it would only truly be effective with a folding chair.

@Don Southard: im with you there! do you really need 2 macbooks?!?! + another keyboard and mouse for the other macbook? i think not!

Smiling_Gandalf

@jerkstore99:

Well, the person has 2-4 cores of extra available computing power plus two extra screens, whether it be something like a DVD rip or maybe something more mundane like leaving a chat client or e-mail application without having to switch applications on the desktop computer.

I'm not sure exactly what's running on the desktop's display (maybe Final Cut?) but sometimes it's simply easier to run a second computer. That said, I only own one, mostly because I don't want to administer more than one computer.

But that's just me...

Deprong Mori

@jerkstore99: That's just where they are when the picture was taken. People don't leave them on the plane when they get off.

phlavor

Neat setup, but I might take it a step further with just the wireless keyboard/mouse, a lap desk, and Synergy (featured previously on LH).

@Don Southard: Any one of those machines is just a months rent in SF or NYC. Sooooo, no.

phlavor

I <3 anti-gravity keyboards. Do they make those for PCs too? ;)

@jerkstore99: I often have my laptop on my desktop, despite having a computer and three monitors on the desktop already... so I can use the laptop as either a work horse for some CPU intensive process while I continue to work on the main machine or the inverse. I also will test software on the laptop while working on the main computer.

I'm sure there are other reasons, other people will have to chime in for those though =)

@jerkstore99: Can't speak for this person, but at home my dad has his personal PC set up with his work laptop to the side in case he needs something off of it or gets a page/call

Ben Kreiter

@32ndnote: this desk looks far deeper than a pull out draw could be for the size of the rest of the desk.

Smiling_Gandalf

Why does a person with a pint size apartment need 3 computers?

jkrell

I personally hate desks with this slide-out stuff. I like it solid. and yeah, why do you need three macs? please dont say youre a designer and you NEED them...

HaukSils

Every workspace photo submission has a desktop flanked by at least one laptop. What can be done on the laptop that couldn't be done on the desktop sitting right in front of him? This has bugged me for some time now and I would love it if someone could explain to me what the benefit is of having multiple laptops next to a desktop. Please.

jerkstore99

he could always just use Synergy so he doesn't have 2 keyboards and 2 mice.

SundariEpopeus

Love the Mighty Muggs! And yeah, the whole collapsing thing is cool too... I guess...

Platypus Man

Thats one hell of a freaking desk!

I have an Apple and I love it, but lets be honest... you could probably afford a bigger apt. thus a bigger office if you stopped spending so much on Apple products... Just a thought. ;)

Don Southard

Maybe I just don't fully understand, but what is the advantage here over those desks with slide-out keyboard holders? I think it would be awesome if the computers mounted to the wall and the actual desktop (that the computers are currently sitting on) swung back against the wall.

@korybing: Don't let them talk shit about you. I'm a software engineering student who lives in a tiny dorm room and drives a crappy Chevy Cavalier with almost 200,000 miles on it, yet I own a 24" iMac and one of the new 15" Macbook Pros. I'm putting my money into my education. It's all about where your priorities are at.

helixed

@Don Southard: Maybe he didn't buy them? Maybe can't afford a bigger apt? Circumstances are different with everyone. How can you just assume that someone can afford a larger apt?

Looks very bouncy.

@32ndnote:

The advantage is the keyboard space can be longer. If it were a slide out it can only be shorter or equal to the actual desk, or else it would be sticking out. By Folding it down, it is now a matter of the height of the desk which is pretty ample. Thus the user now has a ton of keyboard space, and will not effect the length of the desk while not in use.

However I would not do this, at least this method, myself because I do doubt the power of Velcro. While his puny mac boards may be safe I prefer my G15 and its a monster.

Gilbert Capulong

@korybing: Based on your response, I don't think you fall into the stereotype that the OP was describing. However, I do have to sympathize with him, as every time I see a post like this I think of my old roomate, who overextended himself in credit card debt to get a shiny top o' the line mac, while barely making rent and sleeping on my couch. He justified it by playing the "you have to spend money to make money" card. You couldn't explain to him that he could get everything done with a computer 1/3 as expensive.

If you are living within your means, are happy with your living situation, and buy a shiny new mac while still staying within your means, more power to you. I just have an issue with people that are barely scraping by, and go buy the latest trendy thing that apple is putting out for no reason, or even worse, using the education card (you can still get an education with a cheaper laptop, believe it or not).

dangerp

@dangerp: Ah, see that makes more sense. Those people absolutely do not need to be plunking down the money on a fancy new computer if they're not using it for anything other than a status symbol while they're digging themselves deeper and deeper into debt. This guy could totally be a super douchebag like you described, but it's equally possible that he really does need those computers for whatever work he does, and my point at the top was that nobody knows that and shouldn't immediately judge him, you know? :)

3 Macs? that is what I call economic recession

That guy should get the prefpane teleport. It allows you to share a single keyboard/mouse across many Macs. It is better than Synergy because you can transport files and it has a UI to arrange the screen relations.

SanjuktaMagpie

@It_Figures: +1 for synergy... having multiple kb and mice is retarded...especially since both laptops have there own...

urbanturban666

For the record: The Keyboards hang on the edge of the desk- not with velcro. (Apple keyboards have a lip in the back)

The only velcro used for the desk is as an extra measure to keep the legs in place. (under the foldaway desk part) The weight of the desk, and a little velcro, keep the legs firmly in place, without the need of building a much more elaborate setup

afterthetone

frankly, i'm surprised that this multiple-macs-in-tiny-apt setup has raised so many eyebrows. it looks like every one of my friends' places in nyc.

good point about horizontal space being a clutter magnet! that makes this an even better idea!

ColleenKlimchuck