Is it unheard of to use a folding table as a desk for an iMac?

[Tymbo]

The thing is after spending $2300 on a high-end 3.06 4850 iMac, I don't want to spend more than 125 on a desk.

I've shopped everywhere.

IKEA is horrible for having the perfect desk for $79 that costs $155 in shipping!
and everything else has a depth of 24 inches or smaller. target, amazon, office depot/max, walmart.

But then I thought of a brilliant idea of having a folding table as my desk. It could be just like this, and be perfect, size-wise.

but is it safe and trustworthy to keep my soon-to-arrive iMac on?

something like:
http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/369009/Office-Depot-Brand-Folding-Tables-29/

I don't care if it makes my room look awkward.

[sushi]

but is it safe and trustworthy to keep my soon-to-arrive iMac on?

something like:
http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/369009/Office-Depot-Brand-Folding-Tables-29/
I would definitely not use a low end folding table for an iMac.

if I were to get a folding table, I would purchase a more stout one with legs on the corners and a sturdy top.

[Justibackwardsn]

office depot has actual desks for $50. Just go to the store and look

http://www.officedepot.com/a/browse/50-100/N=5+1183+12496&Ne=12468/

[sushi]

office depot has actual desks for $50. Just go to the store and look
Agree. A regular desk will be much better in the long run.

[Tymbo]

office depot has actual desks for $50. Just go to the store and look

http://www.officedepot.com/a/browse/50-100/N=5+1183+12496&Ne=12468/

sure, but they don't have any with a depth deeper than 24" and under $100

is 24" enough room for a 24" imac and a keyboard that rests in front of it (not on a keyboard drawer)

[freebooter]

Have you considered just a simple, small, rectangular kitchen table. Just about any thrift shop could hook you up. Put a table cloth or something on it and bingo!
It's what I'm using right now for my iMac.

[EricNau]

sure, but they don't have any with a depth deeper than 24" and under $100

is 24" enough room for a 24" imac and a keyboard that rests in front of it (not on a keyboard drawer)
Yes, 24" is plenty for my tastes.

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Have I heard of someone doing this?
No.
But does that mean it's unheard of?
Yes.
Of course it does.

[Justibackwardsn]

its more than enough. I have the same model and my desk is 24" depth. You'll do fine with it.

[VoodooDaddy]

I have to disagree. Its ugly yes, but it would work just fine. I have a 20" and a 24" side by side on $10 tv trays at the moment so I can get all my stuff transferred from one to the other. Im sure that table is plenty sturdy enough.

[S27]

I have to disagree. Its ugly yes, but it would work just fine. I have a 20" and a 24" side by side on $10 tv trays at the moment so I can get all my stuff transferred from one to the other. Im sure that table is plenty sturdy enough.

you are the man

[VoodooDaddy]

you are the man

:D

Didnt have room to put both on the desk so this was the next best solution.

[KratosKilla]

I have to disagree. Its ugly yes, but it would work just fine. I have a 20" and a 24" side by side on $10 tv trays at the moment so I can get all my stuff transferred from one to the other. Im sure that table is plenty sturdy enough.

Where's your mouse?

[sushi]

I have a 20" and a 24" side by side on $10 tv trays at the moment so I can get all my stuff transferred from one to the other.
Gutsy.

Not sure if it is the wisest thing to do. I've seen some loose their computer this way when the tables collapse or get knocked over. YMMV.

[OldMike]

The thing is after spending $2300 on a high-end 3.06 4850 iMac, I don't want to spend more than 125 on a desk.

I've shopped everywhere.

IKEA is horrible for having the perfect desk for $79 that costs $155 in shipping!
and everything else has a depth of 24 inches or smaller. target, amazon, office depot/max, walmart.

But then I thought of a brilliant idea of having a folding table as my desk. It could be just like this, and be perfect, size-wise.

but is it safe and trustworthy to keep my soon-to-arrive iMac on?

something like:
http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/369009/Office-Depot-Brand-Folding-Tables-29/

I don't care if it makes my room look awkward.

I'm using one right now. In fact in my office I used to have two 8' tables and and two 6' tables. The only issue is not having any drawers - which means all your paperwork ends up going on the table top.

They come in handy. We have used them as a space for setting up rackmount servers on, packing and shipping tables, etc. They are also surprisingly solid (at least the ones I have). We had a table with a couple of large color laser printers, and two fairly heavy PCs (I would imagine close to 200 lbs) - and there was never a problem. When we need to, we can also fold them up and take them to shows if necessary.

My only issue with them is the lack of storage space. With all of the businesses going under, or downsizing, the deals that can be found on craigslist are astounding. For $75 I was able to pick up over $2000 worth of office furniture - so that is why we are only using one of the folding tables in the office still. If we hadn't come across the office furniture deal - I would have happily continued using the folding tables.

Check Craigslist or an office furniture liquidator in your area. I have seen some amazing deals lately - you might be surprised what you may be able to pickup for the same price as a folding table.

[Tymbo]

Thanks everyone! :D

[Durandal549]

I use a 6' folding table as my desk. It works great and has a lot more room than most desks. They are very sturdy. Most desks in the same price range are cheap particle board. I put a 2 drawer file cabinet under mine for storage.

Most people who first see my den comment on how good an idea it is and how nice it must be to have all that room.

I would recommend going with the nicer plastic folding table. They seem stronger and more durable. Not to say the wood ones aren't good. Most hotels/conference centers use those for everything. I have seen them loaded with considerably heavier and more expensive gear than an imac.

The only issues I have had is the need to use a mousepad again. The plastic folding tables have a very bumpy surface that optical mice do not like. I also end up sitting higher than I normally would because there is no keyboard tray, but you could install one if you were so inclined.

So no I don't think it is strange at all

[NRose8989]

A friend of mine spent all of his saved up money to get a iMac and he didn't have enough money to get a desk at the time so he used the iMac box for awhile.

[bozz2006]

buy a used office desk from salvation army thrift store.

[djc6]

I have my 24" iMac on a similar particleboard w/laminate top folding table - same table I've used for my computer since my Commodore 128 days. I've moved it to six different residences, sturdy as hell. I love all the leg room it provides me - my wife has a fancy oak desk with drawers on both sides and I feel so confined when I use her 24" iMac :)

[zhenya]

An inexpensive option that I really like is two inexpensive file cabinets, with a slab door from a home supply store as the desktop. You get file drawers and a nice large work space, probably for less than $150.

[VoodooDaddy]

Where's your mouse?

Over here

All transferring is done, the 24" is back on the desk to the right there.

[nerd]

An inexpensive option that I really like is two inexpensive file cabinets, with a slab door from a home supply store as the desktop. You get file drawers and a nice large work space, probably for less than $150.

I was just about to post the same thing. You can even use the doorknob hole for cable management.

[sushi]

An inexpensive option that I really like is two inexpensive file cabinets, with a slab door from a home supply store as the desktop. You get file drawers and a nice large work space, probably for less than $150.
This makes a lot more sense to me than the folding table that the OP showed.

[SnowX]

For $50 I built my own desk. Not only is it perfect for my computer, but I also built in a cupboard that holds all my paper and stuff. This acts asan extra sturdy leg.

[Dr.Pants]

For $50 I built my own desk. Not only is it perfect for my computer, but I also built in a cupboard that holds all my paper and stuff. This acts asan extra sturdy leg.

Beat me to it by a minute. Why not make your own desk, or get some help from a carpenter-friend? You must know somebody with a hammer, all you need is a basic layout and wood. Unless you want to go uber-fancy with drawers..... I hate drawers....

But yeah. I made a desk for my workstation. REALLY sturdy. No drawers, bout them seperatly.

[DarkRyan323i]

My new 24" was just sittin on the floor for a while until I got a desk! :D

I know this is more than what the OP wanted to spend but this is the desk I just got. Simple design like the iMac and not terrible too expensive. I like it a lot! Goes on sale for 199 every other month.

http://www.worldmarket.com/Furniture/home-office-furniture/desks/Loft-Desk/lev/4/productId/8989/Ne/1100001/sectionId/2868/N/1100047/categoryId/1100047/pCategoryId/1100046/gpCategoryId/1100038/Ns/TOP_SELLER_INDEX|1||CATEGORY_SEQ_2897|0/index.pro

[tbrinkma]

Instructions for building the ultimate cheap computer desk:

1) Hit a GoodWill or thrift shop for two (short) filing cabinets that are the same height.
2) Buy a replacement door from a hardware store.
3) Use the filing cabinets as drawers and legs, use the door as the desktop.

[OneMike]

With a budget of $125 you can definitely get a desk. Try walmart http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catalog.gsp?cat=91851&sb=79&sdir=sasc

Got this desk from there over a year ago for my macbook http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10250152 still just as sturdy as day one.

[jmj80]

i am using a 4ft plastic folding table for now, and i actually find it pretty functional. i would like a desk but too many of them and this was unused. someday i'll find the right desk that catches my i, till then, i'm happy

[BJMRamage]

Instructions for building the ultimate cheap computer desk:

1) Hit a GoodWill or thrift shop for two (short) filing cabinets that are the same height.
2) Buy a replacement door from a hardware store.
3) Use the filing cabinets as drawers and legs, use the door as the desktop.


my first apartment computer desk was similar. I used my home stereo receiver box, an end table and then a top of a entertainment center furniture (my first box of pieces in the entertainment furniture was missing pieces and some were warped) i laid the top over the two "legs" and it was good to go....until the apartment flooded and the cardboard box started to "melt".

but then i used more spare parts from teh entertainment center and now have a nice hard wood desk...free.

[Dezlboy]

[QUOTE=Tymbo;7275241]T
http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/369009/Office-Depot-Brand-Folding-Tables-29/

Tymbo..that is what I use. You can't see it from the pictures, but the "brace" (the part that connects the underside of table to the table legs), has a locking mechanism (a metal sleeve sits over the pieces that bend when folding up the table), so the table will not collapse. I like the table because it has plenty of room for speaker, and books, and I can do homework there.

[Justibackwardsn]

Here's my desk with a 24" depth.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee18/DJJustinTyler/photo2-2.jpg
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee18/DJJustinTyler/photo-4.jpg

Works extremely well for me. I would have my printer up there, but my AirPort Extreme is behind my entertainment center connecting my home theater and my blu-ray player. So my printer was obligated to go there too.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee18/DJJustinTyler/Photo3-1.jpg

[henry2]

Like most the posters here in this thread i have a small folding table as my set for the laptop with stand and keyboard and mouse in the middle of the table and on the other side of the laptop is the small protable printer and ipad stand connected to the laptop and then other the other side of the laptop is the flat screen tv on the small folding table with a nice office chair in my bedroom that i rent from my kid out in Ca and if i need to pack up and leave everything can be broken down and packed into a laptop bag and a Ilugger travel case and it ready to be packed into the small storage cube with the rest of the stuff from the bedroom for travel to next place of work if need . ..

I basically use the computer as the way to watch hulu programing on the large flat screen tv when iam not working for i live a semi normad lifestyle of not beening in one place that long for the work i do and it lot easly to break down a small folding table than a computer desk for travel ..

[henry2]

Here is something i do after locking the table legs into place with the socalled locking system ..I take a duct tape and wrap it around the unit area where the locking system and it worked for years doing it that way about worrying if the table legs will fold up because of a problem with the weight ..

[skiltrip]

I've used a 5' Staples folding banquet table as my computer/studio desk for the last 7 or so years. I had to replace my first one cause the 19" CRT I had was a monster (weight wise).

I do it cause it's affordable, and has plenty of space for my music synth to slide underneath it.

There's no shame in it. I've looked for other desks but nothing else would work unless I spent a grand or more. 50 bucks appeals to me a lot more to me. Even if I need to replace it once every 4 years or so.

[jamesdmc]

I've been using a 6' folding table ($10 on craigslist) for my mac pro and 30" ACD for 3 years. I only recently put the mac pro on the floor. Before then, both had plenty of space. I'm not even looking for a "real" desk, as this fits my needs just fine. Tons of room on that thing.

[biggd]

ghetto bro


I found an amazing white and steel table at Ikea, for only $30

[henry2]

Why is it Ghetto? by useing a folding table for the Imac computer sometimes it the only choice intill you can get something better or you have not found something better in the socalled desktop desk market that out there ...

[coolspot18]

I have to disagree. Its ugly yes, but it would work just fine. I have a 20" and a 24" side by side on $10 tv trays at the moment so I can get all my stuff transferred from one to the other. Im sure that table is plenty sturdy enough.

You are a very brave person! :p