Keyboard, lap desk, etc.

• You CAN work in bed on a laptop - comfyMT
  • working in bed??? - grasshopper
  • I am glad you cleared up the reason for staying in bed - Julie
  • Keyboard, lap desk, etc. - MTinNC
    • I have a desk for that - They said what
    • I use a laptop with a full-size keyboard (no separate keyboard) - comfyMT
      • Outside??? - grasshopper
        • I manage just fine... - comfyMT
          • MT comfort - grasshopper
        • Seeing the screen was my drawback... - ndmt
  • I have wondered that... - MT1
    • I have a wooden bed tray that I use for - me

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For longtime comfort which is best - split keyboard mounted on chair arms or split keyboard to be used on the desk?

Also, why the preference over split keyboards that come totally apart versus split keyboards that are permanently connected at the top?

I want to revamp my office and there are so many different options.

I've seen.  It is just a flat piece that slides in and out maybe 4 inches below my desk surface.  My parents bought me an adjustable tray years ago for Christmas.  It has levers that I can raise or lower it or tilt from side to side.  It recently broke and I'm using it in a fixed position now and not able to push it up under my desk when not in use. 

You can check any store like Office Depot or Staples and they have various kinds of keyboard trays.  You can look on-line, but they also have various ones setup in the store.  You can check e-bay too. 

I have tried working sitting up in bed or in a recliner.  I put something heavy on the bed and then prop my footpedal up against it and that works fairly well.  In a recliner I put the pedal on the leg rest and used my heel to push it, which I didn't think worked very well.  It kept slipping and I spent a lot of time messing with it to try to adjust it instead of typing.  I read a few years ago about an MT who had rigged her pedal so it was nailed to the wall.  I don't have a space to do that, plus I don't see how you get close enough to push the pedal if you are in a recliner.

That key printing never wear down because the letters are part of the key itself.  They just don't make them that way anymore because it is too expensive to make.  Some of the mechanical keyboards like Cherry have what they double shot key imprinting and the letters are part of the key itself and don't wear off. That IBM keyboard is very noisy from the type of keyswitch it has so you may not like that.  Logitech and Belkin make some membrane switch keyboards that are supposed to have longer lasting key imprints.  I have a logitech that has the longer lasting key imprints and it is pretty good.  You have to look on the specs to find out if has the longer lasting key printing.

I have experimented so much with keyboards and have done a lot of research.  Way too much info.  

I have an old antique desk that was in my grandfather's accounting office.

If I were going to buy a brand new desk, here are some of the things that I would look for. 

Space on top of the desk - do you want a lot of stuff on the desk, or just room for the monitor and a cup of coffee.  I have a TV and 3 cat beds on my desk, so large works for me.  I would sit at the desk and check the height of the keyboard tray or the positioning of the keyboard.  Is it too high, too low, if you are seated appropriately, will it work for you.  Does the tray pull out and if so does that bring you too far away from the desk itself to see the monitor?  Is the tray adjustable at all?  If you have arms on your chair, will the arms fit below the desk, or will they bump into things.  Measure the space in your office where the desk is going to go and make sure you have those dimensions with you when you look at any other desk.  Is the monitor position exactly centered in front of the keyboard?  It amazes me when it is not.

Check the drawers.  Do they pull out easily and are they sturdy enough to hold all the stuff that inevitably ends up crammed in them.

Is there a designated space for the CPU?  If so, is it easy to get to the back of it in case you need to plug/unplug peripherals?  That part is important - I worked with one of those big computer desks and it was a PAIN to have to change things or plug things in.  What about spaces for the computer speakers (if you have peripheral speakers.)  Do you plug your headphones directly into the computer or do you plug them into the speakers?  Is the plug easy to get to?  I have to unplug my headphones and put them away every night or else they'll get gnawed on, so ease of plugging them in is important to me.

When it is delivered, will they put it together for you either for free or an extra cost?

I am a HUGE fan of online shopping, but I have to say that this is probably one thing that I would not buy online.  For something this large I would want to be able to see it and sit at it to see if it really works for my needs.

Happy shopping!

Okay, any lefties use this keyboard? How long did it take to get used to? I use my left thumb for the space bar and I notice on a diagram of the keys that I would always be hitting the backspace key.

I'm really interested in getting a better keyboard. I destroyed my left hand and wrist the other week when I fell because I'm becoming a real klutz.

I bought the Soft Flex gloves, but they only help a little bit. My production is down because of it and it's driving me crazy. I can only type an hour without stopping and then have to rest the hand for some time.

I did buy a Microsoft 2000 keyboard but have yet to recieve it. Is this a good one?

Do you use a keyboard tray with it or just set it on the desk? Do you think a kayboard tray would be the least expensive item right now that would help with a straight keyboard?

Any info you can provide to help me in making any decision would be greatfully appreciated.

'Scuse me for being old school, but I've only ever used a straight keyboard.

The cafeteria was a blue haze of cigarette smoke too even though the smokers could smoke at their desks.

The nonsmokers had to go outside to breathe during lunch instead of the smokers going out to smoke.

Now THAT is a change for the better.

gotten to the deep drawer where files go.  He put the frame of the drawer together without putting the bottom of the drawer on.  Fortunately I happened to walking through the room at this point and told him he has to put the bottom in the grooves on one side before he can finishing putting the drawer together.  He tells me that the directions don't say anything about that.  I told him common sense dictates that you have to put the bottom before you put the second side on.   Poor man.  He is very bright, but has zilch common sense.  I'm not very book smart, but have been blessed with my share of common sense and then some, so I guess we made a good couple - LOL. 

...be prepared to do your own searching for the answers. 

MT Desk participants will offer you thinking and researching ideas, but they will not toss you the answers as easily as it is done here or other MT sites.  It is managed very differently than other MT sites and the participants adhere to the "teach them to fish" rule.

MTs, especially those of us that work at home, should be able to be self-reliant in this field and possess decent researching skills. 

As you've all just experienced last week, what happens in the future if both MTStars.com/net just *poof* from web again?  Who will give you the answers, when you are so used to having someone else do the researching for you? 

Surely there's been exchanging of harsh words now and again, but I've seen the same thing happen here on this site and others.  Major difference is, on THIS site, you can't tell who is making the comments, because on this site, you can hide who you are by changing your name for each post you make, whereas on MTDesk, each person has 1 identity for every post they make.  So yes, on MT Desk you WILL see the same folks replying on 'hot' topics as they do not have as much flexibility to name change between posts as is so easily done here.

Clan?  I think not.  I see it as a group of folks helping other MTs hone their researching and thinking skills, helping you to hopefully become a self-reliant MT.

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience with MT Desk.

I love my armoire desk when I am done with work....It closes up so I don't have to look at work at night or on weekends when I don't have to work.  My old desk was all open and every time I would walk past, I would get a guilty feeling because I was not working. 

Also, when company is over, they don't have to look at all my sticky notes.  On the inside of the doors, I stuck some corkboard on them so that I can tack up all kind of notes and a calander, things that I use often.  

The only drawback is it does feel a little cramped when sitting there for more than 8 hours, and my books are on a shelf up a little high, so I have quite a stretch to reach them. 

Overall, I love it.  Hope you find one that works for you. 

Mercedes  -- not sure how others do it, but I have both a desk top and a laptop.  I started on my desk top and moved to a laptop, as I make frequent trips to the Chicago area and could take my work with me.  I use a zip drive for some of the lesser used materials, so as to cut down on my files on the laptop and basically use my desk top as a backup and where I house my invoices, etc.  Just thought this might help.  It has worked for me for almost two years.

I have a table that doubles as my sewing craft table and my work desk, depending on the day.  I set up my laptop for work as such:  laptop used as a cpu and monitor, external keyboard and mouse attached via USB/PS2 adapter cord, placed ergonomically, and footpedal attached through a USB port.  It works pretty well for me, especially once I had everything set up comfortably.  When the work day is done, I can grab the laptop, disconnect all of the wires, and sit on the couch with it and surf the internet or whatever via my secure wireless connection.  I know some people take more advantage of the flexibility of a laptop, but I just cannot type on the integrated keyboard for more than a short while and it is nice to have a comfortable set up for work, and the convenience of my written reference materials next to me on the table. 

I have used it on the road in a hotel with hotkeys, but I still brought my external keyboard with me!

Good luck. I love laptops - so much less bulky than a regular PC. 

keyboard tray and then put my keyboard on the pillow.  It helps my fingers, wrists, back, and shoulders, which helps my production.  I find that I sit back with back against the chair, which helps ease shoulder and back discomfort. 

I use a standard-sized bed pillow and isn't too fat or firm. 

or keyboard tray.  I'm short and not much lap, so having it in my lap doesn't work for me.  I don't have issues of chasing my keyboard when I prop the pillow.

I think a sort of squishy pillow works better.  If you have a fat one I think there is too much bounce in it and then you will be chasing the keyboard.   

Also space heater; love that; more cozy especially since I'm in our partially finished basement/family room.  HAHA!

My nails bother me too if they get too long, and I do my own little manicures when that happens, so I can feel more comfortable - I agree on the nails.

Coffee till around 9:30, shower, and then soda all day long, but it usually just sits there.  I have to have lip stuff in case my lips get dry, and I also have pictures of my kids, my husband and I, and my nieces and nephews, just to remind me that I'm not out of touch...

Mostly I need the heat to warm up my hands, so I sit my heater on my desk top blowing directly at my keyboard.  The electric blanket is an excellent idea.  I may have to look into that.

One thing to consider, when I first plugged in my space heater, my circuit couldn't handle my CPU, printer, heater, going all at once and I tripped the circuit breaker.  So, I've had to run an extension cord from another outlet on a different circuit for my heater.  My house is pretty old though and needs some wiring work.

my computer sits on a "second hand" counter (bought at an discount home supply companyfor $35) that sits on 2x4s. I bought the counter top 2 x 8 feet marked down because of marks, etc., and placed all my printer, scanner, extra computer etc., on 2x4's cut down; i.e., 1 2x4 8 foot long give 3 sides (left,right, and bottom) to securely sit everything on top. I have 3 computers, a printer, a scanner, 2 transcription machines, a calculator, and CDs and a whatchamacallit for holding bills, etc. sitting on it. It's held up for 8 years.

I have a ceramic heater under my desk and it doesn't get hot enough to travel up to the counter.