I'd like to say that I do most of my work sitting upright at my desk, but in reality, that's not always the case. You're more likely to find me curled up on the couch working on my computer, or propped up watching a movie in bed. I've also created makeshift work spaces in airports while waiting for flights, my kitchen floor, and even on the city bus. Of course, with all of this mobility comes poor posture, and more often than not, a hot lap.
The Lightweight Laptop Stand ($26) is perfect for use anywhere, and since it is so light, it's simple to toss in your bag and take anywhere. My favorite is the bright orange, but it also comes in fun pink and more serious gray or black.
After showing you the BackPack for iMacs to keep your hard drive up and away from your desk, and now after discovering this gizmo, which keeps your MacBook standing up, your workspace is going to be so pristine and clutter free! The BookArc ($50) shown here is great for those who use an external screen with their Macs but want to free up some desk space. To make sure you get the best fit for your laptop, the BookArc comes in three different sizes and includes scratch-free, silicone cushions on the bottom part so you don't have to worry about scratching your lovely wooden desk.
OK, I'll admit it, for someone who isn't even going back to school, I may be getting a little too obsessed with covering
back to school products. But overall, I think it's safe to say I have a laptop obsession in general. . . one can never have enough laptop accessories in my book! My favorite Swedish furniture retailer has spoiled me with two new things this week: a SwedeShop iPhone app and a Dave laptop stand. . . in red! See what else Ikea has cooking for this coming school year.
It doesn't take much to make your home workstation a little more body friendly. So before you head back to school this Fall, add a few ergonomic touches to your home office. I have professed my love for the Ikea Dave Laptop stand many times before, so if you must work in front of the tube (like yours truly), put it on a stand and not on your lap! Add a desk lamp to save your eyes, and either an amazing chair or a fitness ball (or both!) to save your back and shoulders. Also, make sure you have a pretty keyboard wrist rest to prevent typing fatigue.
Have any ergonomic supplies you can't live without? Share with us your own geeky, body-friendly office tips below!
What recession? Remember last week, when I pinpointed Target's pricier version of my beloved Dave laptop stand from Ikea?
Yeah. I can't exactly call Target's stand expensive, now that I've found the ridiculously expensive Nestable by Jasper Morrison for furniture giant Vitra — it retails for a whopping $845.
Wipe the sleep out of your eyes; that's eight hundred and forty-five bones.
The material list is polyurethane, powder-coated steel, and die-cast aluminum; there doesn't appear to be gold or diamonds in there, so why the high, high price? It's not bad-lookin', but wowee, that's the first simple laptop stand I've seen that comes close to laptop price.
The $25 Dave laptop table from Ikea still holds a special place in my heart — as well as a special place in both my bedroom and living room (tee-hee). But look out Mr. Dave, there's a sexier laptop stand in town and he's popping up at Target stores across the country. Unlike the Dave laptop table, the Ergonomic laptop desk from Target is made of metal in a laminate walnut finish, which you'll pay for with the table costing $50. The wood version would definitely look a lot nicer in my living room, but for now, I just can't justify the upgrade.
The "home office" ain't what it used to be. You used to have to use a spare bedroom with some awful looking computer desk and truly boring accessories, but these days, when you can go light and laptop, the "home office" becomes something less obtrusive and easier to pull off. Of course, since you can use a laptop anywhere, TV characters literally do, and sometimes it's admirable, sometimes it's interesting, and sometimes it's just questionable. Check it out to see what I mean!
I'm always hearing about ingenious and inventive ways people manage to use their hot laptops on their laps — whether it be angled on the couch arm, a pillow, or a TV tray, there's always some sort of protective barrier involved. I myself use a variety of things, including a basic breakfast-in-bed tray (when I'm in bed) and my Dave laptop stand when I'm cross-legged on the couch. If you're still looking for a new stand for either your desk, bed, couch, or coffee table, here are some chic designs that may do the trick!
I thought my lovely Dave was cheap ($20) for a laptop stand, but I've been proven wrong by Ikea Hacker, who has taught me that a genius trip to Ikea can be accomplished by looking at products with a mutable, creative eye.
Here, a user submitted this hack for the Lamplig trivet ($6) — accustomed to keeping hot pans off surfaces — where the hacker simply affixed $2 rubber feet to the trivet and achieved an angled laptop stand with airflow underneath. You'd have to use this on a surface though, otherwise I'm getting a visual (and a physical, ouch) of a metal grid print on your thighs.
