Sligh Furniture--ComputerCabinet™
Sligh (616-392-7101) has three different
sized models. The ComputerCabinet™ (model # 1890) is the more spacious of the three.
Like most china cabinet or breakfront conversions, this product comes in two separate
pieces, upper open shelving and lower desk/drawer unit, each with separate dimensions.
Overall measurements are 78" high by 25" deep by 69 1/2" wide. Both upper and lower
sections have bi-fold doors. Lower section has pull-out printer drawer and fixed shelf
on left. There are two box drawers and a file drawer on right. Ball bearing slides on
all drawers. Pull-out keyboard tray with palm rest on ball bearing slides in center.
Two writing slides above each pedestal. Wire management access in rear and behind fabric
covered back wall tackboard. Upper deck has three adjustable shelves on top, with three
fixed shelves below. Task lights. Slots are provided for cords and cables to exit. As an
option, this line offers a boudoir-type chair on casters, called the PocketChair. When
work is done, the back cushion folds forward so that the little chair can be stowed under
the desk top.
- Construction:
- "Hardwood Solids and wood veneer". End panels are 45 lb.
Flakeboard -(particleboard), with Mahogany veneers, doors are veneered plywood with
Mahogany trim, shelves are Birch, feet are Maple, stained to match). The PocketChair is
made of "Select Hardwoods". The chair has off-white fabric on seat and back. Black dual
wheel casters.
- Strengths:
- Nice looking traditional style writing-desk. Lots of space
for books. Perfect spot to catalog recipes or dash off a quick note to the kids.
- Weaknesses:
- Below-desk shelf doesn't slide to permit use for Fax or Scanner. If
the optional armless non-ergonomic PocketChair is declined, the ergonomic chair
you do purchase will not close up inside. This unit is not designed for heavy
work use. Surfaces mar easily. Sligh warns of "migration", a surface-damaging
phenomenon which occurs when plastic comes into contact with lacquer. Sligh provides twenty
little felt dots to attach to the bottom of everything you own that's plastic which might
come into contact with work and storage surfaces of their ComputerCabinet™. Factory
Quoted Retail price: Mahogany-$6,128., Cherry-$5,474. add $441. for PocketChair) No
additional review available.
-
Haworth's Steamer
Haworth (local dealers
in most major cities) has an ad which depicts a crisply uniformed railroad porter with
what looks like an oversized steamer trunk on a dolly. John Pierson, who wrote the
Feb.1995 Form + Function column for the Wall Street Journal, said: "Haworth's
Steamer is closer to the phone booth than the plush office. This steel and aluminum
office-in-a-box stands 5 feet high by 3 by 2 feet and resembles a modern vending machine.
Opened with a key, Steamer's two hinged pieces unfold and allow a desk of laminated wood
to drop down from one side. Inside there's a book shelf, a computer surface, electric
power, halogen light, marker board and perhaps a folding chair. Steamer is expected to
sell for $2,000. to $3,000. ..Weighing in at 300 pounds, Steamer can snap shut and ride a
dolly".
- Strengths:
- Nice ad.
- Weaknesses:
- Not designed for the serious
computer user.
-
Bausman & Co.
This Ontario, California company offers a
14-drawer alder wood chest, measuring 55" wide, 21" deep and 71" high, which houses
computer, printer, files and other items. Available to the design trade, this product,
which looks like a converted chest of drawers, although attractive, is not designed for the
serious computer user. No other review available.Price: $5,268.
Other product conversion-type designs:
The traditional roll-top desk has been modified to house a computer monitor, which is now conveniently mounted between your knees. A glass panel in the desk-top allows you to see the screen. The idea presumably being that this design is particulary helpful for bifocal users. Frankly we loved beautiful old oak roll-top desks, they look campy as all get-out. Yes, several of us have owned them. Unfortunately, we found they were pretty impractical. There wasn't anyplace to put things or get stuff done. And this was years ago. Before we even owned a computer. Evaluate this type product in relation to your workstyle and your computer equipment.
Breakfront conversions with pull-out desks - At first glance this seemed like an interesting idea. Until we took a second look, that is. Then we got out our list and tried to figure out just exactly how we were going to work from there. That put things into perspective pretty quickly.
To start with, we found that the entire "work-surface" of the heavy roll-out desk is wasted, by virtue of the fact that you can't put anything on it. (The desktop must be completely cleared before the desk can be rolled back inside the bi-fold doors). We also found that the keyboard tray is not wide enough to accept a mouse, much less a mousepad. Additionally, and this is equally critical, once the pull-out desk is extended, any equipment or accessories placed on the breakfront shelving immediately becomes inaccessible, requiring the user to stand in order to reach items, or do some pretty basic things. Answer the telephone, for example. Insert a floppy in your CPU. Use your printer, or your scanner, or your .....well, you've got your list, haven't you? If you're considering this design, you might want to re-read the section entitled "What To Watch Out For" . Again, evaluate this type product in relation to your workstyle and your computer equipment.
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