Ask HN: What cool desk ideas do you have for a home office? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What cool desk ideas do you have for a home office?

#21

Post by eropple » Sat, Sep 09, 2023, 6:32 PM UTC

meter wrote: post #18

I think it’d be neat to embed USB ports within the wood. The cables could be embedded in the wood using a router, completely out of sight. Imagine plugging your phone, keyboard, or mouse, directly into the wood. There might be some downsides, but it’d be unique. I prefer wired keyboards/mice for their reliability. But aesthetically, I don’t like having a bunch of cables spread across my desk.

The downsides are pretty large: you're betting on using those plugs forever. With USB-C that is a better bet than USB-A, but...yeah. Better is the modular/drop-in approach and using through-panel connectors.

Cable hiding is cool, but even with a full wood shop I just attach raceways to things or at most route out a channel that I can attach silicone catches over top of, because the juice isn't worth the squeeze.

Re: Ask HN: What cool desk ideas do you have for a home office?

#22

Post by zachrose » Sat, Sep 09, 2023, 6:34 PM UTC

I've been happily hacking on my Ikea Bekant for three years. I replaced the top, replaced the buttons with a double throw rocker switch (1), built a Mac Mini/laptop shelf on the back half, a KVM switch on a little shelf in the front.

Cable management isn't horrible but there's a lot of room for improvement. I'd like to replace all the AC adapters with one big one that can supply everything.

I've built some outlandish and unsatisfying desks in the past, the gradual approach has been better.

1. This is unsafe for children, as they might figure out a way to flip the switch and crush themselves. Please take this consideration into account.

Re: Ask HN: What cool desk ideas do you have for a home office?

#23

Post by splike » Sat, Sep 09, 2023, 6:34 PM UTC

For a while I've wanted to build a big red "Ship it!" button (think emergency stop button). When slammed, it runs `git add -u . && git commit -m "Shipped!" && git push`

Re: Ask HN: What cool desk ideas do you have for a home office?

#24

Post by reckless » Sat, Sep 09, 2023, 6:36 PM UTC

michaelbuckbee wrote: post #13

RankingMember wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd be curious to know what model tv you use for this.

A Samsung 55" Curved - they stopped making them as I suspect they moved their production capacity over to higher margin curved monitors, but it's great if you can find one.

They do a 55" curved one called the Samsung odyssey ark

Re: Ask HN: What cool desk ideas do you have for a home office?

#25

Post by efortis » Sat, Sep 09, 2023, 6:39 PM UTC

Having the mobo upside-down below the desk.

Re: Ask HN: What cool desk ideas do you have for a home office?

#26

Post by vlod » Sat, Sep 09, 2023, 6:44 PM UTC

doitLP wrote: post #10

phren0logy wrote: post #5

I always thought the Lian Li DK-05F was pretty cool - a computer case that’s a desk with a glass top. Not sure it really solves a practical problem, but it’s cool!

Example picture: https://i1.wp.com/www.modders-inc.com/wp-content/uploads/ima...

My eyes immediately went to the rods on the right. I expected them to be joysticks and desk pacman to start playing.

Yeah... wasted youth.

Re: Ask HN: What cool desk ideas do you have for a home office?

#27

Post by clktmr » Sat, Sep 09, 2023, 6:45 PM UTC

I would love to see a desk with an integrated mechanical keyboard, or an inlet for them. I really liked the mechanical keyboards I had, but ultimately I prefer very slim keyboards.

Re: Ask HN: What cool desk ideas do you have for a home office?

#28

Post by noja » Sat, Sep 09, 2023, 6:45 PM UTC

If you like solid oak, take a look at https://ergohide.com/

Re: Ask HN: What cool desk ideas do you have for a home office?

#29

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Sep 09, 2023, 6:47 PM UTC

clktmr wrote: post #27

I would love to see a desk with an integrated mechanical keyboard, or an inlet for them. I really liked the mechanical keyboards I had, but ultimately I prefer very slim keyboards.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: What cool desk ideas do you have for a home office?

#30

Post by kesslern » Sat, Sep 09, 2023, 6:48 PM UTC

clktmr wrote: post #27

I would love to see a desk with an integrated mechanical keyboard, or an inlet for them. I really liked the mechanical keyboards I had, but ultimately I prefer very slim keyboards.

If you're a bit DIY inclined, this would be pretty easy to do with a butcher block desk. You could use a router (the wood kind, not the network kind) to create a pocket for your ideal keyboard size and affix it to most any desk legs.