Lapdesk discussion

Although it can be about the M17x.

I have a spinal condition. I can't sit or stand for very long at a time. I spend all day at home, and thus, having a powerful ( THE most powerful ) laptop is as important to me as it is to any of you, so I've been following the CF 5870 issue daily as well.

Mine is currently getting replaced by the single 5870, so we'll see how that goes later.

What I did want to talk about was gaming on the M17x and if anyone else does it in bed. I use a Razor Naga, and a Logitech G13. Killer combo. I can lie down, have each at the side, and control any game. The only issue is deciding whether to allow 12lbs of metal and glass to sit right on my chest or use some kind of surface to hold it.

Anyone else doing something similar and have any insights to share? I'm considering building a cantilevered arm to hold either the computer or a monitor above my bed and then use a slim lap table to hold the input devices, but at that point, I could just as well use a desktop. I happen to enjoy the ability to lie on my side, which I have to do most of the time, and watch high definition movies and TV shows on the LED screen. ( can't really play any games that way, unless anyone has an idea ).

All of this complaining about upgrades, customer service, and communication is one thing, but let's remember how amazing this machine actually is, and for some of us, what it enables us to do!

 

I'd use a bed tray for sure.

 

The M17x needs to be on a flat surface or the fans on the base can't get any air and it will quickly overheat, I'd go for a bed tray or something similar as Crylo says. Definitely wouldn't play with it on your chest as it is fairly heavy and again, the fans won't be able to get any air.

You could have the laptop on something like:




Or if you were to mount an external monitor on a cantilevered arm and position it above you so you can lie down fully, and then have one of the above trays just holding the keyboard and mouse, with the laptop on a table/desk beside your bed.

 

OR, you could just hook it up to a wall mounted tv, and have your USB peripherals on your table/bed. Depends on room/distance etc. however.

 

I would actually get a desktop pc instead of a laptop in your condition. You will get more horsepower for the same price.

 

Good feedback so far. The biggest problem with using a table is that the M17 weighs so much, that the whole thing is too top heavy, and threatens to fall over all the time.

I agree that having it on a flat surface is needed, but it's a tough call. I already got the computer, and I'm happy with it, so I'm going to make that work. The main disadvantage to using my desktop right next to the bed is noise. I can have the laptop sitting there very quietly when not in use, and that's nice.

Right now, I prefer to keep using the laptop so that I don't have to switch as often between it and my desktop for the few moments here and there I need to sit at my desk and work. I just move the laptop and connect it to the monitor. What might be awesome is to put it on that arm, and have it swing from desk to bed, but I'd need a slightly different set up to do that. Maybe next place, after my surgery.

This is much better than the shipping threads. I'll continue to respond to threads like this.

Wattos, love your apps. Been using both the whole time. Will be mentioning them quite positively in my published review of the Alienware. My girlfriend borrowed my M17x a couple of weeks ago, and hasn't opened her own older laptop ever since. I've discovered that using your app, I could easily create an incredibly obnoxious light show on the keyboard, complete with sickening color combinations, cycling through barf inducing flickers. It's a great way to quickly set it up so that no one wants to use your computer. I'm sure that wasn't your intention, but it's darn funny.

 

What about those study pillows that are flat plastic on one side and bean-bag material on the other? You have your flat surface, plus more stability since the bean-bag side contours to your body.

 

Don't know if this will help but I write late at night and end up doing so in bed. I bought an Xbrand cooler from AW with my M17x but it didn't do a very good job of keeping the beast cool. I then bought a spire brand cooler which does a much better job cooling the laptop but I'm not so keen on the smaller size even though it is rated for laptops over 17".
Gaming will cause the laptop to heat up in your lap much more so than what I do however you need something to keep it cool. You could possibly combine a laptop cooler with a student desk with the bean bag on the bottom for the comfort and stability factor. Hope this helped.

 

See, it's a real dilemma. All those pretty lap desks are for much lighter computers. I might end up getting an M11x or one of those really lightweight 17" HPs for the writing and light duty, but in the meantime, I might just end up building my own lapdesk. I've built sturdy home theater screens, it can't be that hard.

 

I use a lap board for when Im in my lazy boy and it works well. Granted it pales in comparison to an actual desk, but for those times away from a desk t cannot be beat.

Here is what I use in bed:


Here is what I use in my lazyboy(close but not actual):

 

Interesting. I like that second one. It's classy. The trick for me is to decide if it's best to build a lap desk wide enough to hold my mouse and G13, or put them on something on the bed and just have the lap desk hold the computer.

Of course, if my surgery goes well, and the titanium plates they put in my spine are nice and straight, and they don't do any additional nerve damage in the process, I won't need to lie in bed all the time. I can't wait for that day. Got my final ( I think ) appt with the Doctor next Weds. After that, we should be scheduling the surgery.

I hope.