Saturday, December 17, 2005

Finding flexible and durable computer furniture can be a challenge. Many places -- from Ikea to Target -- sell computer desks and hutches... and some of them even look fairly nice. But put a heavy CPU or old CRT monitor on them and the ubiquitous particle board will start to sag pretty quickly. Metal shelving is an (ugly) option but the ergonomics are usually terrible. The best company I've found for housing computer equipment while preserving aesthetics is Anthrocart. Many of their products are modular and adjustable, all of them are extremely durable, and they offer models designed to look nice in a home office where the emphasis really is on "home". I've had a computer desk and a printer cart I've used as a rolling TV stand for going on ten years now and they seem to be indestructible. There are two remarkable things about Anthrocart, the first is their packaging. Really, I'd never seen 2-inch thick cardboard before in my life. The second is their customer service. The people there are impossibly nice and are willing to spend plenty of time with you to figure out what primary pieces and accessories you need to put together your ideal system.