Here’s another product that falls under the “It’s so simple, why didn’t I think of it?” category. Manufactured by LapWorks, the Gamers Desk is essentially three connectable pieces of plastic that provide a surface for a mouse and keyboard or a mouse and laptop to rest comfortably on your lap. This product is being specifically marketed towards gamers that keep PCs hooked up to the huge HDTVs in their living rooms, though I could see PS3 Unreal Tournament III players getting a lot of mileage out of it too.
Curious as to how it might feel, I took a board about the size of the Gamers Desk, put it on my lap, and sat my keyboard and mouse on it. While it seemed (and probably looked) a little weird at first, it did feel surprisingly comfortable. I couldn’t test how it might feel with a laptop on it (because I don’t have one), but I do worry that depending on the model and time used, it could really heat the thin plastic up — not to mention feeling uncomfortably heavy after a while.
My only real problem with the Gamers Desk is the price: $39.95 for three pieces of plastic seems rather steep. Still, if you’re one of the aforementioned gamers that keeps their PC hooked up to a big TV and is looking for something a bit more comfortable than a coffee table, this might be it.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA—June 19, 2008— LapWorks™ Inc., the market leader in ergonomic and heat- reducing laptop desks and stands, today announced its initial entry into the PC Gaming market with the portable Gamers Desk. As PC gamers move to their couches to play First Person Shooter (FPS) and other high precision games on their HDTV or laptop screen, the Desk provides a comfortable, ergonomically-sound, wide flat platform across the lap with ample space for a broad gamer keyboard and optical mouse or a laptop and external mouse. Measuring 26 ¾ x 11 inches across including a 6 x 9 inch mousing area on either end, the Gamers Desk is made of high-impact ABS plastic, comes in modernistic ‘gun-metal’ gray and retails for $39.95 directly from LapWorks.
“LapWorks’ Gamers Desk makes a timely entrance into a converging market where many traditional desktop PC gamers are moving with keyboard and mouse in front of the TV, once the sole domain of console games,” said Jo Jo Marks, director of marketing for Ideazon, maker of the popular Zboard Gaming Keyboard. “The Gamers Desk helps bring PC gaming into the living room, where gamers can leave their desks behind and use a wide platform to handle a keyboard and mouse on their lap.”
Avid PC gamer and Gamers Desk beta tester Alex Artigues talked with LapWorks about PC gaming trends. “PC gaming in the living room has to date been limited because not all video cards were powerful enough to drive an HDTV display, HDTVs were too expensive to gain much traction, and it is a pain to use a keyboard and mouse on the coffee table or couch.”
Artigues added that advanced FPS enthusiasts may prefer the precision of a mouse over console game controllers which have few buttons and joysticks with a limited range of motion.
“We wanted PC gamers to be able to play in comfort and with control wherever they are,” said Jose Calero, president of LapWorks. “Whether gaming on a couch or in an easy chair in front of a big-screen TV, or at their PC, the Gamers Desk supports all gamer keyboards with plenty of room for an optical mouse.”
The Gamers Desk arrives in three parts which are easy to assemble. Two Futura MouzPads snap easily into place, one on each end of a Laptop Desk Futura. LapWorks also provides four locking plugs which can hold the MouzPads in place semi-permanently.
LapWorks designed the MouzPad so heavy-handed mouse users won’t inadvertently snap it off, while also being easy to remove simply by lifting up its outer edge. If precision gamers find that they require a stronger hold, they can use the locking plugs.
Visually aesthetic with a bursting oval-shaped pattern and open ventilation slots which allow heat to escape, the assembled Gamers Desk is rigid, thin (1/4-inch), lightweight (1 pound 9 ounces), and foldable in the middle for easy transport and storage. Soft non-skid rubber pads on the middle portion of the Gamer Desk keep gamer keyboards or laptops from slipping. There are four utility holes for cables, pencils, pens, etc. It carries a 6-month warranty.
LapWorks expects later this year to launch the Gamers Desk in colors and patterns similar to the recently-announced Painted Laptop Desk Futuras. Pricing is undetermined at this time.
