I'm Starting To Feel Uncomfy Sat At This Computer Desk
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
August 17, 2012 11:03am CST
I knew it would happen eventually.
I've had this computer desk/chair combo for what seems like an eternity but the one thing that I don't like about it (and never have) is the fact I cannot place my feet right underneath the desk. You know, stretch my legs out.
This is what I have tended to do whenever I have worked anywhere. I felt more comfy being able to stretch my legs underneath a desk and having my belly right up against the top of it. Now there's an image for you!
My chair is rock-hard too although I do have a cushion on it. That, too, I've had for ages.
I've now noticed that the bottom of my left leg aches if I sit here for any length of time. It's due to my leg having to be bent underneath my chair rather than being stretched out. Like I said, I cannot do this with my current combo.
Having said all that, there aren't many desks out there for desktop computers (I have a 20" monitor) with a tower and printer all enclosed in one unit, as I have here.
Surely not everyone uses laptops? Where is the printer situated for a start?
I've had this computer desk/chair combo for what seems like an eternity but the one thing that I don't like about it (and never have) is the fact I cannot place my feet right underneath the desk. You know, stretch my legs out.
This is what I have tended to do whenever I have worked anywhere. I felt more comfy being able to stretch my legs underneath a desk and having my belly right up against the top of it. Now there's an image for you!
My chair is rock-hard too although I do have a cushion on it. That, too, I've had for ages.
I've now noticed that the bottom of my left leg aches if I sit here for any length of time. It's due to my leg having to be bent underneath my chair rather than being stretched out. Like I said, I cannot do this with my current combo.
Having said all that, there aren't many desks out there for desktop computers (I have a 20" monitor) with a tower and printer all enclosed in one unit, as I have here.
Surely not everyone uses laptops? Where is the printer situated for a start?2 people like this
7 responses
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
17 Aug 12
I have a huge long desk here so you would think that I would have plenty of room, but I have boxes all over it piled to the ceiling and also underneath it as well. So, effectively, I have this tiny little alcove around my desktop computer and monitor where I sit and work on the computer.
I have no printer attached to my computer either, we have two attached to my wife's computer in her office. She is inside the house and I am out in the garage where all the packing gets done. At our last house, my wife had this desk that I am using now and I had an internal house door that I had laid flat across a two sets of draws back to back at one end and then mounted to the wall at the other. It worked a treat and was an awesome desk! 
I have no printer attached to my computer either, we have two attached to my wife's computer in her office. She is inside the house and I am out in the garage where all the packing gets done. At our last house, my wife had this desk that I am using now and I had an internal house door that I had laid flat across a two sets of draws back to back at one end and then mounted to the wall at the other. It worked a treat and was an awesome desk! 
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
18 Aug 12
I have a desktop hubby uses, I seldom do. The printer is off to one side. the monitor is old, not a flat screen. The tower is off on a separate little table to the left side, and so it the router and modem. There is a keyboard tray. I have room to put my legs out straight and a chair that will raise and lower. I still will tend to put my legs funny and make them hurt.
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
18 Aug 12
I got this computer desk at a thrift shop. It does not look too bad, but all the junk around it is awful. Maybe I will clean . . . tomorrow.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
18 Aug 12
I've been a bit like that with the cleaning lately. I didn't want to overdo it last week because Mum is coming to visit on Friday..so killing myself two weeks on the tro wasn't an option lol.
Gonna have to make up for lost time next week though!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
18 Aug 12
I would gladly kill you (joke) to have that much leg room lol.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
26 Aug 12
I know how you feel. My legs ache at the top and bottom of my right thigh, a dull really painful ache that gets worse till I just have to move. It starts in my buttock. I use a padded office chair and I've placed a big cushion on it but I have problems with my back and I'm just not comfortable sitting - anywhere.
I use a laptop on the dining table and I push the laptop back so my arms can rest on the table because they are beginning to ache too...especially my lower arm that I use the mouse with.
As for my printer, I have it at the side of me on a trolley with all sorts of other office type stuff. On my other side is a big set of drawers on wheels that holds all my crafting gear.
I reckon it's safe to say you need a new chair that is the right height. Apparently we should sit with our knees together and feet flat on the floor.
Hope you get it sorted soon ducks.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
26 Aug 12
Personally, I would love a high-backed chair. The one I have now supports the lower back and it's not great although I'm lucky in the fact I don't get back-ache, it's just my legs.
You're right when you say our feet should be flat on the floor as I've done VDU Operator assessments in the past. When I read your response my instant thought was; "Is your dining table level with your arms? By that I mean, can you stretch your arms out straight along the table without having to bend them too much? If not this might be the reason why your lower arms might be aching although I realise you cannot do anything about the height of your dining-table."
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
14 Sep 12
I have a 24 inch iMac on my desk and I have plenty of room underneath. I also have a slide out drawer for the keyboard. Although I only use it for the mouse. I get uncomfortable on my desk chair also. It has to do with sitting for long time frames. I know what you mean about your legs having to be bent while working online. They make cheap larger desks that you could get.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
14 Sep 12
Yes, I've been measuring the area a desk could go in. 100cm would be about the maximum width, otherwise it would be interfering with the two media units I have nearby.
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
1 Oct 12
Well, these days we don't need those old type bulky desks. A work station type of desk would be perfect. As long as there is enough room for the computer and maybe a printer. I am also thinking about downsizing my desk. I have one that is about 2 and a half feet long. It has a glass top. And a pull out slide for the keyboard. But if I do some work here I am going to need a smaller one an besides, if I wind up getting another iMac I will have the both of them. So one will be for the kids and one wil be mine. So a smaller desk would help me.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16784)
• China
18 Aug 12
I place my desktop computer on the common desk and there is enough room underneath the desk to freely stretch my legs .In addition,I have no printer.I don't know if this kind of computer called all-in-one could help you, in which the monitor combines with tower.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
18 Aug 12
I know the kind of computer you mean but I've not had this one for very long (and I do like it, funnily enough) so if I ever found a dirt-cheap desk that fits the bill I would be a very happy woman.
Upstairs is a modern desk for John's eMac I bought from ebay many years ago. Ebay may be the place to go for my pc, I shall have to see.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16784)
• China
21 Aug 12
I guess there is flea market there,you might as well go there and see if they have one you want.
@Sportseconomics (162)
• United States
17 Aug 12
Normally I don't encounter this problem because I have a laptop. At school, however, I have my desk to put the laptop on and connect it with an Ethernet cord to not have to rely on the crappy Wi-Fi we have. When my own chair broke last year, I had to use the school provided chair, which was wooden (and very hard as you can imagine). I couldn't sit at the desk for extended periods of time because the hole in the desk wasn't "tall" enough. As a result I kept hitting my knees against the top of the desk.
To fix this problem, I have bought a new chair that is much more cushioned and has wheels on it so I can move freely with my computer. I think I will be better prepared to slave away at my assignments with the new chair.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Aug 12
Wow, what you have to put up with makes my problem look miniscule my friend. Your comments remind me of a time I spent (short-term, thankfully) in an office whereby I, too, had to sit on a wooden chair. After a couple of days I refused to sit on it because it was giving me a bad back. It had to be changed by the permanent staff there, otherwise I would've left and not come back. They had to comply because none of the other workers there wanted to do the mundane data inputting job I was drafted in to do at the time.
@Sportseconomics (162)
• United States
18 Aug 12
Yeah, I don't know why hey even have wooden chairs anymore. Maybe they're cheaper to make; I know mine was made of fake wood but it still was as stuff as real wood. I too get back problems if I sit in it for an extended period of time, much to my annoyance. Hopefully the new chair I got will provide a more cushioned seat and less back issues.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
18 Aug 12
I once inherited an executive chair at work. It was cloth covered but oh, so comfy. I may buy a fake leather one one day as I like high-backed chairs.
@freqspaz (220)
• United States
18 Aug 12
I've always had my printer/scanner thingies stuffed under around or away from the computer. Yes, it is a bit inconvenient when I need them, but so comfy when I don't because they are not in my way. I wish I could get a picture right now to show you. My printer is sitting up on its side, leaning against the wall with (unless my husband moved it) my coffee cup on it. If I need to print something I just lay it down and turn it on, but it keeps it out of my way. I learned a long time ago, printers are forgiving and they make really good foot stools (just don't put your muddy shoes on them. It takes forever to clean it).
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
18 Aug 12
My printer is on the same desk as the monitor, tower, speakers, etc but on the bottom shelf. If this shelf had been a foot higher (and it can't be adjusted, unfortunately), I would've been able to fit my feet underneath the desk, as it is compact and functions relatively well.
I love my printer too much to use it as a footstool lol.
