Lap Gear Jumbo Lap Desk Black

by LAPGEAR

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 19 x 14.8 x 3 inches ; 1.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B000UY2TW8
• Item model number: 45104
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #36 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Computer Accessories > Laptop & Netbook Computer Accessories > Lapdesks
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 20, 2005

Product Description

LAPGEAR 45104 JUMBO CLIP LAPDESK

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

95 of 96 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very handy, wish i'd found this item years ago, February 27, 2007

By 

J-girlie - See all my reviews

I'm a law student and this desk is great for reading and highlighting my textbooks as well as working on my laptop. It has a great clip on it, so you can hold stuff down, 2 indents to keep writing utensils handy, and a great carrying handle. It's light weight, very portable and very comfortable.

Do keep in mind though, that the micro bead pillow does come in various colors and you CAN NOT choose your color, it is random. But color is a small price to pay for such a great product.

66 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lap Desk Review - Over Time The Cons Loom Larger, July 29, 2008

By 

Mark "Technology, Music and Movies" (East Coast) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)   

UPDATED: February 2009

The Jumbo Lap Desk is designed for use when working from a couch or recliner. When I got my first one, this was one of the few options for lap desks that could be described as a "good value." I knew it wasn't perfect, but it had enough positives to be worth a shot. Now there are many more options, and you should explore them.

If I could adjust my star rating, I would make this a two instead of a three. Over time, the cons have become more annoying. If you only use this for reading or writing, it's still a decent low-cost option. But if you use this with a laptop computer, the unit will crack and flex more and more over time. And if you replace it, that unit will crack too. Over time the beads in the cushion also start to leak more. I initially left my more expensive *wooden-top* lap desk at home because it felt a little too heavy to be portable. I now plan to start using that one more if possible.

This is still the *low cost* solution of lap-desks. I would urge you to consider the alternatives. Eventually this will bend and crack to the point of being distracting.

In terms of price, you have to factor in the shipping when buying from a third party. That's not a deal-breaker and it's probably not worth waiting to see if Amazon will ever sell it directly. I bought mine at a brick and mortar store, and it was only a few bucks cheaper. So it may be worth a premium for the convenience of home delivery.

THE GOOD

This unit has many uses beyond just laptop use. The included clip and pencil / pen slots make it ideal for taking notes while reading. The built-in handle is convenient for carrying it. It's so light though you really shouldn't grab it there to move it with heavy things on the surface. But the light weight also makes this very portable.

A 17 inch laptop will fit on it, but is a little cramped if you're using an external mouse. It's perfectly sized for a 14 or 15 inch laptop along with a mouse. The beaded bottom is comfortable in your lap. And along with all of this, the best aspect of this unit has to be the lower price relative to the alternatives.

THE BAD

The hard plastic surface bends and flexes, and over time it will crack. If you are only using this for reading or writing on it that is an acceptable flaw. But the weight of using this with a laptop will make the flexing and cracking worse. Mine cracked in the middle first, and pieces started breaking off. Then the handle cracked. Now if I lift it with something on top, it flexes dangerously. I opted to get another even though it was still useable. The excessive flexing just started to bother me. But the second one also started cracking in short order even though I handled with care.

This isn't going to bother everybody but should be taken into account. You may still be able to get by with it long after it is cracked and chipped. For a while I didn't think the flexing would be a deal-breaker for me, but over time it has become more distracting.

The cushion underneath is a little under-stuffed with beads and covered in a synthetic fabric that can be uncomfortable and hot. It's still cooler than having a hot laptop on your legs, but in the summer time it can be uncomfortable. Over time, more and more of those beads start to leak out. Plan on cleaning them up.

THE ALTERNATIVES

For my part, I plan on using my unit with a wood surface much more. It's not sold here but is similar to the Wood Laptop Desk. Originally I kept it at home for occasional use, but since the wood won't flex as much as this plastic top I am hoping that will hold up longer. It's clearly heavier, otherwise I might not have used these units. Then again, that one cost me about $20 more than this, so it's a trade-off.

Belkin's CushTop Notebook Stand may be an alternative for those who use their laptops on their laps without a wireless mouse. It can be flipped over for use with a 15.4 inch laptop or a 17 inch widescreen, and comes in a variety of colors. The downsides are that it is somewhat thicker, adding height, it doesn't provide as much extra work surface for using a mouse and it may hold heat more due to it's cloth surface. The Belkin PocketTop Laptop Case has a storage area integrated with it but is not as solid as the cush-top.

Antec's USB-Powered Notebook Cooler is great cooler, but not very comfortable when used directly on the lap. Some may opt to use this in combination with the Belkin cushtop or the Lap Desk. Others may not require any additional cooling, so the cush-top stand or the lap desk alone may be enough.

All of these options should be reviewed before choosing the one that best meets your needs.

CONCLUSION

This will seem good enough for a while, but when it eventually starts to fail you will wish you had gotten something better. At the right price this can be a good value and a handy extra unit to have around. I would just recommend you look at some alternatives.

Good luck with your choice.

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Too flimsy for me, June 28, 2007

By 

enhF94 (Somerville, MA United States) - See all my reviews

Since I'm putting a laptop on the desk, I need a firm, non-pliable surface. Part of the cooling design for my (and most) laptops is to install little foot-nubs on the bottom, allowing air to circulate under the laptop. The plastic surface of this desk bends enough to create lots of heat-retaining contact with the laptop. Next time, I'll get wood, metal or thick pressboard.