Customer Reviews

Lap Gear Jumbo Lap Desk Black

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I got mine from Staples on sale for $12.97. Mine has a black top with a bright yellow pillow. I use a 17" screen laptop that is rather heavy. With this desk, the laptop's weight is not a problem. The laptop/desk combination is stable for typing and comfortable for long periods. There is a slight raised edge around the work surface with a strong clip on the side. It's great with recliners but my favorite is using this laptop/desk combination with my zero-gravity chair. I have a lot of back pain and I can work comfortably for hours this way. This lap desk is light but durable. Get one - you will really like it.

I bought mine at Hobby Lobby. Within three months of use with a 12" laptop, one of the two tuft buttons in the cushion came out of its anchor, the plastic board cracked at the handle, the cardboard that the cushion and the plastic are joined with began separating, and the other tuft button, while still attached to its anchor, has become so wobbly it has worked open the hole it's sewn through enough that the microbeads inside the cushion leak out at a rate of about 30 at a time while it's on my lap.

I'll not be able to use it much longer. It was wonderfully convenient for the first few months until it began to disintegrate. I have owned it less than a year. I wish there were a better quality model of the same item.

I would not buy it again.

I spent a long time looking at the different lap boards/desks available. I read many of the reviews and despite some negative comments on this particular model, I felt it was worth a shot. I am completely and totally happy with this lap board/desk. It is the perfect size, comfortable, sturdy, and the color is nice (black on black). If you're on the fence between this lap board/desk and another - go with this one. I'm really glad I purchased this product! Love it!

I was disappointed with this product. Initially it looked ideal to use with my laptop, however the plastic is too brittle. First it cracked at the handle and then it cracked right across the work surface. Instead, I removed the cushion and stuck it onto a piece of wood about the same dimension and now have a much better and durable lapdesk.

The lap desk itself is fine, but despite an all black item being featured in the photo, the item that came had a very bright light blue cushion - not at all what I wanted. I contacted the main seller (it's not Amazon) and they said that's all the had, and to return it I'd have to pay shipping.

We purchased this lap desk (which has a black molded plastic top and a variety of colored microbead insulated cushion bases), along with the Lapinator Plus which costs twice as much. The Lapinator looks much sturdier in the photos: Boy were we wrong- It has a very flimsy vinyl top with a molded foam base that's way uncomfortable. This lap desk is much sturdier, more comfortable, larger (2 inches wider and 1 inch longer), and all for half the price. It also has pencil wells and a clip on one end which make it suitable for use without the laptop computer. Buyer beware: Take a careful look at more expensive lap desks. The only desks we've seen that will be sturdier will have metal or wood tops.

This desk is great for laptop computers. It keeps the battery much cooler than holding the computer directly on your lap. The bottom side of the desk molds to your lap in any position you want to sit and holds the computer level and stable. Has a pencil tray and a little extra surface area.