It seems that I'm liking to do this more and more - writing in bed After the kids have gone to sleep and hubby is working on his laptop next to me, I like to get the notebook out and start writing but there are some complications/obstacles. I like writing with a stub but the surface must be on the flat side for this to write smoothly, not impossible with the notebook on my knees but it could go a bit better as it becomes uncomfortable. I've seen the Lap Desks/Lap Landers, etc. from Levenger and I'm still not certain that's what I'm looking for. I stumbled upon this little gizmo on-line at Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000D93F...itchen&v=glance

but I don't need the cup holder (or a magazine rack, etc) and the price is a bit much. Anyone have any other ideas or know of something similar to this picture but even simpler and less expensive. I'm looking forward to any comments or suggestions. As usual, thanks in advance

Sorry for the link - for some reason I couldn't get just the picture to post - ugh.

If you've got an IKEA nearby, this may do the trick...



BAGN
$6.99

Love those kooky ikea names for things...

Hope this helps...
Tom

Tom, you're a genius! I always forget Ikea! I have one about 30-40 mins away and I'll take a look this weekend - nice!! It might do the trick

No more trips to Emeryville needed, huh ?

Right - hello, east Palo Alto...I still haven't been to that one! Funny, in Germany it was our home away from home - I'm not sure if that table is going to do it though. I saw another picture of it (different color and I could see the contours better) and the surface is not flat which could be tricky/wobbly back and forth...this should be that difficult but it seems to be. Maybe I can go to TAP plastics and have one made from acrylic? I wonder how much that would be...

That's so funny... same thing when we were living in France ! We could not get enough of that smoked salmon with the dill sauce at the restaurant 9

IKEA of course. Does anyone else have a family member who is an IKEA addict?

Ummmm . . . what's IKEA (obviously some sort of store - something like Target, Wal-Mart, or what)? Never seen one around here.

What`s IKEA. :doh:
IKEA is a Swedish furniture store. I believe there are IKEA`s worldwide. They have affordable furniture which is assembled at home. They have cute little allen wrenches that don`t work worth a .....
Usually one has to use a power tool and some wood glue.
IKEA offers a yuppie lifestyle at a good price. We had a family discussion not too long ago about the success of this chain.
My youngest son went into a lengthy analysis of the "dangers" of IKEA.
He ended with. "This company is tearing my family apart"


btw, this young man has just been accepted at Carleton University in Ottawa Canada in the Public Affairs and Policy Management programme.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the future Prime Minister of Canada
(I hope he figures out that there`s a better use for his intelligence )

At Amazon, there are some tables on wheels. I searched Amazon for "overbed table".

To add to Karin's brilliant description (gotta have to start to be very nice to the future Prime Minister Mother of Canada ), IKEA's founder dethrowned Bill Gates last year as the world's richest man.

I have one of those "original" lap desks -- plastic top, plastic bead-filled cushion -- that I paid about $12 for at a Bed Bath and Beyond, and that I see run about $7 online (I looked at froogle.com). It's quite comfortable, and easy to clean.

(I've always lusted after a lap desk, but wanted to get an inexpensive one first, to see if I would really use it, before buying a wood and tapestry one.)

Thanks Velma - I think I'll pop into BBB tomorrow and check what they have in stock. I have a 20% coupon that could come in handy. I know what I want, just can seem to find it or in the price range I'm looking and to have it made would probably be too costly. Like you, I'd like to try something a little less expensive at first to see if I'm actually going to use it.

This would be really good and the price is great but it has a recessed top!

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.as...76&BTSmode=true

For those clueless living at remote spots of this planet

http://www.ikea.com/

So cut a rectangular piece of wood to fill it in...

You could drop a big wooden cuttingboard into the recessed top. And since you're at BB&B anyway...

The cuttingboard might actually cost more than the table, but if you end up not liking the table, I'm not sure I've been in a kitchen yet that couldn't use a new cuttingboard .

Ryan.

mmm... as you are going to be somewhat reclined in bed, I think you need something with a slope. I somehow feel that a flat tray like this will not be comfortable.

Thanks for the offer, Bill. What time can you be here?

I think I'll need this combo - a table with a slant board on top. The table is at BBB for $9.99 and my son has a slant board he's not using. I also already have a supportive back pillow for sitting up in bed so I'm basically out only $10 if this doesn't work. I'm thinking it might be easier just to sit at the darn table and call it a night

Some cool laptop tables out there but they want $50 plus and I'm just not ready to shell that out for something I might not even like to use.

One thing to consider also are sleep disorders. If you sleep fine, great. But if you have some troubles falling asleep, activities in bed are not recommended. Just thought I would add that here just in case someone is concerned

And I thought the French were supposed to be romantic /:)

What time is dinner? I work for food

Bill

A bean bag lap desk may work. I use mine in my Lazy-Boy recliner, but it may also work while sitting in bed.

Run an Ebay search for "lap desk" and you will get numerous ideas, from antique to modern. You will also find lap desks for laptops so hubby won't feel left out

Jim

Okay, this one almost made the coffee I was drinking have a nostril exit! ROTFL!

I was thinking the same thing when I read that, Denis and Bill...it was pretty rich coming from our expectant father Only teasing, Denis

Thanks Tim, I'm actually thinking more along those lines now for the ease of moving around and being able to write with it on my knees or on my lap. I found a couple of good deals (thanks Ipse Dixit ) on Ebay and will give that a go...it might not work but it could be just what I was looking for. We'll see.

Thanks! I actually ordered one from Ebay and might order one for the better half if he shows an interest - he can be picky

Needless to say I thought about it and was even going to add a "don't go there" comment in the original post...

It was impossible to pass up!

You might find what you 're looking for here, an ingenious piece of... furniture,

http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewIt..._Pr4_PcY_BID_IT

I was going to joke about swiping a lap desk from a Hampton Inn and Googled for a photo when I learned they sell them for $29.95.

http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/promoti...x,thingstodo,30

I find them great for handwriting but not so good for a laptop which, considering the free high-speed wireless, is my main Hampton Inn tool.

...now about that small Midnight Blues stain at an unnamed Marriott ;-)

Bill

I bought a Lapgenie to use with my Alphasmart Neo, but I've also used it for a regular laptop and for writing. It's adjustable in all sorts of ways and I keep mine folded up next to my side of the bed. It does have a front lip, but it's only about a 1/2" high, so keeps things from sliding off but doesn't get in the way. (I think they have a higher-lipped one, so be sure you're getting what you want. I bought mine quite a while ago, so they may offer different things now.)

This is more than you wanted to pay, but I thought I'd mention it since I didn't see any references to something this adjustable.

Lap Genie web site

(If you decide to write upside down the way they show someone reading, you'll probably have to use a Fisher Space Pen or a pencil. )

So here's the update! I ordered something 'similar' to a Levenger Laplander from Ebay - big mistake. The thing arrived and it was packaged well but the product was just cheapo and the 'pillow' part underneath the wood surface was uncomfortable styrofoam, very thin and became uncomfortable quickly and had a silky fabric that made it slide around on my lap. So I returned it (with a 25% restocking fee that was never mentioned in the disclaimer, my mistake for not asking ahead about returns).

Anyway, I kept looking locally and on-line and still came back to the Levenger Laplander sooooo, I bit the bullet and coughed up the cash. I ordered the large one ($48! $9 shipping) in February, and it was on back order until April 10th!! Well, it arrived early and got here yesterday. It's made very well: sturdy cherry top with a foam cushion (feels almost like the Nasa/Tempurpedic foam but it isn't) that's covered in a nice red, breathable cloth fabric. It's Velcroed to the wood - securely so there's no movement and feels fine after even an hour of reading with the weight of a 500+ page book. I got the larger one as I like a bigger surface and normally write on full size pads - I like a bit a breathing room It's got the two elastic straps at the top to hold pens, papers, whatever while you are working (hubby likes it as well as he can place his bookmark under one strap while we're reading in bed). It provides a wonderful flat surface for writing - tried it out this morning for that purpose and had no problems writing with the stub or cursive either with my legs flat or with my knees up. I can see using this on the couch as well. I'm really happy I got it and hope I use it as much as I think I'm going to - time will tell

Check them out at www.levenger.com (no affiliation, etc.) The wood top ones come in 2 sizes and 2 colors, and they now make a 'lighter' version of the smaller one with a white top (plastic?) and 3 colors for the fabric.

Edit: typos and such

I've been looking at these for AGES. You have convinced me.

Kelly, I'm glad you found something that worked out so well

Bill

Woohoo! Just got notification mine shipped. I'm stoked.

Let me know how you like it

Holy moly, do believe I already have it today! This rocks. Nice big surface. It'll be a real test tonight grading, etc. but wow. What a nice lapdesk. I cannot believe how quick I got it. KEWL. Kelly rocks for tipping my scales

Par-tay! I take it you got the larger one, too I used mine again last night and was thinking, "I hope Chupie gets hers soon and she loves it, too!" Looking forward to the yay or nays!

Well, I haven't gotten to use it much! My friend came over to watch LOST tonight and she was working on a project for her class and she used it all night. She loved it though I'm grading tomorrow night though, so I'll know more then

Well, I'm happyat least someone got to use it! I'll keep watching this space.

Worth every penny. Used it all night. Kept my lap from getting hot from the laptop or tugging on my power cord. Comfy. Wrote in the circulating journal. I have even used it as a tv tray! This thing is great. Woohoo! Love the handle. Kept little things tucked under the elastic bands even. This is indeed a well thought out lap tray.

Cool! Glad you like as much as I do! After seeing this and an inferior copy, it's so worth the extra money. I'm even thinking of getting the little clip on light for those insomniac episodes

It'd be a great gift too. I might get one for my mom to do crosswords and stuff on. She usually just uses a book on the couch. This would be SO much better.

Go to a hospital supply shop. Remember meal times at the hospital when you were propped up in bed? They served the meals on moveable arm with a flat surface - I just can't name it. Get one of those

Kelly,

Take a look at this lap writing board on Harriet Carter's website:

http://www.harrietcarter.com/Detail.cfm?pt...rod=4412&sr=144

Judybug

Judybug,
Have you bought from this company and this item in particular? I am wondering how it compares with the Levenger's item.

I've ordered from Harriet Carter's little catalog many times over the years, but I've never placed an online order. I've always been pleased with what I received. I don't have this lap board, but I certainly could use it. It's half the price of the comparable one at Levengers. I suspect Levenger's is more because it's made of cherry and maple wood. The Harriet Carter one may be some kind of imitation wood grain - although it's described as "light weight" so it must not be pressed board which is usually pretty heavy. Also the Levenger one is bigger - 31 1/2 inches x 13 inches. Harriet Carter is 24 3/4 in x 14 3/4 in. But the Harriet Carter one has a light.

Judybug