Progress or silliness?

I saw an ad last month for a "floating laptop". This is a device that allows you to suspend a notebook computer on your desk in a clever way that avoids the wide footprint of the base of the keyboard. It also allows you to have the laptop screen at eye level, rather than having to slouch over it.

Of course, unless you`re typing in mid-air, this requires the addition of a normal keyboard on the desk, but many people do this anyway to save being cramped while typing on a laptop.

One of the key aspects of a discussion on Slashdot.org about this floating laptop was that this is a solution for people who are looking to reduce the footprint of their computing space even further after the migration from desktop PC to laptop.

I thought about this for a bit. What the hell is this obsession with desktop space, really?

This is one of those scenarios where all of IT society has been told that desk space is something to be coveted, and therefore they strive to achieve a surplus of this precious commodity, without ever stopping to question whether they actually want it.

I have a messier desk than the norm. I operate in piles. There are piles for stuff that I`m working on at the moment, stuff I intend to get to in the longer term, interesting information I don`t quite want to file yet and then a whole lot of space devoted to completely irrelevant clutter.

I also have two speakers and a printer vying for space. In spite of this, I don`t have any delusions that I need more space. What I need is a tidier existence.

What the hell is this obsession with desktop space, really?

Georgina Guedes, editor, ITWeb Brainstorm

In fact, I`m still of the ilk that bemoans the coming of the tower CPU because it meant that my monitor had to be stacked up on a pile of phonebooks to achieve my eye level. And I`m only 5-foot 1. In fact, I blame most of the back problems of modern society on this desktop evolution, which requires us to slouch in the pursuit of additional desk space.

The phonebook scenario is irritating to me for a number of reasons. Aesthetics aside, the biggest problem is that people keep wanting to use the phonebook. I specifically chose one that was about to be dumped in the bin because it was out of date, but the newer ones keep getting lost, and everyone still looks at me accusingly every time they need to look for a telephone number.

This is a situation that has spiralled out of control. It`s as if all computer users are hysterical in their pursuit of desk space, and completely unconcerned about their posture or resulting spinal damage.

Anyone have a spare phone directory?