Yep, I'm with you on that one, Nick. I've parked it in airports or visiting family or friends, back to wall, which forces a good posture (so long as you keep your back to the wall), and most notebooks don't heat up to the point of burning your legs if you're wearing board shorts at the beach. One recent notebook, the HP Mini-Note, heated up to the point of hitting the yowch-factor, and I'm not kidding. Not since the early Sony sub-notes have I experienced a device that should carry the warning Do Not Operate On Boxer Short-Clad Lap. Thanks for taking the time to comment. --Joe Hutsko

Does no one sit on the floor with their laptop on their actual lap?

Yeah neither do I. But should a seating emergency arrive as happened today in a meeting, the wall makes a fine backrest, which also works well when you're in the overcrowded session of a conference.

Remember, your lap was the original table for portable computing.

...for the Dave's stability. I have the tabletop adjusted to a height that solidly seats the right edge atop the narrow windowsill, providing a mostly wobble-free work surface (it's hard to see in the pic). Note the three leg design finds me now and then resting my feet on the front legs and inadvertently nudging the table back a few millimeters at a time ... until I realize the surface is canted and I need to pull it forward and settle the base again... All workable for me thanks to the windowsill, but without it I think my relationship with Dave would be rocky to the point of a breakup... - Joe Hutsko

That's my workspace. I'm still looking for a floormat thick enough not to break on the plush carpet.

I have been using a backless kneeling chair. It's comfortable and keeps my back straight and it doesn't take up a lot of room. Although, after long periods of sitting the urge to change positions is almost irresistible. That means that I wind up sitting on the kneeling part with my back against the seat or in some other contorted position that will eventually put my legs to sleep. I don't know if that's the chair's fault or my own. Also, the kneeling piques old feelings of Catholic discipline which, depending on the work I'm doing, can be a boon. However, this is offset by old feelings of Catholic discipline, which I happen to find offsetting all by themselves.

Well, that probably didn't sell anyone on the kneeling chair, but don't listen to me. You might like it.

I cleared out a closet, took the doors off and put an antique drawing table in there for my workspace (it has about an inch of clearance.) It's great once I painted the closet and added a few shelves. Still looking for a decent, comfortable chair. I've been looking at those bungee chairs and I'm not entirely convinced.

I'm really interested in the answer to this question. I am trying to do contract work out of my apartment (separate from my normal 35 hour work week) and I cannot get comfortable! It's a source of constant frustration. So whatever answers people have for their ad hoc office environments is greatly appreciated.

Why the heck would I buy a table whose stability needed to be augmented by propping it on a window sill?

...but when I checked it out in the store, it looked like it would fall over if a laptop came within 100 yards of it. I'm impressed to see one actually sitting on it. Did you Photoshop that?

Are where yuppies go to die.

true about the low profile. i first encountered the four-legged version (of the chair, not the kitty) at a cafe called charter house in philadelphia. the feeling of sitting on a bunch of bungee cords is a little weird at first, but after a while you settle in and the airflow all around is a welcome change from sweaty leather or plastic chairs. i wish the wheel base wasn't so wide - and compared to other chairs, it isn't - just a personal wish so as to take up even less space in this little place... thanks for taking the time to comment. -JH

My wife and I have a similar bungee chairs from CB2, and they're awesome. They definitely have a low profile in the room (especially compared to my old giant leather executive chair). Plus, our kitten uses them as a jungle gym.