Computer Editing Furniture: What's Supporting Your System?

Alan Sheckter
September 2001

No matter what kind of video-editing system you own, one thing remains constant: you need a desk to put it on. If you recently moved into the world of computer video editing, or even if you've edited video on your PC for some time, chances are good that your production system is squeezed into an inferior work area.
While your editing workstation doesn't need to be made of gold, functionality, ergonomics and a little room to grow are essential. After all, once configured, you will spend a lot of time at your editing bay. A comfortable, ergonomically-friendly chair is also important. In this article we'll introduce you to some of the desks that you might consider. Maybe one of them will become the foundation for your own editing system.

Traditional computer desks and workstations, available at most department stores, are based on typical desktop components: monitor, keyboard, printer, mouse and perhaps a scanner. While some editing systems, like Apple's iMac and Sony's VAIO are quite compact and don't require much room, many editing systems call for a more spread-out approach. You might not house a printer or scanner with your editing setup, but it's likely you'll need room for two or three monitors and perhaps a fairly large set of speakers. You also need a place to wire your camcorder, and room to hold scripts, videotapes and CDs. You may also have one or more VCRs and an audio or video mixer. Whatever your setup, you want all the controls at your fingertips. Your ability to be able to comfortably reach all of your components is a must.

How have the office furniture manufacturers kept up with the burgeoning video editing craze? Do they offer furniture adequate for the prosumer video producer? The answer is a resounding yes. Read on to find out who sells them, what they offer and how much you can expect to spend.
Like editing systems themselves, the furniture built to hold them is available for all budgets. Entry-level, all-in-one editing systems, like the iMac and Sony VAIO for instance, will fit nicely on a modestly priced desk that measures 4-feet wide and 30-inches deep.
Many companies offer a multitude of optional gadgets to add on to their workstations. They include document trays, additional shelves, keyboard trays, cable management kits, ground-level CPU holders, assorted baskets, phone mounts and even cup holders.

Anthro and iStand offer colorful, functional and compact workstations ideal for the trendy iMac or other small-footprint editing systems. Anthro's iCart ($169 for the base model) comes in iMac-friendly ruby, tangerine and indigo, ensuring that your handsome editing computer will be perched on a thoroughly modern desk. The iCart is 32 inches wide and 29 inches deep.

The lightweight steel-framed iStand is available in plastic-top ($199) and tempered glass-top ($249) models. Offered in eight fruity colors, iStand has a 39-inch front width (it tapers to 33 inches in the rear), stands 28 inches high and is 25 inches deep. A matching plastic peripheral shelf is included. The iCart and iStand both offer optional upgrades.
Bush Furniture, which features a wide variety of office and business furnishings, offers several feature-packed workstations ideal for housing your small editing system. Bush's MM52402, ($420 MSRP) a bit larger than the Anthro and iStand units described above, offers a tidy, five-tiered setup framed by black metal tubular supports. This computer station sits on rolling casters, and measures 40 inches high, 52 inches wide and 30 inches deep. It features a base shelf for your CPU and a sliding keyboard/mousepad shelf. The main tabletop is nice and wide, capable of holding your camcorder, scripts, tapes and other assorted editing gear. Above that is a shelf that is set back and meant to house a single monitor. The small, twin shelves on top can house speakers or other peripherals. Bush also offers several workstations equipped to house larger systems.

Grant Enterprises' Da-Lite line of computer furniture includes four two-tiered workstations from 32 inches wide ($159) to 55 inches wide ($203).

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