Hello, Silly1-ga.
This has been (excuse the expression) an educational experience. I'd
never realized just how many kinds of computer workstations are out
there! On one site alone, I looked through over 300 styles (none of
them, alas, quite what you wanted). Your working budget is a
significant limitation: I found any number of very sleek alternatives
in the higher price ranges, but at $150 per student/$300 per
workstation it's rather more of a challenge.
The options I'm listing below are for companies who have a product
corresponding to your needs, in about the correct price range. There
is some variance between them. The CPU holders and keyboard trays are
frequently sold as "add-ons", which complicates the matter, and then
there is the issue of shipping. You didn't specify whether the cost
of shipping was to be factored in, or could be budgeted separately, so
I've left that out of the equation for now. At any rate, one or more
of these should fit the bill if you're willing to make the contacts
and perhaps negotiate a little.
So, here are the leading contenders:
This table at E-shop4u.com may be the best bet. It includes the
keyboard trays and CPU holders, and comes in just at the edge of your
budget, at $299/unit. The only drawback I can see is that they are
located in Virginia, so there may be a higher cost for shipping. Call
them toll-free at 1-888-605-6678, or use this link:
http://store.yahoo.com/e-shop4u/noname1.html
"Basic Classroom Desk 72" at Computer-Table.com Sells for $199. Basic
cable management is part of the standard package; "available options"
include keyboard trays and CPU holders. I couldn't find pricing for
the CPU holders on the page, but they provide an e-mail address for
contact purposes. I'm sure they would be happy to work up a quote for
you.
http://computer-table.com/basclasdes721.html
If you want to play one against another, what appears to be the same
table is also available at computerfurniture4less.com:
http://www.computerfurniture4less.com/flatclastab7.html
Allschoolsupplies.com offers several 2-computer tables in a variety of
styles. Some lack the keyboard trays, and like other companies the
CPU holders are typically an option, but they have a stated policy of
discounts for purchases over $50. They offer quotes by e-mail, or you
may call them toll-free at 1-866-330-7958:
http://www.allschoolsupplies.com/computerdesks.html
Other alternatives:
As an alternative to purchasing add-on CPU holders and keyboard trays
from these vendors, you may want to go "a la carte". Talk to the
woodworking or metalworking shops at your school, or at the local
vocational school or community college. They may be quite happy to
build your CPU holders as a "hands-on" project for their students.
Generic under-desk keyboard trays are available from almost any office
supplies dealer, and most computer retailers (I won't list any here
unless asked, because I'm sure you have a few dealers already that you
prefer to use).
In fact, why not take this a step further? Plain-vanilla 72" tables
are inexpensive and readily available. Using the above resources, you
should be able to "customize" a standard table to meet your
requirements without much difficulty. Doing so would require,
perhaps, a little more time and effort, but would almost certainly be
cheaper. Also, unlike the commercial suppliers, you would have some
input into the arrangement of the finished product (ie, placement of
CPU holders) which would not be the case with the commercial product.
Search strategy:
+"computer table" school
+"computer table" classroom
In each case, I narrowed the focus by using Google's "Search within
results" option and adding the keyword "discount".
I trust that this information is satisfactory. You're further ahead
than some! I've seen a similar requirement met by parents with
hammers and some donated sheets of plywood. In comparison, even
$150/student is luxurious.
Thank you for an interesting, if wearying, inquiry.
-Chromedome |
,
0 Comments
)