Above or below

[Melvang]

Do you guys prefer your keyboard on the desktop itself or on a tray under the desk?

[CPTBadAss]

I have mine sitting in a keyboard tray in my desk. It helps with my ergonomics. If you check my Leopold FC700R review, you can see my setup.

[Blue_Moon]

I have mine on a tray, because my desk is high, at a height for reading and writing. I wouldn't want to write at the height that I type.

[Larken]

depends on a few factors. Chair height, distance to monitor required etc. A tray can be more flexible in those aspects.

I use my on the desk in the office with no issue - the monitor is a 19" 4:3 model, so I don't actually have to sit too far back to see everything. The height is just nice for that.

At home where I run dual screens, I need to sit much further back, and my table isn't long enough. A tray extends out from under the desk for that. But the lower height from an extended tray could play havoc with your back if it doesn't allow you to sit properly on your chair (legs 90 degrees, feet flat on floor). Ideally I'd rather had a larger table so that I can sit further behind without a tray, but that wouldn't be practical for me as of now, for other reasons.

As with everything ergonomics, the answer is, it depends.

[fohat.digs]

I like the keyboard on the desk with the chair as high as possible to fit my legs under the desk.

Lately, the hydraulic piston in my chair has started losing its mojo, and does not stay in the full "up" position all the time. With the seat a few inches lower, the desk surface becomes a little high. Fortunately, since I am a big guy, I can make some adjustments without too much effort.

[JPG]

Mine is ON the desk. Can't stand to have it on a tray. Never the good height, always a border of desk on the way.

At least on the desk all I have to setup is my chair and I also have plenty (or more at least) space for the mouse next to the keyboard and both can be on the same level.

[Grim Fandango]

I also want to have it ON the desk. For typing, as long as it is the correct height, it does not matter. However, I also play a lot of FPS and play at pretty low sensitivity, so I need the space to maneuver the mouse. Typically (but not always) keyboard trays do not provide nearly enough space for me. I also do not like to feel cramped in general, and it just feels better to me to have everything on the desk.

I would not be able to deal with a lot of people's setups, just because they so often seem to
-Hardly leave any room for the mouse
-Have the keyboard and mouse at a height that seems uncomfortable to me

That said, we all have our own habits and some things just work better with your particular anatomy.

[metalliqaz]

I prefer on the desk.  It's more solid.

[Melvang]

By all means GH'ers I am not trying to figure out what I would want to do just wondering how you guys have yours set up.  I by no means make my living on a keyboard so I don't sit at my computer near as much as some of you do.  I have mine on the tray underneath but the tray runs 95% of the full width of the desk.  Even with that about 1/3 of my mouse pad is under the right side of my keyboard.  I has been for a few years now.  And yes my keyboard is warped.  When I get my Phantom built I will be cutting my mouse pad down so the Phantom doesn't warp.

[SpAmRaY]

I've never had a desk with a keyboard tray to compare to but I'm pretty sure I prefer it on the desk.

[Jack]

Keyboard trays move around too much and I'd like the pointing device at the same height as the keyboard, so I just use one wide desk adjusted for good typing height. There's only enough room for both keyboard and mouse if I use the HHKB. :<

[caiges]

The trays I've had always move around too much and like others have stated, if you can get your desk/chair placement into an ergonomic position there's little point outside of saving a little desk space.

[baller1308]

My desk is pretty large so I have it on top of the desk.  I would need a higher desk in order to put it on a tray and that would be awkward.

[Kmynis]

I use tray because of better placement. If I had to put the keyboard on the same height like monitor, my shoulders would feel tired after 5 minutes. If I put my monitor on the same level as keyboard, my neck would be in a lot of trouble(unless I put 3 encyclopedias under my monitor which makes the same height difference like the tray does).

[daerid]

I would have it in a tray under the desk, but they never make those trays big enough. I hate it when the mouse isn't next to the keyboard, and no keyboard trays ever have enough room for the mousepad/mouse.

So these days I keep the board on the desk in front of the monitors.

[tipo33]

My desk doesn't have a tray

[SpAmRaY]

My desk doesn't have a tray

We need a shirt that says "My Desk doesn't have a tray......and that's ok!"

[The_Beast]

Depends on the height of my desk. My desk at school is somewhat low so I put it on top. My desk at home is kinda high, so I use a tray

[davkol]

Tray on both of my setups—one is standing, so it's quite obvious; the other one mostly consists of a too small table... fortunately with a tray.

[FoxWolf1]

On the desk, definitely. Keyboard trays have always felt cramped and awkward to me, and they take up a lot of knee room, too.

[Panoptic]

I like the keyboard on the desk with the chair as high as possible to fit my legs under the desk.

Lately, the hydraulic piston in my chair has started losing its mojo, and does not stay in the full "up" position all the time. With the seat a few inches lower, the desk surface becomes a little high. Fortunately, since I am a big guy, I can make some adjustments without too much effort.

This is pretty much exactly what I came in here to say.

[E TwentyNine]

Tray.  Lets me sit further back from the multiple monitors.  On the desk  I'd be too close.   Even when I had a deeper desk I used a tray, lets me keep the chair at a better height.

Having an tenkeyless (SSK) helps with space on the tray for the mouse.

[Dubsgalore]

Above

i have a plastic cover over 8 years of movie/sports games/theatre tickets...and it's starting to wear down.

might take everything off my desk, or go for a steelseries QCK+ ... still deciding on what to do

[jwaz]

Depends, The keyboard arm of my adjustable desk is usually wherever my arms fall which changes depending on my posture or if I'm sitting/standing. ergo bro.

[Mainian]

Honestly, I've grown to like it above. Currently, my desk has a tray, but at school and at work it doesn't. I love it on top. I am going to buy a new desk with it on top.

[RougeR]

since i have a typing and gaming board, when i have the money/moveout/whatever i wana ergo up my desk with stuff like this, will be so much better than lifting the boards over each other, and will look much cleaner + ther ergo benefits.
filco + mouse on the desk
m15 + trackball below the desk
http://www.ergodirectusa.com/Ergonomic-Adjustable-Mouse-Tray-p/s120.htm

http://www.ergodirectusa.com/Comfort-Keyboard-Big-Board-Keyboard-Tray-p/2100.htm

http://www.ergodirectusa.com/VIA-Voss-Mid-Back-Mesh-Task-Chair-p/voss.htm

[Findecanor]

On the desk. I don't want to have the rest of the desk higher and I don't want to sit further away from the desk. Proper leg room is also very important so I would prefer to avoid any and all types of metal bars under the desk where I keep my legs.

By the way, my keyboard does not always stay in one position all the time.  As I shift position in front of the desk, the angle of the keyboard changes too. Having a large desk gives me room to do that.

[BlueBär]

I have my Pure on the desk since it doesn't take up much space which I reallly like (I usually hove some notebooks with notes and sketches and other stuff lying on it). I also have a keyboard tray and my Model M is in there. I use just for programming which I don't do that often right now. However if I would have to program for hours I could easily just put the Pure to the side and have the Model M sit on my desk (else my monitor would be a bit far back).

[TheSoulhunter]

I build a double layer desk to have the input devices on a lower level without a tray...

[rowdy]

I build a double layer desk to have the input devices on a lower level without a tray...

(Attachment Link)

That is a really, really nice setup!

Personally I have my keyboards on the desk.  Most trays seem too flimsy to me, and move around.

At work I have an L shaped desk, and the corner of the L is where the power points and cable hole are, and hence the computer and keyboard.  There is a section of the desk that can be lowered upon which the keyboard rests.  I tend to sit close to the desk with my knees pushing up under that bit to hold it steady.  The biggest problem with this arrangement is that I keep banging my knees on the metal bracket under the desk.

[Blue_Moon]

I build a double layer desk to have the input devices on a lower level without a tray...

(Attachment Link)

That is the most beautiful setup I've seen. I'm wow'ed a lot by the green color scheme and matching, but I can see meticulous care. I appreciate the main monitor being centered in front of a symmetrical keyboard.

[Photoelectric]

I hate my current desk height (IKEA Expedit workstation), as it's too tall.  But not quite tall enough / too wide to include a keyboard tray, although I did consider building one.  I don't think it matters whether a desk has a keyboard tray or not--more the height of the desk vs. chair and how the monitor is set up.  I've made a little monitor stand / riser for mine (keeping my graphics drawing tablet under it).

[TheFlyingRaccoon]

I build a double layer desk to have the input devices on a lower level without a tray...

(Attachment Link)

That is an amazing setup! Personally, I have a large glass desk that's perfect height for the keyboard and mouse. I have the monitors mounted on the wall.

[SpAmRaY]

I build a double layer desk to have the input devices on a lower level without a tray...

(Attachment Link)

If I ever get to build my own desk I want to use this as a reference, this thing is bawler!!

[TheSoulhunter]

I build a double layer desk to have the input devices on a lower level without a tray...

(Attachment Link)

That is the most beautiful setup I've seen. I'm wow'ed a lot by the green color scheme and matching, but I can see meticulous care. I appreciate the main monitor being centered in front of a symmetrical keyboard.

Thanks! Took me some time to find all the toxic green stuff (even got matching coffee cups and microfiber cloths, haha)
And yes, I'm a bit fanatic about keeping my stuff tidy and neat, I also try to arrange stuff symmetrically... perhaps a mild disorder?

If I ever get to build my own desk I want to use this as a reference, this thing is bawler!!

Thanks! Probably gonna post more images soon...
If you have questions about the construction just throw me a PM

[WatchMaker]

on my lap
am I the only one?

[codyeatworld]

That desk is awesome Soulhunter!

I build a double layer desk to have the input devices on a lower level without a tray...

(Attachment Link)

Buu!!

[BlueBär]

on my lap
am I the only one?

Doesn't it fall off? My thighs are usually in a downward angle when sitting.

[davkol]

on my lap
am I the only one?

I do that when working in an armchair, which is about once a month, but it's impossible to use mouse then, and even trackball isn't really comfortable.

[Spokoman]

Below... duh! 

The downside of it is that it is small, so I need a TKL. To some that may not ba a bad thing. I feel this deserves a pic. I'll clean up after work and post one 

[Paspie]

When I get my keyboard I'll definitely start it out on the tray, because I need the desk for my MIDI keyboard and any other written work I may have. Also, I have hifi separates taking up my foot/legroom so I need to sit as far back/to the side as possible. Once my GCSEs are over though, I might just experiment a bit.