# What is this thing called, and where can I find it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 1, 2005, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-called-and-where-can-i-find-it/282571 "2005-01-01T18:12:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anise/32/21721_2.png) [@Anise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anise)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2005, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-called-and-where-can-i-find-it/282571/1 "2005-01-01T18:12:34Z")
I’ve been looking for a particular thing for awhile, and even went on Ebay several times to try to find it, greatly hampered by the fact that I don’t know what it would be called. Over Christmas, I actually saw one. I STILL don’t know what it’s called, and neither does the owner. It’s a little rectangular piece of plywood or formica maybe two feet long and one foot wide with a big beanbag thingie attached to the back. It can be put in your lap and used as a small portable table (for eating in bed, etc.) Also, it’s used as a portable drawing table, which is what I want it for. WHAT would you call this, and WHERE might it be found??? Puzzled, Anise ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2005, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-called-and-where-can-i-find-it/282571/2 "2005-01-01T18:13:59Z")
Sounds like a lap desk. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2005, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-called-and-where-can-i-find-it/282571/3 "2005-01-01T18:16:40Z")
[Lap desk.](http://www.levenger.com/PAGETEMPLATES/NAVIGATION/PRDPREVIEW.ASP?Params=category=5-344%7Clevel=2-3%7Clink=IMG&cm_ven=Froogle&cm_ite=Lap%20Desk%20&engine=froogle) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2005, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-called-and-where-can-i-find-it/282571/4 "2005-01-01T18:18:44Z")
lap desk. This link shows one for the elderly, but they’re for everyone! [http://www.aidsforarthritis.com/catalog/product33.html](http://www.aidsforarthritis.com/catalog/product33.html) works great, i got one as a gift way back when. I bet you can get them at the Targets of the world… ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2005, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-called-and-where-can-i-find-it/282571/5 "2005-01-01T18:23:31Z")
My mum’s got one of those. I have a similar thing that I want. A table with only the back legs, and very thin feet so that it can be slid under setees and low chairs, height adjustable. It would look like an angular ‘c’ from the side. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2005, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-called-and-where-can-i-find-it/282571/6 "2005-01-01T18:39:04Z")
> [@Anise](#): > > I’ve been looking for a particular thing for awhile, and even went on Ebay several times to try to find it, greatly hampered by the fact that I don’t know what it would be called. Over Christmas, I actually saw one. I STILL don’t know what it’s called, and neither does the owner. It’s a little rectangular piece of plywood or formica maybe two feet long and one foot wide with a big beanbag thingie attached to the back. It can be put in your lap and used as a small portable table (for eating in bed, etc.) Also, it’s used as a portable drawing table, which is what I want it for. WHAT would you call this, and WHERE might it be found??? > > Puzzled, > Anise I saw them at Books-A-Million yesterday. They also have a unit without the beanbag but with a platform and arms that can be raised at various angles to hold books, with their pages open for hands-free reading, cookbooking, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2005, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-called-and-where-can-i-find-it/282571/7 "2005-01-01T22:37:40Z")
I own another version of these things, and I absolutely love love love it: [Levenger Lap Desk](http://www.levenger.com/PAGETEMPLATES/PRODUCT/PRODIDPG.ASP?Params=Category=5-344%7CPageID=614%7CLevel=2-3) It doesn’t have the beanbag, but the curvy shape makes it fit perfectly to your body, and it has more room on it than the rectangular kind. It also comes with rubber or elastic bands to hold other papers down on it. I use it constantly to do paperwork while watching TV on the couch. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2005, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-called-and-where-can-i-find-it/282571/8 "2005-01-01T22:45:55Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > My mum’s got one of those. > I have a similar thing that I want. A table with only the back legs, and very thin feet so that it can be slid under setees and low chairs, height adjustable. It would look like an angular ‘c’ from the side. You mean like this? [http://www.levenger.com/PAGETEMPLATES/PRODUCT/PRODIDPG.ASP?Params=Category=5-344](http://www.levenger.com/PAGETEMPLATES/PRODUCT/PRODIDPG.ASP?Params=Category=5-344%7CPageID=734%7CLevel=2-3) ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2005, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-called-and-where-can-i-find-it/282571/9 "2005-01-01T23:00:16Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > You mean like this? > > [http://www.levenger.com/PAGETEMPLATES/PRODUCT/PRODIDPG.ASP?Params=Category=5-344](http://www.levenger.com/PAGETEMPLATES/PRODUCT/PRODIDPG.ASP?Params=Category=5-344%7CPageID=734%7CLevel=2-3) Yes. Is ‘scooter’ a standard name for that type of thing by any chance? ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2005, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-called-and-where-can-i-find-it/282571/10 "2005-01-01T23:02:45Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Yes. > > Is ‘scooter’ a standard name for that type of thing by any chance? I don’t know; I’ve never heard the term before, but then I’ve never seen one before today either (I just happened to see it on one of the links above and thought… Hmmm, that sounds just like what **Lobsang** was describing! ---
**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2005, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-called-and-where-can-i-find-it/282571/11 "2005-01-01T23:13:08Z")
Ah, they’re 1920’s style “Lap Desks.” ---
**Author:** ![jastu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/43a26b/32.png) [@jastu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jastu)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2005, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-called-and-where-can-i-find-it/282571/12 "2005-01-01T23:31:19Z")
I recall them being marketed at one stage as _Stable Tables_. That was quite awhile ago now, some 20 years or so. I have seen them in the shops here within the last year, so they are still around and readily available. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2005, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-called-and-where-can-i-find-it/282571/13 "2005-01-01T23:35:05Z")
\*Stable Tables \* was the name used to market them here too. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2005, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-called-and-where-can-i-find-it/282571/14 "2005-01-02T00:34:46Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#): > > I own another version of these things, and I absolutely love love love it: > > [Levenger Lap Desk](http://www.levenger.com/PAGETEMPLATES/PRODUCT/PRODIDPG.ASP?Params=Category=5-344%7CPageID=614%7CLevel=2-3) > > It doesn’t have the beanbag, but the curvy shape makes it fit perfectly to your body, and it has more room on it than the rectangular kind. It also comes with rubber or elastic bands to hold other papers down on it. I use it constantly to do paperwork while watching TV on the couch. Me TOO! 🙂 I first saw these on vacation in South Carolina this summer. My girlfriends got this one for me for my birthday and I absolutely love it. It’s the best laptop invention evah! ---
**Author:** ![Anise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anise/32/21721_2.png) [@Anise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anise)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2005, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-called-and-where-can-i-find-it/282571/15 "2005-01-02T00:40:07Z")
It IS a lap desk! Oh joy and happiness! 🙂 I found one on Ebay. (Several, actually.) How did we ever find out anything before the Internet?? ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2005, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-called-and-where-can-i-find-it/282571/16 "2005-01-02T05:52:45Z")
We shopped till we dropped, silly.