My Dad use to call the space behind my Commodore 64 computer, TV, and VCR the "electrician's nightmare." Cables and wires were twisted and coiled with no apparent regard for form or function. What did I care? I was 14. Now however, with house and family, appearances and order mean a little more. But so do functionality and price. Enter Bluelounge.com, purveyors of products to organize things simply and efficiently.
The Bluelounge Cable Box is, for all intents and purposes, a plastic box designed to hold your wires and most importantly, power strips and surge protectors. It took me all of one minute to unpack, uncover, and put into place. The beauty is that it's a simple modern design that fits in with almost any decor, though you might be out of luck if colonial is your theme.
The box is 6 inches wide, 15 1/2 inches long, and 5 1/2 inches deep. It's large enough to hold wide or long surge protectors and a generous tangle of wires. Narrow notches on either side are perfect for allowing the wires to fit through without allowing dust and pet hair in, though I have had mine only operational for a short time and suspect an occassional dusting of the interior is not a bad idea. To set up the Box, you simply remove the lid, drop in the wires or protectors, lay the connected wires through the notches and snap the lid back on. The box is designed top lay on the ground; the bottom has rubber pads to prevent slipping. However, with a couple screws and mounts, you could attach it to a wall if you need a vertical or raised solution.
The box itself is made of a lightweight, sturdy plastic, and while it might not take the weight of a person standing on it, it will survive the occasional kicks, drops, and coffee spills. Color is limited to white and black, but at under $30, this is a perfect holiday present for the computer-savvy yet cleanliness-challenged person on your shopping list.
As a cool little extra bonus, Bluelounge has set up a Web site where you can upload photos if you come up with a particularly fancy or innovative way to use the Cable Box.
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