Want a Desk Apprentice But Fear It's Overpriced and Will Take Over Your Desk?

Why not turn to the helpful folks at Office Depot? The Desk Apprentice is sold out in the U.S. anyway, and it won't even arrive in Canadian stores until next week. Besides, that thing is $35 in the U.S. and $49.96 in Canada, and while it may not be the desk accessory that ate Manhattan, it could well be the desk accessory that eats your desk space. More power to you if you have a desk the size of Trump's dining room table and the need to store, say, hundreds of sheets of printer paper nearby. If not, but you like the idea of Magna's desk organizer, fear not! There are lots of similar (and cheaper) gizmos. Some even ... rotate. Here's a look at a few other options to tidy up your desk. All items are from the U.S. Office Depot website (the Canadian site is moody tonight).



Office Depot Rotary Desk Organizer

This organizer spins. How very innovative. It has ten separate compartments and a built-in tape dispenser. The organizer comes with a staple remover, pens, paper clips, push pins, scissors, a ruler, a letter opener, and tape. $16.98



Innovative Storage Designs Desktop Organizer

This snazzy desktop organizer includes a battery-operated letter opener, kids!

It also features a large removable pencil holder, a notepad holder and a slotted letter holder. No gigantic area for holding hundreds of sheets of spare printer paper, however, sorry. Available in ebony or clear. $17.54



Innovative Storage Designs Desktop Organizer, 5 Compartments

This is similar to the above organizer but adds a couple additional compartments. Available in ebony or clear. $22.12



The Memo Stabber 5000

Okay, so it's really called "Rogers Wire Memo Spindle, Message Spindle, Black" but that's much less vivid. People might start bothering you less if you just keep some pens and pencils in a cup and stick whatever paper they bother you with on one of these. Or at least they'll bother you more via e-mail instead, which is more environmentally-friendly. $1.98

Ah, now why not go buy a pizza -- or two -- with all the money you saved? Perhaps at Papa John's or a good local place?