Mostly a matter of taste. Personally, I don't care for them as it is eerie to see your feet on the floor in front of you. Also if you ever chip, crack or scratch the top, be prepared for big bucks to replace it. In general, it will cost you as much or more to replace the glass at a local glass shop than the whole table costs. If your friend moves regularly, this increases the likelihood of damage.

Also there is the cleaning issue. Unless a glass table is very clean it looks awful...and he will have to clean both sides of it. Odd as it sounds, finger prints do get on the underside of the table. I am not a fan of glass tables.
Linda C

i like glass tables. and in an area that will have dark furnishings and not much space, i think it would be a good option. seeing your feet through the table--ROFL!

If you like your feet of course ;) He isn't moving so much, I think he won't move quite soon. And I also told him that it might break fast but he really likes glass and that's it!
He saw this page of some Faulkner guy or something and since that he thought about it a lot. Personally I prefer just wood.
Thanks for sharing!

hahahahaha, some Faulkner guy? It's Tom Faulkner who is well known in the UK as a furniture designer.
Web site is: www.tomfaulkner.co.uk

I have a glass dining rom table as well as a coffe table. It takes up much less visual space than dark wood, making your room feel more open. I keep a table cloth on my dining room table when not using it for parties. It keeps the dist off and keeps the table clean. I did not do that for years and cleaning it was not an issue. Now I have two cats that like to walk on it and the cloth keeps the cleaning to a minimum. You do have to clean both sides of the glass.

Table glass is usually pretty thick and breakage has never bene an issue for me.

My wife and I once had roommates who insisted on buying glass tables for the living room. All I can remember is the hassle of cleaning glass day after day. It really got old.

There's nothing like waking up in the morning to a finger-smeared table asking to be cleaned. Wood is better; lasts longer too, of course.