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A Desk That Allows You to Stand or Sit
- wastedbrains 16y agoI have the geekdesk or something that looks exactly like it. I love it. I sit in the mornings and after lunch switch to standing mode. Occasionally if I have to really focus or type a lot I will switch back to sitting mode, but it definitely helps to get me move around more / feel healthier.
- chipsy 16y agoI got an artist's stool. Instead of adjusting the desk height, I merely hop on and off the chair as necessary.
- billybob 16y agoHa! Brilliant. Is the stool comfy?
- inferno0069 16y agoI've noticed a coworker of mine with a similar setup, but with more of a tall chair than a stool.
- chipsy 16y agoI think it's comfy. Sometimes I wish I had gotten a model with armrests, but it's already better than the average office chair just cause I can shift my legs around more.
- billybob 16y agoYeah. I think that a high desk plus a comfortable stool with arm rests would be perfect, and also cheap. If you really wanted to go crazy, you could probably hack apart an office chair to attach the top to a high stool base. I think I like this so much because adjusting a whole desk full of stuff, without lots of physical strain and/or jerking around your monitors and such, requires a lot more engineering than a simple desk. Whereas humans are already built to change positions and postures. So which one of these things should do the adjusting? Thanks for improving this discussion for me. :)
- huherto 16y agoYeah, that's what I was thinking. The desk stays high and you hop on and off. Anyone has tried this?
- eston 16y agoWhat stool did you buy? I've been wanting to do that but can't find a nice one.
- chaostheory 16y agothis is what I got: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40059300 http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40059300
- chipsy 16y agohttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001MS719M/ref=oss_product http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001MS719M/ref=oss_product I bought it "blind" and lucked out; the assembly was simple and it's worked reliably so far(just a month or so now).
- toisanji 16y agoI'd like to get one, but at $750, it is way too expensive!
- wesley 16y agoPreventing a bad back (and numerous other health benefits) seem to be worth at least that amount.
- tjogin 16y agoThe desk only kind of addresses the main problem though: being too stationary. That problem can be solved entirely, and for free.
- billybob 16y agoMy reaction too. What's the cheapest, non-sucky option anybody has used?
- ebiester 16y agoI used an ikea adjustable desk. However, I really needed to keep your desk clean, because it was a manual adjustment. It became too much of a bother, but I am considering readjusting it as a standup desk again now that I'm working at home again. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60111123 http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60111123
- chaostheory 16y agoI think this IKEA desk is more news worthy since it's only $150. I still miss the JERKER model though (it's almost identical to the FREDRIK, but it had more desk depth)
- eru 16y agoWhy do you write Ikea product names in all-caps?
- wesley 16y agoI have a similar looking one to the geekdesk model, but it was from a local company at a cheaper price. Had to add some improvised shock absorbers and place it against the wall because my monitor would otherwise shake when typing... Did investigate several other options after that, up to 1500 euros and they all shake (the expensive one even more so). Does the geekdesk model also shake? That said, with my shock absorbers (just two pieces of memory foam), and sliders under the desk to move it against the wall, it works just fine and a great investment for general health. Also have a mini stepper to do an hour of stepping in the early morning, whilst I read my email and check my RSS reader. I may upgrade to a treadmill later, see http://officewalkers.ning.com http://officewalkers.ning.com for inspiration
- lutorm 16y agoIt sounds like you need to train yourself to strike the keys with less force... That in and of itself is better for your body, too.
- wesley 16y agoI don't strike the keys with much force at all (I use the tiny apple keyboard). It's because of my arms (and wrists) resting on the desk and transferring that force to the desk.
- Luyt 16y agoThe threadmill could be used to generate the electricity for your PC. Choose a model like hamsters have, a human-size one: http://www.impactlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/hamster-wheel-448.jpg http://www.impactlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/hamster-...
- Loic 16y agoI have been using such desk for the past 5 years and will never go back (maybe like switching to Dvorak + Typematrix). Anyway, in Europe, you can buy just the electrical part and mount your own desk on it. I bought my one here: http://www.bueromoebel-werksverkauf.de/inwerk_bm/sofort_lieferbar__steh-sitz-tisch-gestell_ohne_platte___elektrisch_hoehenverstellbar_von_630-1300mm_gestell___inwerk_dynamik___in_breite_variabel___zum_nachruesten_oder_fuer_individuelle_tischplatten-bm17063.htm http://www.bueromoebel-werksverkauf.de/inwerk_bm/sofort_lief... You can find it through other dealers (this one is in fact a drop ship company specialized in office stuff). It is cheap but the start/stop of the motor is a bit rough, better not to have a full cup of coffee on your desk at the same time. I had one in Denmark with a very soft stort/stop but it was way more expensive (1500Eur+).
- parbo 16y agoIs this newsworthy? Where I work, all desks are motorized. Some even store up to three different heights, for easy access without fiddling to get the right height.
- billybob 16y agoOh yeah? Where I work, we have cotton candy and ferris wheels instead of email. (Yes, it's news to some of us.)
- michael_dorfman 16y agoThat's surprising, to me at least. Here in Norway, desks like this are fairly ordinary. I've had one for a few years, and I've got no complaints. I'll be honest, though-- I probably only have it in the standing position once every month or two.
- parbo 16y agoIkea has motorized desks (sorry about the Swedish): http://www.ikea.com/se/sv/catalog/products/90088946 http://www.ikea.com/se/sv/catalog/products/90088946 About €450 (for the stand only).
- gojomo 16y agoWhere do you work (city and industry if you can't share employer)? Despite reading more about motor-adjustable desks the last few years, I've not yet seen one in a workplace.
- mhb 16y agoAn inner-tube accident as a teenager left Mr. McNutt with a bad back. I wish they had elaborated a little more about this tantalizing nugget. Inner-tube rafting, blowout on a bike,... ?
- wesley 16y agoThese stories always make me think it's fabricated PR. Sit/stand tables existed before the geekdesk, but a story like this is of course good marketing.
- ColinDabritz 16y agoI don't know, he seems like a stand-up guy to me...
- misterbwong 16y agoI've been using the steelcase airtouch adjustable desk for about 3 months and I can tell you that it has made a huge impact on my workday. This desk has improved my productivity significantly because I'm no longer bothered my my back or by the low desk/high chair combo I was confined to. It's not just the standing that helps-it's the ability to switch back and forth easily. Before this desk, I could feel my back start to tighten up after about 3/4 of my work day. Now when I feel a twinge of a backache, I switch to a standing position and things feel much better. Another underrated benefit of the desk is the ability to change its height while I'm sitting. In the cases when I either lean lower and sit straighter than usual, this desk allows me to move the monitor to eye level without much effort, thus preventing neck aches. One problem with the steelcase, however, is that it doesn't go high enough. I have a colleague that is 6'2" and he finds that the standing height of the desk is too low for his tastes. I'm shorter than he is, so this isn't as big of a problem for me. Now if only I could afford to buy one of these for home..... edited: clarity
- synnik 16y agoI love this concept - not everyone realizes that the original design idea behind the cubicle was exactly this kind of feature: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_Office http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_Office We lost the idea along the way, but I am glad we're getting back to it.
- dougbradbury 16y agoI built my own for $200. Mine has a treadmill underneath it too. http://blog.8thlight.com/articles/2010/2/25/walk-and-code http://blog.8thlight.com/articles/2010/2/25/walk-and-code
- hoprocker 16y agoHow much of the $200 was the treadmill?
- blehn 16y agoI love the irony--a homemade standing desk/treadmill, with an Apple Magic Mouse and Bluetooth keyboard...
- ekanes 16y agoFantastic setup! Here's my standup desk (no treadmill). Total cost was $125 for 2 extending sawhorses from Amazon and a heavy door from Home Depot. http://icecreamforeveryone.com/2009/03/12/moving-to-a-standing-desk/ http://icecreamforeveryone.com/2009/03/12/moving-to-a-standi...
- pgbovine 16y agofrom a comment on your blog post: is treadmill programmable? You could increase the speed while your program is being compiled. ha i like that! or connect other feedback from your programming/computer usage to your treadmill. e.g., if you're slacking off by reading HN too much, it will increase your treadmill speed until you get back to hacking
- pirko 16y ago
- mikecane 16y agoThat article got me to Googling for lecterns and podiums. Wow, some of those are very, very expensive. And the ones that are more stand-like than furniture don't look like they'd stay upright if a cat jumped on them (as you know a cat will!). This is the cheapest I found locally -- just $15! -- but it's not local enough for me to get there economically efficiently. If you're in the NY/NJ area, though ... http://cnj.craigslist.org/fuo/1700842957.html http://cnj.craigslist.org/fuo/1700842957.html
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- r0s 16y agohttp://pic.rossradford.com/SetUp01.jpg http://pic.rossradford.com/SetUp01.jpg The shelf and wall mounted display work for me, I can't go back. Originally I set this up to counter the constant hunched posture I get at work. For anyone who tries this: - You will need to adjust the height of your keyboard at least once. - Get a foot rest, I plan to build one into the wall. - Opposite that wall is a couch. With some nice speakers you can have a decent home theater going. My 24" Westinghouse has a great one touch brightness adjustment. It might seem small, but native 1920x1200 resolution makes even blueray movies look good.
- niallsmart 16y agoCan anyone who uses an adjustable height desk comment on the impact it has (if any) on their productivity? For some reason, it sounds hard to procrastinate standing up :)
- atodd 16y agoI just stick my laptop on top of a filing cabinet at work that's sitting right in front of a window. It could be a little taller but it's close to the right height and I get an upgraded view
- proee 16y agoDoes anyone know the rated spec on these for max weight? That is, what is the motor capable of lifting without damaging the desk?
- proee 16y agoI emailed the company and got the following reply: The official (i.e. conservative) maximum recommended regular lifting weight for the frames is 176 pounds
- dionysiac 16y agoI have been looking into drafting tables for this very purpose - used ones can often be found in the local buy & sell for quite cheap. Being adjustable by design, they look ideal (not sure about weight capacity though). Anyone have any experience using one of these as a computer desk?
- Luyt 16y agoWouldn't it be great to have a classical church pulpit to rest your laptop on, then have your Holy Code propagate to the masses? Maybe at 0800-RENT-A-CHURCH ;-)
- wyclif 16y agoI've done that...a lot of churches are getting WiFi, and even though the intent is to cover the church school or office, you can often find some sweet spots in the sanctuary.
- johnyzee 16y agoHere in Denmark motorized desks are the norm rather than the exception. I am always surprised when others speak of them as a curiosity. I tend to stand for about 25-50% of my time working. It really relieves the back to get up and shift around for a bit. Helps to burn a little calories too, during what would otherwise be sedentary office time. I also seem to work more focused when standing up. Finally, it is a lot easier to do pair work with a colleague while standing - no jostling chairs around for position. A sit/stand desk is a condition of employment for me, nothing less.
- MikeCapone 16y agoThey are the norm in all kinds of office work in Denmark, or among hackers/the type of people who would read HN? Very cool if they are widespread in all kinds of workplaces. Makes me a little jealous.
- johnyzee 16y agoI see them everywhere, from banks to car dealerships.
- grk 16y agoI think it has to do with the law requirement that every employee should be able to adjust his/her workplace to be ergonomical. In practice, the only reasonable way to do this is to give everyone height-adjustable desks and chairs. I'd love to see some monitor arms tho.
- nooneelse 16y agoDang laws for the benefit of human health and quality of life. Don't they mandating such things cuts into the holy bottom lines?
- paulsmith 16y agoI made an adjustable height desk recently, using the frame of a GeekDesk and a salvaged door: http://www.flickr.com/photos/psmith/4491882894/in/set-72157623646834487/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/psmith/4491882894/in/set-721576... The door is from a Habitat for Humanity ReStore. It was ~$25. I sanded, stained, and sealed it, and mounted it to the desk frame. The frame was $550 so not the cheapest solution but I love the extra space, flexibility, and plan to have it a while.
- dws 16y agoA co-worker built his using the GeekDesk frame and a butcher-block table top that he scavenged from somewhere. Quite nice.
- paulsmith 16y agoInteresting -- I considered looking for salvaged butcher-block but worried it'd be too heavy for the motor to lift. (The docs say the motor is rated for 80 kg max.) Has he had any issues with raising the top? I'd worry about burning out the motor.
- dws 16y agoIt's a 1" thick table top, not the thicker butcher block you often see used in kitchens.
- wyclif 16y agoHere's an old post from the Make blog on how to build a stand-up desk on the cheap: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/06/diy_standup_desk.html http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/06/diy_standup_desk.ht...
- wyclif 16y ago...and Lifehacker had a more recent article on turning a file cabinet into a stand-up desk: http://lifehacker.com/5503957/the-file-cabinet-standing-desk http://lifehacker.com/5503957/the-file-cabinet-standing-desk
- teyc 16y agoBuy a second monitor $300 Buy a second keyboard $15 Buy a 4-way USB $15 then add a little stand to the existing table, $50.
- kunley 16y agoCool. I've seen and used stuff like this at peer's company in Stockholm, in 2000, just before the dotcom crisis.
- conorh 16y agoI have one of these, I bought it because I was having back issues. I have the mini version that I used with my own desk top. I alternate back and forth during the day standing and sitting, usually a few hours at a time either way. It took a little getting used to, but it has definitely helped my back. An added bonus that isn't immediately apparent is that you can easily adjust the desk height when you are seated, which I find helps my back quite a lot.
- cpr 16y agoI'm a huge fan of the Biomorph desks (http://biomorph.com http://biomorph.com), particularly the Personal desk in maple. I've got 4-5 in various places I work. They're expensive ($2K), but I keep a standing Google search for them and buy them used ($400-600). Very well made and quite worth it. You can crank 'em up and down but that's pretty tedious. Best to just leave 'em all the way up.
- rsl7 16y agoI bought a used Multi some time ago. It's awesome, the build quality is superb.
- sh1mmer 16y agoI just have 2 desks at work and two monitors. Works pretty well for me. If you don't want to buy two monitors (hint I didn't) then you could always make a desk with a hand crank. That wouldn't cost too much, it seems like a motor and controls is the expensive part of that desk.
- arketyp 16y agoI feel like making somersaults in front of my desk but I usually just end up in unusual sitting positions e.g. with my legs on the wall or one knee in my face as right now. But I don't think I could ever stand standing. That makes me tired and wanting to lie down just thinking about it.
- MikeCapone 16y agoQuestion for those with standing/adjustable desks: How long does it take to get used to standing for long periods of time? Maybe it's all the sitting I do, and maybe I've atrophied a few muscles, but I feel like I'd get tired pretty quickly..
- ableal 16y ago"Drafting table? / But that was in another country; / And besides, the bench is dead." (apologies to Will.S.) Large wooden drafting tables, and tall four-legged drafting stools (with foot-rest cross-bars, topped by a square seat sloping slightly forwards), used to fill many of the classrooms in the engineering school I knew many moons ago. Alas, it mostly got 'updated' to standard tables and plastic chairs. But those unpadded high seats still strike me as healthier than hunching in a chair. An old furniture store might have some around - a cheap alternative to expensive desks.
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- johnyzee 16y agoA lot of comments miss the point that the table should allow you to stand OR sit - standing all day is probably as hard on the back and legs as sitting. That rules out most of the DIY options. I also wouldn't trade away a properly crafted desk plate with a nice finish, bezel, body contour etc. Really, these desks aren't that expensive considering what people are ready to spend on other gear and gadgets with a life span of one-two years. (I would personally trade in my Aeron for a motordesk if forced to choose).
- maw 16y agoBoth have horizontal bars underneath. I prefer my knees and shins nonbashed when I have the choice, thanks.