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I say this to anyone within earshot whenever this topic comes up: Get a motorized adjustable desk that you can stand or sit at. Unless you are a freak of nature
by johnyzee 13y ago
I say this to anyone within earshot whenever this topic comes up: Get a motorized adjustable desk that you can stand or sit at. Unless you are a freak of nature, sometimes you will want or need to sit down. These desks are the norm in every office here in Denmark and I am always baffled that it is some kind of esoteric thing worthy of debate in America.
Having gotten used to them at the office, I got one for my home because I could no longer bear having to sit all the time. It cost around $500, a beautiful desk with customized bezel and finish. There are many suppliers, I used this one: http://www.conset.dk http://www.conset.dk
(My desk: http://imgur.com/A1eS2 http://imgur.com/A1eS2)
- marknutter 13y agoYes! When I first started using a standing desk I found I actually got quite sick of standing for long stretches and would just end up taking my laptop over to the couch to work. I finally got a http://www.geekdesk.com http://www.geekdesk.com and I'm happy as a clam.
- simplekoala 13y agoWhy are these things so damn expensive? Looks like they are fleecing money ( or it appears so for my cheapskate sensibilities ). Someone should start a kick-starter project to make good ones for a reasonable price.
- lukifer 13y agoThe nichier the market, the more price has to go up to compensate. I also doubt there's much competition in the field, other than DIY or not using a convertible desk at all.
- stevesearer 13y agoThere are actually more options for height adjustable desks than you might imagine. I wrote up a post a while back that listed 7, but commenters have since added quite a few more. http://officesnapshots.com/2012/08/24/7-adjustable-height-desks-that-wont-betray-and-kill-you/ http://officesnapshots.com/2012/08/24/7-adjustable-height-de...
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- nknighthb 13y agoIf you saw a day in my life, "hyper-sloth" would more likely be your term for me. "hyper-optimizer" isn't even on the list of possible descriptions. And I use an adjustable standing desk. And no, ergonomic suicide is not an alternative to a proper desk with external monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
- nilkn 13y agoIt's not quite that simple because the high prices force the market to remain niche. It may be that the market could become surprisingly large if an affordable commodity version of this were available.
- nknighthb 13y agoHow much do you think a sturdy steel frame with reasonably precise synchronized lifting motors with a combined capacity of over 300lbs designed to put up with years of use and abuse should cost?
- simplekoala 13y agoWhat is a reasonable guess here..hmmm. I have no idea about how much these motors would cost but I am assuming given the number of office chairs (which move up and down with a lever) we produce, they shouldn't be costing a lot. We get good office chairs which support up to 300 lbs for under $100. I am assuming the technology for moving tables should be similarly priced. A sturdy steel frame + planks (wood/composite) + up/down motor/hydraulic lift shouldn't cost more than $300 in my subjective opinion. I am not willing to pay more than that. Wonder how much would IKEA charge for these, if they made one (edited for typos).
- jlgreco 13y agoOne problem I see with the chair-piston approach is that if you don't get each leg moving up or down at the same rate then you might get a jam. This could probably be overcome if it is indeed an issue at all, but probably worth considering.
- simplekoala 13y agoI have a simple(minded) idea here. Connect a damn horizontal rod between the two pistons/moving-legs on each side
- nknighthb 13y agoWhich will cause the desk to jam at a (potentially disastrous) angle when the motors get out of sync. Are you a programmer? Do you like it when a non-programmer tells you "just do X", because it must obviously be so simple? Why, then, are you so sure that you can come up with a better design than mechanical engineers without even studying the problem?
- stock_toaster 13y agoI got a ModTable (multitable.com), which is a bit more cost effective. Bought it through Amazon. You can buy just the hardware, and supply your own top if you want too (ikea sells some). It isn't automatic (has a hand crank), but it works great! I don't run it up and down all day, and taking a minute to crank the handle (which is removable) when I want to change positions, is not onerous.
- DigitalJack 13y agoDo you think it would be feasible to use a drill to raise/lower it?
- stock_toaster 13y agoI think so! Here is a picture of the handle: http://cl.ly/image/1e2k0a1Q2u38 http://cl.ly/image/1e2k0a1Q2u38 I don't see why you couldn't leave the handle off (you insert the large allen wrench thing into the handle as part of assembly) and use a large-capacity bit grip, and a drill. Might be a bit unwieldy though.
- samstave 13y agoI bought mine at a garage sale for $100! (I do recognize that I am SUPER lucky) -- but keep hunting CL.
- vacri 13y agoWelcome to the world of furniture; the world of huge items taking lots of warehouse space, all with low turnover. Furniture is expensive, full stop.
- mcv 13y agoThey need to be more Lean!
- marknutter 13y agoThey're not so bad if you supply your own table-top.
- ejp 13y agoI've been quite happy with one of these: http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=modtable http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=modtable Somewhat expensive, but costs less than a geekdesk/etc.
- beowulfey 13y agoSince I have a laptop, I think it would be easier (and cheaper) to just have a standing setup and a sit-down desk nearby to switch between.
- lobster_johnson 13y agoThere are other options. Why a huge desk in the first place? The Jesper Workpad [1] is just $299 on Amazon [2] -- a minimalistic laptop desk with a minimal footprint and clean aesthetic. It's not motorized, but it doesn't need to be. [1] http://www.jesperoffice.com/jesper-office-ergonomics/526-height-adjustable-tables-workpad-201 http://www.jesperoffice.com/jesper-office-ergonomics/526-hei... [2] http://www.amazon.com/Jesper-Height-Adjustable-Computer-Table/dp/B00A2Z3MSK http://www.amazon.com/Jesper-Height-Adjustable-Computer-Tabl...
- kyzyl 13y agoI don't know about you, but I commonly have a lot more stuff on my desk than would fit on that thing. I don't work with keyboard+mouse+monitor, but even with just that it would be cramped. Maybe if you just use a laptop.
- angularly 13y agoThis geekdesk looks like the desk I have. My situation is much like the op. I started really getting back/shoulder/arm pains a few years back, so I started standing up all day. In the beginning it was really hard, but after about one month you sorta get used to it and develop the necessary muscles. Another thing I can recommend is getting one of the good standing mats. Best one I've found is this one: http://www.kybun.com/products-and-stores/kybun-products/kybounder.html http://www.kybun.com/products-and-stores/kybun-products/kybo... They are comfortable standing on, and they make you change positition even more and excersize more different muscles in legs and knees.
- gtaylor 13y agoI'm a bit baffled that you think this is an esoteric thing worthy of debate in America. Seems like a pretty silly and useless generalization. I can make an opposite anecdotal observation and point out that the majority of my colleagues in the last five years have used standing desks of some sort (motorized or not). The big issue that I've seen is cost. If you buy something pre-built or motorized/adjustable over here, it's going to be a bit more expensive. I opted to take the do-it-yourself route for my home office, which is what a lot of my colleagues did as well. Here's what mine looked like the day I installed it: http://i.imgur.com/TiYJrZi.jpg http://i.imgur.com/TiYJrZi.jpg Came in at about $75 bucks, including the stain/varnish/mounting brackets/boards/etc. Lowes and Home Depot sell wood specifically for stairs that have a rounded edge (so you don't kill your feet/shins). The desktop is just two of these butted up against each others' flat side, screwed down into the bracket below. Each board was about $10. The computer shelf below is made out of a single stair board. A set of super basic $8 wall mounts will hold all of this up without an issue. The whole thing is rock solid, attractive, durable, and if I took more time to do some cable routing, it'd look really "floaty" and free-standing.
- jacquesm 13y agoHow do you adjust the height to sitting position? Or do you sit on a drafting chair or similar?
- gtaylor 13y agoI use a really cheap stool (pictured in the lower left corner). It was about $15 on clearance at some home goods store. The thing I've struggled with a little is reminding myself not to slouch when using the stool. It may be worth buying one with a back, if you have the budget for it. Also of note is the fact that this desk is only really comfortable for me since it's fixed and non-adjustable. That's not a big deal in this case since this is my office, though. I'm a shade over 5'4", so my desk wouldn't be much fun for anyone a few inches taller/shorter.
- jacquesm 13y ago> I use a really cheap stool (picture in the lower left corner). -5 for my observation skills today :) Thank you!
- icpmacdo 13y agoOr sit on a couch for a lot less money.
- kyrra 13y agoFor those of you in Austin, TX, there is a local store that sells adjustible height desks[0]. I haven't actually bought one yet, but it was nice to play with them to see what they are like. [0] http://www.thehumansolution.com/ http://www.thehumansolution.com/
- caw 13y agoMy work has a similar model. They're quite nice, and I've gradually been working on how much I'm standing - up to about 2 hours now. As far as power goes, my desk has a hidden power strip on the underside. It powers the lift feature for both legs (so there's only 1 wall plug), but you can also plug in your monitors so you don't need to have 10' cords on all your equipment. They also sell a power strip that can mount to the top of the desk, so again you don't need very long cords for all your peripherals (phones, chargers, etc). For network cables you'll still need a cord long enough to travel to the standing height.
- tracker1 13y agoI tend to be a neat freak when it comes to organizing a desk, and will often have a surge strip velcro'd to the underside of a desk. Industrial velcro & straps are pretty cheap, and can be adjusted pretty easily when moving/relocating equipment. I've been thinking of getting monitor arms, since I am fairly tall, I tend to want my desk lower (at elbow height) and my monitors higher than most will rise up from that height, so that I can actually sit up straight and look forward... I'm pretty heavy so don't think going straight to a standing desk would work as well for me.
- gonzo 13y agoFor those of you in Austin, TX, there is a local manufacturer. http://www.nextdesks.com http://www.nextdesks.com
- davidp 13y agoThanks for the link. The desks look gorgeous, but I'll be honest: the absence of even ballpark pricing and the presence of prominent financing offers make me a bit leery of looking further.
- mason240 13y agoA barstool is much cheaper than a motorized desk.
- notacoward 13y agoAdjustable is useful, motorized is not. I have an Ergotron, and it takes me about two seconds to move it from sitting to standing position or vice versa. It's less time than it takes to switch the gel mat and the chair. When I bought it, there was about a 4x price difference between that and a motorized version that would have consumed yet another power outlet for no good reason.
- DenisM 13y agoCan you provide a link? Thanks
- patrickmclaren 13y agohttp://www.ergotron.com/ProductsDetails/tabid/65/PRDID/631/language/en-US/Default.aspx http://www.ergotron.com/ProductsDetails/tabid/65/PRDID/631/l...
- doktrin 13y agoLooks like it costs $699, which is about $100 less than I paid for my motorized desk.
- notacoward 13y agoActually it was about $500 for the version with the extra tray, and the motorized versions I saw when I was shopping were all at least twice that to move more surface than I want anyway. It's fantastic that you found something that suits you better at a good price, just like it's fantastic that some people like to sit on barstools or rig up extra shelves for printers and routers, but I think in most cases a good monitor/keyboard stand is closer to the sweet spot of practicality and price.
- mixmastamyk 13y agoPerhaps you're both solving the wrong problem... It's not necessary to spend so much money, nor time moving a desk up and down. Get a tall drafting table, and a nice bar stool. Then you can get up or sit down to your hearts content all day. No waiting.
- arshadgc 13y agoAlternatively, you can put the standing desk in place, but have an rolling stool under it. Costs less, but us just as effective.
- tbrownaw 13y agoWhat's wrong with a fixed standing desk with a drafting stool?
- gtaylor 13y agoNothing at all. It is much cheaper and frees up money to spend on other things. I went this route and invested a little more in my keyboard/mouse/monitors with the savings.
- johnyzee 13y agoI like my Aeron for when I do have to sit. It surprises me that guys will easily drop a thousand dollars every six to eight months on the latest phone, yet cheap out on their workspace. In fact I would be hard pressed to think of anything more worthy of my money than my desk and chair that I spend most of my day using. Another thing is that most standing desks, including the one in the OP, seem to have a very small work area, which would be unacceptable to me (I like to draw stuff on paper).
- mixmastamyk 13y agoI've got a very nice "bar stool."
- gaoshan 13y agoThis is my solution. It's cheaper and no less functional.
- calbear81 13y agoI don't think people realize there are stool versions of many high end chairs so you can get the nice comfy chair + the ability to stand on the cheap!
- dhughes 13y agoYou should get a motorized chair like Dr. Evil.
- tluyben2 13y agoI stand my working time (for 3+ years now) behind a home made standing desk; when I feel the need to sit down, that's a break or end of the work day. Works really well. Edit (reading through comments); I don't stand still; I walk in place.
- arshadgc 13y agoSeems like you've struck the right balance!
- RyanMcGreal 13y agoI've got an adjustable desk and I'm quite happy with it. I tend to alternate an hour standing with an hour sitting. I concur that when I'm standing, I'm a lot more likely to move around, e.g. to get a drink of water or use the toilet.
- MichaelApproved 13y agoWorkfit is a great option that's easy to use when standing and sitting. It attaches to an existing table. It allows for two monitors and a keyboard at a nice height when standing and sitting. http://www.amazon.com/Ergotron-WorkFit-S-33-341-200-Sit-Stand-Workstation/dp/B003Y3PF6E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377649766&sr=8-1&keywords=workfit http://www.amazon.com/Ergotron-WorkFit-S-33-341-200-Sit-Stan...
- ar4s 13y agoI have this fantasy where my desk is able to attach rack mount chassis (u1/U2 x 2). It seems to me this would need to be a mod... Do you think the motor on these desks would be strong enough for such a feat?
- bane 13y agoI didn't "get" standing desks at all till the last few months. Combined extended hours on long distance commuter buses, multi-hundred mile daily drives old home office chairs and crappy work office chairs have turned my lower back into a wreck. I don't know if I could manage standing for long hours, but I imagine a nice stool, combined with adjusting into sitting for a few hours a day would do wonders. However, the desks I use at both work and home run around $100-$130, it's hard to imagine spending $500+ on a desk with a bit more material and a simple up-down motor or manually adjusted height latches (or whatever). In the meanwhile I'm working at a mix from home from my kitchen, my couch and a local coffee shop (with a nice easy walk to and fro) that seems to be helping.
- fudyy 13y ago> These desks are the norm in every office here in Denmark and I am always baffled that it is some kind of esoteric thing worthy of debate in America. No company I've worked in within the U.S. has had a standing desk or even an adjustable-height desk that I can remember. It's a rare sighting for most. In the U.S. cubicles are the norm, and their desk height isn't usually adjustable. As for ergonomics, in the past few years I was working for a large institution owned by an even larger company that was all well-funded, and even their ergonomic team (yes, they had one) was completely inadequate. When I asked if they would assist me with recommendations for simple monitor and macbook stands, they stuttered and then suggested outlandishly expensive equipment ($3000 USD) just for a monitor stand! That would never be paid for as part of our team budget. So, when I told them this, they just said, "Then try Amazon." They never came by to measure me or ask me any relevant questions to help. It was a total farce. I ended up using books to lift my monitor and laptop to the correct position. So basically, yes it seems esoteric here and products are pushed that are too damn expensive. I'm glad that you and your crew have nice desks. Thanks for the link and pic.