Friday, September 13, 2013

Standing Desk

Yesterday, a large, heavy box showed up at my office. I had requested a standing desk a few weeks back. I think that there is still some controversy on whether there are really any advantages to these desks but I have been wanting to try one out for a couple of years. I would normally be sitting at my desk for the majority of the day but, fortunately, I am right off the hallway so it's easy to get up and walk around. This is the desk at the sitting height and there are motors in each of the pedestal legs that move it up and down using a small control panel.

You can set presets for up to three different heights. To the right is shot of the standing configuration. The desk is made by NextDesk and has a laminated bamboo top with a light finish. It took yesterday afternoon and most of the morning getting things cleaned up enough to disassemble the old desk and set up the new one. Even with the multiple monitors, it moves up and down very smoothly and quickly.

BTW, pictured here is my normal desktop layout with the Macbook Pro on the left with a 27" monitor. The 24" monitor on the right is connected to a Mac Mini running OS X Server. I use that for streaming multicast video (continuously) as well as a backup server. It has a Drobo with 4x2 TB in a pseudo-raid  configuration. The phone on the left is the normal campus-issued phone. The phone next to the desk lamp is connected to the VoIP system in Barrow. Barely visible under the desk is an old Sun AMD system that I use for a performance monitor periodically checking throughput and latency to Barrow and to a couple of other points within the Internet2 layer 3 network.

13 comments:

  1. Interesting concept....I sit too much as it is but I wonder about fatigue when standing all day? Are you planning on a cushioning mat of sorts to stand on?

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    1. I think the idea is to sort of alternate between sitting and standing. The motor makes it really simple to switch between the two positions. A padded mat sounds like a good idea and probably better shoes than the work boots I use when riding would also be a good idea.

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    2. Absolutely get an anti-fatigue mat and good quality shoes! I got a standing desk that is compatible with my cubicle environment (if you want to check it out: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E0ODMAC) and I love standing all day. It is tiring at first, but after you get used to it you actually have more energy.

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  2. Cool, I've been interested to try one too, but I have yet to be able to convince my bosses they should shell out for one.

    Maybe if I can get a note from my Doctor... ;)

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    1. They seem to be popular around here as there are half a dozen on the floor and everyone who has one seems to like it and spend about half of the day standing. I think it's worth a shot.

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  3. Those big monitors are really nice. I miss mine, so you have inspired me to get my IT neighbor man over here for help on getting my old Dell and monitor set up to accept the wifi.

    Love the bamboo top. I had a bamboo floor installed in a house I used to own. Very, very nice. Keep us updated on the standing desk. I'd like to know what you discover.

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    1. The monitors are nice to use and the 27" one is also a dock for the MacBook Pro as it has gigabit Ethernet and USB ports on the back with just a small cable to the laptop. It also has a power cable for the laptop so I don't need to dig out the AC adapter.

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  4. Hemingway wrote standing up if that helps. Our work desks go up and down too but I don't know of a single dispatcher who works standing up. I find typing that way awkward.

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    1. I don't think I'll ever be a Hemingway. After only one day of use I can't comment much on the desk though I had no trouble typing while standing. But I don't really type very fast either.

      If I sit too long my ankle aches for about a hundred yards when I walk again. This didn't happen. I think that's a good sign.

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  5. I will be really interested to see how you like the standing desk. I have thought of one quite often.

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    1. Over the years, I have spent a lot of "work time" on my feet especially with the advent of the smartphone. Webinars, conferences, email, etc. don't force you to participate sitting at your desk. But typing on the phone is a pain. This gadget seems to make a lot of sense to me.

      Now if only I was able to swing the treadmill accessory...

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  6. Cool......I'd be more interested in a "lying down" desk. ZZZzzzZZZzzz ...LOL

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    1. I don't think they would have gone for that option. Ten years ago there was someone who wanted a recliner in their office instead of a desk. With all of the wireless everything, I don't see anything wrong with that but he never got it approved.

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