I’m looking for a good ergonomic computer desk - preferably something adjustable so I can get it exactly where I want it.
I have a really good chair - an Aeron - so I’m willing to spend a fair amount. I figure I spend a lot of time in my office at home, I should invest in my comfort. I’m targeting about $1000, although I won’t mind spending less and could spend more for the right solution.
My Googling thus far has turned up the Biomorph Exo desk, which looks pretty good.
The problem is that I can’t actually see one before buying, and while I don’t mind spending a thousand bucks on a desk, the fact that their return policy has me liable for 50% of the purchase price plus shipping both ways has me a little leery. If I don’t need to return it, I don’t care about the return policy, but since I haven’t actually used it, I’m not sure if I’ll like it.
I realize they have perfectly good reasons for charging restocking fees, I’d just be more comfortable if they had a better return policy. I’d feel like they were standing behind their products.
So, anyone out there have any experience with the Biomorph desk? Or any recommendations on other ergonomic desks?
Well, if I were charging a thousand bucks for that thing, I’d be actively trying to discourage prople from changing their minds after they bought it, too. Seriously, that desk doesn’t look like anything you couldn’t find at Office Depot for 15% the cost.
When looking for a customizable desk, I found exactly what I needed at Ikea: I bought two desk tops in the size/shape I was looking for, and bought two sets of individually height-adjustable legs (4 legs per set). I set up one desk top at a normal height, another at a right angle to it, with the legs lower in the front to create a slope that was more comfortable to work on. The cost? Very affordable.
I recently bought one of these. It was only about $200 including tax and shipping, and it is quite marvelous. I am thinking of getting another to leave in my office.
I would not pay a thousand dollars for THAT. How about some, I dunno, drawers? That is a workstation, not a desk.
You can get an adjustable keyboard tray to attach to most any desk so you can adjust the height and angle of your keyboard.
It’s also much cheaper to get a height-adjustable chair than a desk with the same function. Unless you are of a very unusual size, or you really expect to to a lot of work standing rather than sitting at your desk, don’t bother with a height adjustable desk.
Thanks for the suggestions. I’m not really interested in an inexpensive solution.
I suppose that sounds odd. I don’t want to get overcharged, but I do want something that’s well-designed and well-made, and I have found over the years that such things cost a significant amount of money. The Aeron chair I’m sitting in was 7 or 8 times as expensive as any of its predecessors, and worth every penny - it’s incredibly comfortable and adjustable, and has outlasted any cheap office chair.
So when I’m looking for a desk - which really means workstation, for me, since I’m just using it for my computer - I want to buy something that’s really good, and that I will be able to adjust to the height I want it to be at for me to work comfortably. From what I have seen thus far, that means I need to be prepared to spend some money.
Well sure, but that presumes that you will get what you pay for and that the expensive solution actually fixes your problem. If what you need is only a relatively minor tweak, then you could very well be wasting your money.
I take my ergonomics and comfort pretty seriously: right now I am sitting in my new Ekornes stressless recliner that set me back $3k. It happens to be the second best purchase I have ever made, after my even more expensive mattress. The right piece is worth almost any price, but for that money, it had better be right.
I can understand the Aeron, even though it is not exactly my cup of tea. But in my experience, ergonomics is in the proportions and not in the marketing. You don’t need an adjustable desk so much as a desk that is sized right for you. After that, you’ll never need to adjust it again. There are useful ergonomics guidelines on the internet. Once you calculate the right height for your desk, it’s just a matter of finding one that fits. I’ve got a slice of plate glass on metal legs from Ikea, but it’s the perfect height and size. It’s glass and metal and will probably outlive me.
I’m going to agree with both Brainiac4 and Enter the Flagon. Good quality is worth paying for but in this instance that doesn’t rule out Ikea. The ability to choose your desktop and adjustable legs gives you the chanceto truly make the desk yours and they have some beautiful options for surfaces. I needed drawers so I went with a more traditional look but they had some options in glass or polished metal that I would have loved.
Adjustable legs definitely sounds worth looking into. **Maeglin **, you’re right; I don’t need on-the-fly adjustability once I find the right height. My problem is that I don’t know what the exact right height is - although my desk at work is about perfect, and I could measure that…
I too have an Aeron chair, and while it was pricey (IIRC about $900) and absolutely worth it, it wasn’t wasn’t anything near 7 or 8 times any of its predecessors. There were lots and lots of chairs in the $500-$700 range. It WAS 7 or 8 times the absolute cheapest crap office chair you could get, though.
The “standard” desk surface height is 30", and that is a bit high, for a keyboard in particular. That’s why you see so many keyboard trays attached underneath the desk surface. If it has a good mounting system, it can swing up to the same height as the desktop if you like, or several inches lower, and you can adjust the angle of the keyboard, and slide it entirely under the desk so you can scoot right up to it for writing or whatever.
Also, remember you you can adjust the Aeron up or down if the desk is a bit off. Once I set its height I’m not sure that I ever changed it again, though I did find myself adjust one or another of the armrest heights fairly often.
I’ve tried keyboard trays and hated them - they either put me impossibly far away from the desk or hide my hands.
I think I need about a 28" height - as I noted above, my desk at work (which is a simple worksurface with adjustable legs) is the right height. I’ll check that tomorrow.
Thanks for the tips on Ikea. It looks like they have some adjustable-leg options that may be the ticket. I wonder what I’ll do with the $750 I’ll save on the desk…
