Ask Slashdot: What's Your Take On Stand-Up Desks? 347
An anonymous reader writes "I work at a non-profit that doesn't have the resources to automatically bend to each and every whim. However, I've been told that I can't use a cardboard box to put my computer on, for OSHA and fire prevention reasons. So the choice is, sit down for nine hours each day or else get a standup desk to the tune of 500 bucks or more. Is this worth it? Can I make one myself? Anything to know before I get in deep?" There are lots of home-grown stand-up desks out there (search IKEA Hackers for "stand-up desk" if that's your aesthetic leaning), and some ready-made ones from plainish to very expensive. If you've used a stand-up desk, what are your thoughts?
Hey buddy (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Hey buddy (Score:5, Informative)
Have you looked in the trash? People throw out perfectly fine furniture all the time. I picked up an extremely sturdy carpenter-built bookcase in the trash. It didn't have shelves but I found enough particle board to make shelves.
If your trash heap doesn't have what you need, have you considered Goodwill stores? I'm frequently amazed what I find in them. Money goes to good cause, as well.
Re:Hey buddy (Score:5, Informative)
The things most frequently offered for free off of Craigslist are matresses (eww!), couches, and desks. You should be able to get a couple of desks and use the materials to create a custom desk fairly easily.
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Re:Hey buddy (Score:5, Funny)
I've thought about buying a used couch, but you never know what went on on the thing.
Ghosts of Beans. Thousands and thousands of them.
Re:Hey buddy (Score:5, Funny)
Bah, a little Febreze will get the smell of OD'ed meth addict right out.
Re:Hey buddy (Score:5, Informative)
Over a year later I'm sitting on it and my hand feels a small 'bump' between the foam seat cushion and it's zippered cloth cover. I tell him, we unzip it and I reach in and pull out a mostly empty tube of a sexual lubricant that (from the name on the tube) was obviously marketed to gay men.
If you've had the couch for over a year, I'm quite sure all of the 'gay germs' have died off and have instead been replaced by your 'homophobe germs.'
Have you ever stayed in a hotel? News flash: 500 people had sex in your bed before you slept there.
Re:Hey buddy (Score:5, Funny)
All at once!
[John]
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So there's a reason for your username
Re:Hey buddy (Score:4, Insightful)
My step-dad was a garbage man and would be constantly pulling electronics out of the trash to fix.
It was good to learn how to fix electronics that were already broken rather than breaking stuff that already worked.
Re:Hey buddy (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Hey buddy (Score:4, Informative)
Classic option (Score:3, Informative)
The classic quick, cheap, solid desk is an old door across two dirt-common two-drawer file cabinets.
I've two of those. the main one actually uses a pair of old AT tower cases. Two dollar-store clamps hold a smaller piece of scrap for my keyboard tray. A single cheap particle-board rear shelf for the displays sits on various blocks. Power bars are just screwed into the back edge of the door. You don't need to be a carpenter, you just need to think (less) and make a solid block structure. Trim with toy blocks
Re:My response (Score:5, Funny)
My response to that company:
"I quit, because you're a fucking moron. Have a nice life....chump."
+1 anthropomorphic
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Re:My response (Score:4, Interesting)
Meh, fuck non-profit; unless it's all volunteers I'm not interested in funding it.
e.g. Brian Gallagher is still President and CEO of United Way, and currently earns $1,037,140 a year, according to a December 2010 report from the American Institute of Philanthropy.
Just because it doesn't pay a dividend doesn't mean someone isn't making phat stax, and it doesn't mean that they aren't asking employees to use shitty furniture to cover their CEO's salary/travel/hooker expenses.
Same with religious exemptions, that shit needs to go.
Why cardboard? (Score:2)
Why not use a wooden or metal box?
Or bricks? (Score:2)
Or bricks? Or cinder blocks?
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milk crates.
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Re:Or bricks? (Score:5, Funny)
Bonus points if you work at a USPS facility and use old mail crates...
He said he worked at a non-profit... oh wait...
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I thought the same thing, and have had thoughts along the same lines.
Actually, I like the idea of this working while standing thing, in fact, I used to often work from a kneeling position, (which is much less comfortable when it comes time to stand up).
My main issue with really adjusting my workspace is that I really want to be able to switch off between sitting and standing.... do part of the day standing, part sitting....
So far the transition seems like more work than its worth,
Re:Why cardboard? (Score:4, Interesting)
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Sitting at a bar stool can be less comfortable than sitting in a regular chair.
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Re:Why cardboard? (Score:4, Funny)
"in fact, I used to often work from a kneeling position"
BOOM!
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Some sort of Steadicam arm to hold everything at the right height in front of you? You could walk around, even go to the bathroom without missing a tweet.
Kmart special (Score:5, Interesting)
I wanted a standing desk for a cheap PC in my workshop, for looking up parts and reference, etc. I wound up going to Kmart, purchasing a cheap narrow PC desk with a roll-out keyboard rest, and a TV stand, and screwed one on top of the other. The result worked out well, with plenty of storage below the PC, and can roll around well.
Home Depot special (Score:3)
I wanted a standing desk but my boss wouldn't spring for it. So, I went to Home Depot and bought a set of adjustable plastic garage shelves like you'd use to hold paint cans. I assembled it on top of my office-issued desk, adjusted the top shelf to a comfortable height for my monitor, and set the middle shelf to a good height for my keyboard and trackball. Voila. Standing desk for $20. It wasn't beautiful but it worked perfectly.
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Hang your computer from the ceiling, with wire (Score:2)
Go totally deskless. And steampunk it with useless gears, chains, scissors switches, etc.
And a Guillotine for your OSHA folks.
stop being a needy gimp (Score:2, Insightful)
sit down, do your job. is that so hard?
My take? (Score:5, Insightful)
That I get tired of standing and want to sit down... That's my take.
They are nice for a workbench but not a computer desk unless you're always moving between several different stations. Stock Market stuff comes to mind.
In the end, sitting for 9 hours is bad but also standing for 9 hours is bad. Need to find that middle road and balance it out.
Re:My take? (Score:5, Informative)
Standing for 9 hours is Very Bad.
I managed to give myself Plantar Fasciitis when I used a standing desk, due to a different injury that makes it painful to sit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantar_fasciitis [wikipedia.org]
Re:My take? (Score:5, Funny)
Maybe you should try laying down or get some sort of ceiling-mounted harness...
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Not sure you fully understand trolling...
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Trolling is a art.
Re:My take? (Score:4, Insightful)
Use a high bench with a tall chair. You can stand when you want to, and sit when you want to.
Re:My take? (Score:4, Interesting)
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Seeing the quality of your post... the fact that Slashdot tried to filter it out seems like it is attempting to work as intended.
Re:My take? (Score:4, Informative)
He could have saved a lot of bandwidth by simply posting:
Re:My take? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:My take? (Score:5, Funny)
I've connected two monitors, two keyboards and two mice to my computer. One set is raised, for working standing up, and the other is on my desk. I stand at times and sit the rest of the time. This works great for me.
Clever. I have two mice, two monitors, and two keyboards as well, but I use one mouse+keyboard for each hand and one monitor for each eye. Then I can work and read Slashdot at the same time.
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Hence the desks that convert? Stand in the morning, get tired, sit for the afternoon.
http://www.geekdesk.com/ [geekdesk.com]
Re:My take? (Score:4, Insightful)
My take on all this sort of stuff, including all the supposed evidence about the evils of sitting down etc, is that it's all just a big unnecessary distraction from the simple fact that life is bad for you if you DON'T EXERCISE...very deliberately and very regularly...BOTH aerobic exercise and weight training. As a programmer I work sitting down for very long stretches with no problems, and I'm almost 59. I attribute that (and the fact that I feel at least as good as I did in my twenties) totally to the fact that I do 20 minutes of intense (but low impact) aerobics three times a week, and significantly heavy weight training twice a week. There just is no replacement.
They have their uses....fans...foes... (Score:5, Insightful)
...like anything else. People with certain back conditions find sitting for any length of time would probably relish the idea of being able to stand at work for the entire period - while others would find it akin to torture to stand for nine hours straight. Sitting puts pressure on the base of your spine, but standing on hard floors is pressure on your feet and knees. Six of one, half dozen of the other.
As long as your aren't FORCED to use a stand-up desk because someone figures they take up less space or that it prevents you from falling asleep at work; then they can be a good thing. If it's a half-baked idea at further cost effective micro-management bullshit - then count me out. And set that manager on fire. Now.
Are those really the only choices? (Score:5, Insightful)
You said:
Sorry, but what about just standing up to stretch and walk around every few minutes? I hack code at a traditional desk, but I'm certainly not chained to my chair. Walk around, go to the water cooler, talk to your peers, go outside for lunch. Even if you had a stand-up desk you should still move around a little.
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That's what I do. I'll sit and program for about 60-90 minutes then get up and take ~5 minute walk around the office and chat with co-workers or step outside to get some fresh air. Works out nicely.
Height-adjustable desks (Score:5, Interesting)
The desks at my work are on hydraulics, so they can be raised or lowered at will. It's great to be able to raise your desk and stand for a while after sitting for a couple hours, but I wouldn't want to have to be forced to stand all the time.
The desks get high enough that I can push my high-backed office chair underneath it, and low enough to get probably two feet or so off the ground. It's a great compromise between having to sit or stand the entire day.
Treadmill Desk (Score:3)
Horsepucky. (Score:2)
Employers like to spew a lot of BS about OSHA and "fire codes". Virtually none of it has the slightest basis in reality.
That said, you generally can't "win" battles like that. Even if you brought in a notarized statement from your town's fire marshal ok'ing your use of a cardboard box, your petulant HR "make up codes as we go" weenie would just make your life hell as payback.
So... Make 'em spend the money, simple as that. And don't get just a stand-up desk, ge
Love It (Score:3)
I just moved to a stand up desk last week. Absolutely love it. I design and code websites, so I have a pretty stationary type of job. Standing up, I move a lot more. I also have an adjustable stool, so if I need to rest my legs for a bit, I can without having to adjust my desk.
I have also noticed that the afternoon wall has completely disappeared. You know, the one where you are struggling to focus - or maybe even stay awake. Never happens.
There are plenty of articles out there about standing vs. sitting, as I did a bunch of research before making the switch. To summarize: Standing is better than sitting, but mixing it up is the best. This doesn't mean fully sitting down - the stool I use is a great example. But you do need to be able to change position for a bit, because being in one position for 8-9 hours a day is bad.
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standing up isn't much better (Score:2)
People who stand all day at work tend to develop varicose veins. And I have seen it in people in their early twenties - it's not pretty. Sit when you need to, walk around to think, have swordfights while your code compiles (http://xkcd.com/303/), don't take lunch at your desk, take breaks, invest in those highly expensive chairs. All elementary precautions really. I don't know how standing for nine hours will be anything but tortuous.
Ikea jerker and a normal table (Score:2)
There's lots of various options for building an easy standup desk, especially if you're close to an Ikea. An easy solution is to stop by Ikea and pick up some Malm side tables and trim to height. That worked well enough for a while, eventually I wanted something better.
The solution was to pick up a used Ikea Jerker desk off Craigslist. I work at that most of the time and when my feet need a rest I'll switch to a small table that's close by. Total cost: $50 and it works great.
That said, it weirds out some pe
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I did this about 6 months ago and it's working out great. I would also recommend getting a drafting chair so that you can "sit" at the desk when needed without having to adjust the height. You WILL get tired of standing all the time and it's probably better for your body to alternate between the two.
Hard to say (Score:2)
The scientist in me says they likely have some merit but the cynic in me says they're the stupid corporate fad of the moment.
No (Score:3, Funny)
>> Can I make one myself?
If you have to ask, the answer is probably no.
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Sitting or standing, ergonomics is important (Score:3)
For one thing, even with a sit-down desk, you shouldn't be sitting in front of it for nine hours. What I do is I set a countdown timer for an hour or so. When it rings, I get up and walk around the floor, hit the bathroom, fill up my water bottle, maybe step outside for a few minutes and experience sunlight. But you really have to train yourself to do it, and stick to getting up when it goes off. I find that it improves my work, because it forces me to step away from immediate problems and think about things in a larger context while I'm taking my little walk. I get back to my desk eager (usually) to continue work, and energized from getting my blood flowing. If your employer is so concerned about OSHA, then they should know that OSHA recommends frequent rest breaks for employees who sit at computer desks all day.
To me, one of the most important things about a standing desk is that you need to pay attention to the ergonomics of the floor and your footwear. My building has concrete floors with low-pile carpet. If I stood all day at a desk on this surface, my feet would kill by the end of the day. You potentially need a floor mat that provides more support than a solid floor. Think of the kinds of surfaces that workers on manufacturing lines stand on all day. You also want some kind of low platform or stool (preferably two of different heights, or one that you can flip onto a different side to change its height) that you can use to put one foot up on for periods, adjust your stance and weight distribution. Finally, you'll want to pay attention to the shoes that you wear, to make sure that you're getting the support that your feet need for you to be standing on them all day. There's a reason they call beat cops 'flat-foor'.
So. Sorry for the text wall. But those are some considerations.
Build Your Own Platform (Score:2)
Back pain! (Score:3)
I get a sore back from standing in once place for extended periods of time. I can walk for 8 hours, without a problem, but stand for 30 minutes and I'm going to have to sit down gently because my back is yelling at me.
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Then you would want a treadmill desk. You can walk for 8 hours at your desk.
Stand-up like comedy... (Score:2)
relies on your sense of humor - humerus bone, that is...
You'll be on your elbows, leaning, thinking and supporting your upper torso alot.
Standing for 9 hours is no better than sitting for (Score:3)
My first thought is that if you are going to be using it for 9 hours every day, then you shouldn't be getting a standing desk. Standing for 9 hours every day is not good on your body. It is horrible on your legs, especially your knees. Yes, sitting for 9 hours isn't good either, but it is much either to get up and walk around than it is to sit down. Standing desks are a great idea for light to moderate use. If you are using them off and on all day, they are great. But if you are using them continually all day, they are horrible, mainly because you have to stand. At a regular sitting desk, it is very easy to stand up and stretch, walk around, or even just stand for a couple minutes and still look at your computer. When you go to the bathroom or to the copier or printer, you are getting a break form sitting, but not from standing. Unless your standing desk is extremely flexible, it is usually very difficult to sit down at a standing desk and still be productive.
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I'm not sure I want to know how you take a dump.
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No you don't. Just get a stool. When your legs feel tired, switch to the stool. When you get restless, stand back up. Just because it's a standing desk, it doesn't mean there's a law against sitting down occasionally.
It depends (Score:3)
If you work in a cubicle area, do not use a standup desk. There was always some chucklehead who would stand up while working and it annoyed everybody.
It is like having someone standing behind your chair all day.
If you have your own office, having the option of standing is probably nice.
wtf? (Score:2)
How exactly is being able to sit down equivalent to "bending to each and every whim"? Has employment standards in the US fallen so low that employees arn't even entitled to basic amenities anymore? Why not make everyone wear loin cloths and be forced to work while crouching in an insect-infested dirt floor while you're at it?
The fact that the submitter goes from "Can't have anything" to a "$500 stand up desk" is just unfathomable. There are so many options for getting cheap/free furniture, there is no ex
Simple solution (Score:2)
Go to Home Depot and buy 4-6 cinder blocks. Think they are about $10 a piece, plus nobody can say they are a fire hazard because lots of buildings are made with them.
I have one (Score:2)
I have one of these desks [smartfurniture.com] and I barely use it in standing mode because it's wobbly as all hell to type on and I hate watching the LCDs jiggle around. I don't think I would ever recommend it because of that. Sucks that it was such a nice concept.
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To be fair, the Dell Precision notebook on my desk doesn't have its display wobble like crazy regardless of what height the desk is at, so maybe I should be directing my ire at the Samsung LCD's godawful stand instead....
Tall chair (Score:2)
I don't know so much about stand up desks, but I did enjoy having a tall chair desk. If the desk could be used while standing and ALSO have a tall chair or stool I think it'd be great. That way when people walk up to you for a conversation they're not hovering above you.
It would also give me a better view of the street through my second floor window ;)
Why not use a box or something? (Score:2)
Also, if anyone complains, try hitting them.
I Stand (Score:2)
Yea, but where? (Score:2)
While I would love a stand-up desk, I simply can't find such a thing in any style I would like (wood, with frigging drawers, preferably a return desk)- not some horribly naked looking Ikea thing that would make my grandfather roll his eyes.
Does anyone have a suggestion for that? I don't want cinder blocks, planks, or anything ghetto like that. I live in a house, not a workshop!
Fad. (Score:2)
Then it was kneeling chairs [wikipedia.org].
Now it's standing desks.
I bet you next year those $500 standing desks will be right next to the exercise balls and kneeling chairs [wikipedia.org]. In the meantime, with all the money spent on the sitting/standing gadgets, unfortunately nor productivity, nor quality, nor ergonomics, nor comfort has improved.
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Standing desks go back like a century.
Dick Cheney also had a standing desk!
Previous discussion (Score:2)
There's lots of talk of standing desks and posture-related discussion in this previous discussion [slashdot.org]. My own comment [slashdot.org]:
IKEA Stand Up Desk (Score:2, Informative)
I built myself a cheap standing desk from IKEA. You get the Vika Amon table top (under $40) and the Vika Bysske table legs ($20 a pop) These legs work with the table but they are intended for the construction of a kitchen bar. 4 of these bad boys and you have yourself a standing desk. Mind your height - you want to have roughly a 90degree angle at your elbow when working. I am 6'3'' and I can get this at their maximum extension. Then I get one of those attachable shelves and tada my monitors are higher up s
Just can't commit (Score:2)
My motivation was to avoid slouching in my desk chair. While standing, I do shift my weight from leg to leg (just can't seem to stand there with a 50/50 weight distribution), but I don't get any soreness or back pain from standing. I've heard some people have to tough through the first few days of back or foot soreness before their body acclimates, but not me.
To
Alternating is Best (Score:2)
At m
Baby Swing is the answer! (Score:2)
https://i.chzbgr.com/completestore/12/9/4/GftwY6EkikmMesXG1TPvYg2.gif [chzbgr.com]
I switched a year ago (Score:2)
There was an old drafters table and I turned into a stand-up workstation. Adjustable height and angle, it is simply awesome. My knees, back and shoulders have never felt so good. I stand for roughly half the day, with a tall chair for when I need it. I highly recommend that anyone with back problems give it a go.
On the cheap, you can build your own desk with a few pieces of wood. A 3/4" plywood sheet and 2x4's are all you need. If you are vain and don't like that look, you could put your current desk
For years (Score:2)
And more games of civ than I can count.
Old rule of thumb from Bell Labs (Score:3)
Mini-tables on tables.. (Score:2)
You've got many choices.
1. Get an over bed table ala http://www.amazon.com/Invacare-Over-Bed-Table/dp/B000QA0EHI [amazon.com] $49, you can adjust the height, upto 42" which should be within a few inches of what you need.
2. Use a bed tray on your normal table - ala http://www.standsandmounts.com/winsomewoodnaturalwoodbreakfasttraywithtiltingtop.aspx [standsandmounts.com]
3. Get a shelf with adjustable racks ala http://visualadventures.com/gear-review/how-to-make-an-adjustable-stand-up-desk-for-about-50 [visualadventures.com]
4. El cheapo option, wooden boxes, or pile
Wouldn't work for me now (Score:2)
Love mine! (Score:2)
Almost forgot! (Score:2)
Kangaroo Pro Junior (Score:3)
I have one of these and like it a lot. Turns any desk into a sit/stand desk, and the tray is nice and large: http://www.ergodesktop.com/content/kangaroo-pro-junior/ [ergodesktop.com]
Of course other people like it a lot, too, so it's a month backordered. You can usually find the Ergotron WorkFit-Ses in stock.
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One of these? [yogaballchair.com] They still run ~$70+.
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It's probably adjustable, sine not every one would want the same height. That means gears and track, and additional stabilty to comenstate with a high center of gravity. And long legs mean the legs need to support more.
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how do you work with empty desks then?
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Good god, for that price those should have a motorized adjustment option where you step on a petal to raise and lower the desk.
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Another option is http://www.ergodesktop.com/ I bought one of these for my 2 LCD setup a few months ago and I alternate between 2 hours sitting/2 hours standing. It has helped my back problems greatly. This solution allowed me to keep my existing "L" desk without reworking my entire office setup.
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I use one of these myself, spending about half my time sitting and half standing, and it works pretty well.