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And I think it's one of the best ever made: http://www.stokke.com/functionality.asp?na=NO&la=E N&div=C&nr=01&p=Variable I recommend it to every office worker.

Box:
For the Plattform independent stuff you're doing you'll want anything that's powerfull and quiet. If you don't hate towers you'll want a PC in the Zalman TN 500a Towercase, a complete fanless case for PCs. The entire case is one big heatsink with countless heatpipes, coolers and HDD coolcasings inside. The only way to go for a PC box you're going to sit at all day. The case cost 950 Euros, but I'd say it's worth it. Put anything inside thats big and fast. Some multi opteron setup (cooling noise isn't an issue, remember?) with 8 GB of fast RAM. Consider adding a Rocketdrive or solid state HDD. 60 nanoseconds access to your drive have something going for it when you're doing Java and Server Side Web stuff. Linux (custom Kernel Debian or Gentoo) plus Win2k running on VMWare should do it for the OS. Consider a WM instead of a desktop. It's less distraction from work. Allthough current KDE is cool, I still like to use Windowmaker, E or Fluxbox. Try those out.

The cheaper alternative for long hours of programming is a 20" iMac. Minimum noise, minimum space, top level working enviroment. OS X is good. It's not as good and fitting than a well configured and installed Linux/VM+Win2k setup on a box like the one I described above, but therefore it's like 6 times cheaper.

Screen:
If you're getting the PC take the 23" Apple display with it. If you want multi screen, take a Panoramtech, they are the ticket. Pricey, but the only real way to go for multicreen.

Chair:
You're sitting at it all day, so pay. The german Swopper is the Mercedes Benz of desk stools and ideal for computer desk jobs. Don't get the one with the pointless backrest though, that's just a gimmick. If the swopper isn't for you, I recommend something from the Stokke line of chairs. The Actulum or Pendulum look fitting for desk jobs and still are flexible enough for keeping your back alive.

Desk and room:
Don't have anything special for this. Apply common sense and a sense for quality. For your working room you want to consider setting it up by some Feng Shui principles. Feng Shui isn't all legend and has some interessting insights that help you set up your living space. I followed some Feng Shui rules in my room, and it feels good and enables me to work more concentrated. For instance I'm sitting in the opposite corner from the door with the door at 2:30. I can handle my daughter or my spouse interrupting my work much better that way.

IMHO most chair designs seem to begin with stiff 90 degree angles and then make only slight adjustments for the human body. On the other hand, Stokke designs look and feel like they're made for the human body, instead of the usual rectangular styles. They let your body find a comfortable balance almost magically, you don't have to force yourself into a good position, or correct your position all the time. Because of the unusual shapes, they also look damn cool, but are a bit pricey though.

After suffering an episode of severe backtrouble at the worst imaginable moment (my wife had just given birth to daughter) I went out and bought a Stokke Wing.

My old chair was as good as traditional chairs may go, but I haven't had any pain at all now for two years. And I sit on this beautiful constraption for at least eight hours a day.

I had the same problem: sore back and neck for too much time in front of my PC.

Then a friend of mine showed me her chair: a Stokke Multi. I then went to a shop and bought a Stokke Variable.

They may look strange, without back nor armrests, but I find them both really comfortable. The Variable, in particular, lets you oscillate forward and backward, finding the best position for you back.

I had the same problem: sore back and neck for too much time in front of my PC.

Then a friend of mine showed me her chair: a Stokke Multi. I then went to a shop and bought a Stokke Variable.

They may look strange, without back nor armrests, but I find them both really comfortable. The Variable, in particular, lets you oscillate forward and backward, finding the best position for you back.

I just bought a Stokke Variable. It's one of the half-kneeling breed, but with runners beneath (like a rocking chair). The kneeling posture makes it easier to sit straight, and the rocking satisfies my need to squirm a bit without putting me in an awkward position. Basically, it allows sitting to be an active endeavor, which strikes me as healthier than finding a single perfect pose (the Stokke web page goes into this at more length, eg "Some Thoughs about Sitting in General).

I must warn that I have only had the Variable for about a week, so I can't be sure I will like it in the long term (my cow-orker does, though). Also, it's nearly impossible to get Stokke furniture in the US. (There's a store in MA where I live and apparantly another in NM; the Stokke site itself has no information on US distributers.)

I just bought a Stokke Variable. It's one of the half-kneeling breed, but with runners beneath (like a rocking chair). The kneeling posture makes it easier to sit straight, and the rocking satisfies my need to squirm a bit without putting me in an awkward position. Basically, it allows sitting to be an active endeavor, which strikes me as healthier than finding a single perfect pose (the Stokke web page goes into this at more length, eg "Some Thoughs about Sitting in General).

I must warn that I have only had the Variable for about a week, so I can't be sure I will like it in the long term (my cow-orker does, though). Also, it's nearly impossible to get Stokke furniture in the US. (There's a store in MA where I live and apparantly another in NM; the Stokke site itself has no information on US distributers.)

I have tried the Herman Miller chair, but it has the basic flaw of not being 'active'. If you spend most of your day behind a terminal an active chair is a must. Personally I am satisfied with a Stokke chair (Norwegian make). It forces you to keep your back straight. It is also nice when making phone calls or talking to someone: it rocks.

The Gravity from Stokke.

I'll get mine just in time for Christmas...