Slashdot Mirror
Ask Slashdot: What's Your Take On Stand-Up Desks?
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?
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.
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.
I use this setup in my lab/server room. The KVM consoles are racked at standing height, but we have tall, rolling task chairs for the times you have to park for an extended period of time. I have observed that shorter people have a harder time getting on the chair though.
What you need is a bar stool. When you want to stand, your desk will be at the right height. When you want to sit, pull up your stool!
Mon chien, il n'a pas du nez. Comment scent-il? TrÃs mauvais!
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.
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.