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Ask Slashdot: What Recliner For a Software Developer?
Taxilian writes We've talked about office chairs before, but I'm one of those coders who tends to relax by doing more coding. Particularly when I'm short on time for a project, I like to move my work to where I am still around my wife and children so that I can still interact with them and be with my family, but still hit my deadlines. I have used various recliners and found that programming in them (at least in evenings) can be quite comfortable, but haven't felt like I really found the 'ideal chair' for relaxing and working on my Macbook.
I have found references to failed chairs (like La-Z-Boy Explorer, the so-called "E-cliner") that were intended for tech and failed, but are there any existing and useful options? I'd really like something that provides some sort of lap desk (to keep the heat from the laptop away from me) and reasonable power arrangements while still being comfortable and not looking ridiculous in a normal family room.
I have found references to failed chairs (like La-Z-Boy Explorer, the so-called "E-cliner") that were intended for tech and failed, but are there any existing and useful options? I'd really like something that provides some sort of lap desk (to keep the heat from the laptop away from me) and reasonable power arrangements while still being comfortable and not looking ridiculous in a normal family room.
The lounger from Idiocracy comes to mind. ;-)
They don't call it a throne for nothing!
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I feel my best coding occurs while on my Kohler porcelain recliner.
You can't actually be serious? What? I like a good recliner myself, but as an Ask Slashdot this takes things to new lows.
Pick up an Eames lounge chair and ottoman. Yes it's expensive. Yes it's worth it. You'll thank me later.
Are you sure you have realistically evaluated this activity as quality with your wife AND children? Just be sure everyone's on board with this!
:)
Note: this is opposed to the original (snarky) response which occurred to me, which was that probably a recliner would not afford significant relaxtion in comparison to a quart of whiskey!
Bukowski said it. I believe it. That settles it.
.
Keep it simple. If you try to satisfy too many requirements with the chair, you'll wind up with something that has compromises all over the place, and you won't want to sit in it.
Get a chair that is comfortable for you, then use other items to meet your other criteria.
http://shop.humantouch.com/pc-laptop-desk.html
Why not just get a nice recliner and use a piece of melamine board that you can rest on the arms? Toss it in the closet when you're not using it and use a normal extension cord for power.
As someone with both a recliner and a herniated disc, I say don't do it. A recliner forces your back into the worst possible posture. Your back is too important, so protect it.
tato (and tato only)
This post is strictly opinion, including the spelling.
Buy a silent mouse, which is used for recording studious. A quality silent keyboards. And most important the best monitor you can afford, and use it as a second display for your notebook.
Plus the fiber-optic internet access.
A good chair and a foot-rest will not harm too.
Or save a whole bunch of money and go to the junkyard to get the high-backed bucket passenger front seat from a comfortable car. Build a base for it to sit on, and use that base as the means for attaching the shelf for the keyboard and pointer.
Go with the passenger seat because it's usually less worn. If you're feeling inventive you can go with a powered seat, but those are usually biased toward the driver rather than the passenger.
Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
No need to buy some expensive specialized recliner just use a EZ Table with the recliner/reclining sofa of your choice. The table is adjustable from 23 1/4 inches to 32 1/4 inches in height, is available in left and right handed and is only 150$ shipped on amazon.
When did sitting in a recliner and coding become part of interacting with your wife and children?
This is like reading something from The Onion.
Depending on your budget for the chair one of MWE Labs Emperor chairs should meet your needs.
"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
Since then, being comfortable while working is paramount to my survival - I've searched and searched, but in the end, if you want something that works just right *for you*, you're going to have to either build it from scratch or find something close and customize to fit.
For a recliner, if it's against a wall, you could go the TV mount route and have something that swings out when you need it - otherwise you can build a support on one side - recall that you have a lot of room under the chair for giving the side mount a large footprint so it's stable.
Good luck.
What is this wife and children thing you speak of? /. and how it relates to codding
I have never seen such a thing as wife or children here in the basement.
Please explain this concept to the rest of us on
I find this concept very confusing.
I find a lot of developers need a recliner like this one.
My old school desk from goodwill works pretty good.
....when you can walk?
I have a custom setup similar to this for over 2 weeks. Very happy with it.
http://imgur.com/a/OLfQ5 Interesting, but probably a bit more work than you wanted. But I liked the flip up set up.
excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
working "short on time" with "wife and children around" "in a recliner" does not sound conducive to quality code.
there are 3 kinds of people:
* those who can count
* those who can't
I have been searching for this very thing and your question made me go out and look. This is what I want: http://gravitonus.com/lang/en-... Now to get my boss to buy it for me.
This is the recliner you've been looking for.
You're welcome.
I am not interested in articles about life extension advancements.
Particularly when I'm short on time for a project, I like to move my work to where I am still around my wife and children so that I can still interact with them and be with my family, but still hit my deadlines.
If you're working against deadlines, etc., you can't be doing it right while still interacting with your wife and kids. And you won't really be interacting with your wife and kids all that well either. Try the kitchen table. The kids can do their homework at the same time in the same place, and your wife will appreciate the time you've freed up by HER not having to watch the kids do their homework for a change.
But really - you're giving the recipe for poor code and poor home life.
"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
Car seats are built for long term comfort so the idea of using one at a computer has always interested me. Here's an article by a guy who actually built one:
http://www.arrickrobotics.com/...
It's not real pretty but I'll bet it's comfortable. Maybe someone can come up with a better looking design.
I used traditional office desk/chairs for YEARS(20), and then I started watching TV, and doing other stuff while on the computer and now I use simply a high back la-z-boy brand(better than most, stronger) and a board to support laptop, been doing that now for about 8 years and I can't ever see going back. Try it!
http://postimg.org/image/9uafou2yh/
http://postimg.org/image/xjhmt7btt/ ; Evolved from this.
http://postimg.org/image/fgth0gi9l/
First time I tried that quick and dirty image sharing site.
you superficial, elitisti, 1stworldproblemchugging, elitistc, cunt
thats all i have to say.
I submitted an "Ask Slashdot" story about a "personality sorter demographics of /. readers" that would have been interesting, and it didn't make it. A "crap dot" story asking about furniture? Really?
I'd recommend making a chair out of the corpses of your wife and kids, because trust me, I'll bet they wanna die.
I use a standard recliner loveseat (dual recliner). I sit on the left side with my mouse on a hardbook or and a mouse-pad (wireless) next to me on the seat on the right. I have a wireless keyboard and mouse (Logitech MK700/MK710 & MK705 - comes as a kit) with the wireless keyboard in my lap. I have the laptop on a wooden stand on my left-front, a 32-inch Sony LED TV directly in front of me on a coffe table, and a third monitor (Samsung 24") mounted on an arm that attaches to a similar wooden stand that I have the laptop sitting on to my right front (basically almost in front of the other seat, but, closer). I use the 32" TV that is enough in front of me that I can get the foot rest up when I want to (I often change from up to down from time to time; otherwise, legs get tired). The monitory on my right I can move the swing arm around as needed and out of the way when I get up and down. My wife can still sit next to me and read or mess with her phone or tablet and talk to me to a certain degree. It's the best set-up I've been able to find that allows me to work productively for long hours while minimizing eye-strain, neck strain, leg strain, etc. Hope this helps.
After three decades of programming from a chair, I switched to a stand-up desk this year. It is better for health, posture, and programming focus. It takes discipline but there is a payoff, especially for us older coders. I still do laptop coding around my family from comfy chairs, but I'm now upright for the hard-core office work.
2 to 5K for a CHAIR?
I could build a freaking Ferrari computer for that amount of money!
I'd recommend making a chair out of the corpses of your wife and kids, because I'll bet they wanna die.
Don't let the PHB see you in one or you may be let go.
The best way is to just space out at your desk.
is the most uncomfortable one you can find so you'll get your fat ass out of it as often as possible. It's a bit cliche, but I might
The best recliner is one that necessitates getting rid of the technology to let the wife and kids sit down *WITH* you - like a couch or sectional. If your family is anything like a priority, you'll realize that coding in your time off is nothing but a sign of shitty management. That's not relaxation, it workaholism, and it *WILL* alienate your family and kill you if you don't figure it out and get it under control - before the kids are old enough to start resenting you.
That said, I do pick up the laptop on the couch when I'm trying to manage some of my personal business, but with kids trying to get cozy on my shoulder or under my arm, that never lasts - they're more important, and showing them so is critical if I don't want to lose them once I finally have time to actually put them before everything else instead of spending all my time trying to feed, clothe, and educate them.
Set priorities, and be brutally honest about it. It hurst like a mother at first, but trust me, it gets easier and more relaxing - and enjoyable.
This isn't for office work; I have a normal desk and a treadmill desk for that.
Seriously? One can't possibly work enough? Take the time and spend it with your family. One of our least-noticed non-renewable resources is time. Use it wisely.
I put together a good setup a couple years ago and am still using it daily today: I'm using dual 22" monitors with it.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/cordesj/14742829528/
I work from home, and have been using a recliner as my only "desk" for about 6 years and have the following to share ...
- My recliner is a La-Z-Boy. Can't remember the model since it is has been many years, but it is not something fancy. I tried leather for a little while, but it can be sweaty and sensitive to even your finger nails. So I have been using fabric.
- If you recliner has a wall behind it, then move it away from the wall a bit so it can recline back.
- Your LEGS (calves and feet) will feel better on a recliner.
- Use a pillow or something to support your NECK. It will feel better.
- Watch for your BACK. Put a stiff-ish wide pillow below you if you feel like you bottom is sinking in the chair. Also, put another stiff-ish wide pillow behind your lower back. Experiment with different pillows until you find the right combination.
- Avoid any FANCY back support that curves your spine too much. These are the most common ones on the market in my experience. This includes the wire frame lumbar support mesh thingies (they aerate well, but will hurt your back because of too much spine curvature), or those cylinder shaped hard pillows.
- Use a LAPDESK (those foam filled sacks with a vinyl covered plywood surface).
- Get a table that is level with the arm rests beside you so you can easily sip your beverage of choice, and have some handy items too (pens, paper, mobile phone, ...etc.)
- You will be absorbed in whatever you are doing, so interaction with the wife and kids will be mostly "huh? what did you say?" or "later, I am focusing on something else here" ... Not quality time ...
2bits.com, Inc: Drupal, WordPress, and LAMP performance tuning.
If you have an unlimited budget then you might consider one of these...
http://www.ekornes.com/us/stressless-recliners
Awesome chairs and if you poke around on the site you will find a laptop-specific table.
Right and then I invent the code that stoped your popups for a month, until you invented the code that still popsup and so on, you were not sorry then, you are not sorry now, so shut up.
No real programmer uses a mac!
If you make it too comfortable to be sedentary for long periods of time, you'll need to find ways to balance yourself with appropriate exercise. Too much comfort (or too much of anything) can be bad. It's all about the balance.
Back exercise helps you in several ways: makes sleep more comfortable, makes it easier to have good posture, prevents you from hurting yourself when lifting/pushing things, and generally keeps you from deteriorating faster than you ought to.
(I can't say enough about good posture, either: it helps you breath better, and it looks so much more attractive than most alternatives.)
I'm one of those coders who tends to relax
Of those coders who tends to relax, he is one?
Maybe instead he should retire?
2 to 5K for a COMPUTER?
I could go on freaking holiday for that amount of money.
Isn't it odd how different things can cost the same amount?
If you're going to spend time with your family, spend it *with* them!
Dad sitting around with his head in a screen and clacking away on the keyboard is *not* "spending time with your family."
Aside from that, you'd be far more productive to spend, say, 7-9 with the family while the kids are up and then focus on work for another couple of hours before going to bed. Interrupted work is not productive work; you're just putting in time and fooling yourself that you're "productive".
I do not fail; I succeed at finding out what does not work.
Then devote your full attention to your family, you fucking monkey.
I used to sit on the couch all the time, a boring old ikea three-seater, feet on the lounge table, something picked up from the street. Either with a thinkpad on my lap (trackpoint!), or with a (basic, wired, cherry) keyboard instead, monitor again on the lounge table, and (wired, three button no wheel, ball) mouse on a mouse pad next to me. I tend to use lots of 80x40 xterms and a wm with hotkey support, so I rarely need the mouse anyway.
Then again you probably could just do what they used to do before the telly: Sit at the dinner table, as everyone else would be doing exactly that too, doing homework, embroidery, reading, what-have-you. Or even add a simple chair and small work table in a strategic position to the living room. You don't want something too big and present anyway, as it's not about you, it's about you being in close proximity to the rest of the family. Even if you're working you need to fit together somehow.
If you've ever visited a hospital you've seen these chairs. Sit in one and you'll realize they are the BEST RECLINERS EVHAR! And it comes with a fold away table
http://www.hill-rom.com/usa/Products/Category/Furniture/Recliners/Three-Position-Recliner/
I use a recliner as a workstation.
I paid a premium to buy a recliner at a local furniture store so that I could be sure it was comfortable and fit me well. I did indeed find one that felt better than all the others, but what I did not realize at the time is that the back and head cushions mean that my head is tilted forward, meaning that when I sit there I breathe shallowly and have difficulty swallowing or allowing air back out without extra effort.
It was very subtle, but it has had a very large impact on me. Be careful.
Also, make sure to avoid fake leather. My old fake leather recliner gave me a rash after extended contact.
I had a completely custom high-back executive chair with drop-on brackets for notebook, cup holder and trackball on the arms, fitted speakers (5 point surround)... the seat was so deep I often found myself waking up in it, and I never once kicked the laptop off.
Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
... an airdesk
http://www.airdesks.com/
I have had one of these for about four months now, and I love it.
I am no way affiliated with airdesks.com. Just a satisfied customer
I had a similar idea and ended up with this setup:
The recliner has a little space between the bottom of it and the floor so I can move the medical stand with the monitor on it in front of me at a fairly close distance. I can also recline the chair with the monitor in front of me and easily swing the stand out of the way with minimal effort. I place the wireless keyboard on my lap and use the mouse on the medical stand. I am a tall person with a long reach so this may not work for others. After almost two years of use I have had no ergonomic issues. I can move the monitor slightly off center so that I can double task and code while casually observing a tv show or movie with my wife. It has worked out very well for me and the complaints from my wife about me working too much have diminished significantly.
If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be-T J
Due to a disabled partner i've had to work from the living room Lay-z-boy a fair amount. They don't make the model we have any more (pity), the closest now looks to be The Carlyle Low Recliner/. Get a board that spans the arms and is deep enough, makes a fine desk to hold a laptop, though you will need to hold up your arms a bit maybe. Workout while you code.
FYI if you run into back issues or just want to relax even more get a LapDawg X4 and set it up to hold your laptop above your chest at an angle while lying on the floor, with a pillow behind your head. Best to have an Ottoman to prop up the feet. Worked great when I was recovering from a bulging lumbar disc and been great to stop that from coming back.
Throw the food directly in the toilet. Cut out the middle man.
Really you don't want a recliner. What you want is a tilt back chair and an ottoman.
The reason is that it is impossible to properly build a recliner with a good frame and spring structure. The reclining mechanism forces too many compromises to the structure of the chair. The result is the structure just doesn't provide the same support or durability that a proper chair does.
As far as suppliers, it's hard to argue with the quality of Hancock and Moore. Really first rate stuff.
Keep the comfortable recliner and find a breakfast tray that fits between or on top of the armrests.
have your mom move it downstairs for you.
I find ergonomic chairs to be the very most important issue in the entire panoply of tech issues.
YMMV, but A.C.s suck, with their ill-considered comments, don't they?
They feared that it could be used to suppress protest or support unpopular rule.
Good job, dumbass. One is the subject. One tends... "of those coders" is the description. I. Shit man, complain about something real.
I attached a monitor stand to my bed, a few pillows and I'm good to go :)
back in the 80s I had one, roommate rigged up a big monitor for the S-100 dev system (later a PC) on an arm over it. Wonderful.
One of the most comfortable recliners ever. Had to rebraze the base a couple times over the last 25 years. Had to finally get rid of it to maintain familial harmony.
This is one of the most comfy chairs I own, reproductions are affordable, and they are gorgeous. The recline is comfortable while still allowing non-desk work (the Eames is *too* reclined for my taste), the arms are wide enough to curl up in, and the back is high enough to support your head. Many reproductions allow adjusting the recline tension.
You'll need to supply your own power and a stand for the laptop.
I have an Ekornes Stressless Recliner that I use in conjunction with a laptop table I purchased at Staples.
The Stressless chair is expensive (about $2,000 US) but in the case of chairs you get what you pay for. In my case high build quality, top grade leather, and a very comfortable working environment. I was reluctant to spend this much on a chair, but I decided that I spend enough time in it to warrant getting a chair that would still be comfortable even after several years of heavy use.
As far as the laptop table is concerned get one with wheels that also has a top divided into two sections, one the tilts and one the remains horizontal.
I've been thinking about going a bit more horizontal a la http://www.via.fr/agora-produi...
Having your back completely horizontal with your legs raised (with much of your weight supported at the knees) may be much better but more difficult to climb into. This is a position I was advised to use by a back consultant after damaging my back and I found it extremely helpful.
For about 12 years, I've used a stand-up desk and high sloped stool because it compels me to move around if I get uncomfortable from standing in a bad posture.
my work to where I am still around my wife and children so that I can still interact with them and be with my family, but still hit my deadlines
If you want to be with your family, be with your family. Read a book to your children. Play a game. Do something with them.
So... just what kind of interaction are you going to have with your "wife and children" while you're working on a deadline sitting in your recliner? Maybe this will help you more than a recliner: https://www.lifesizecustomcutouts.com/CustomCardboardCutout.
When I want to spend time with my family or my friends, I make it a point to leave my ipad turned off, my smart phone in my pocket, and my laptop closed. If I get a phone call I need to take, I excuse myself and go take the call and come back when I'm done. I find it pretty rude to "spend time" with anyone whose attention isn't there; if I'm putting my tasks and goals aside to spend time with people, I expect them to do the same for me.
And when I need to get work done, I focus on that.
Oh well... at least you've got the whole proximity thing going for you.
Get a Lafuma (or knock off) zero gravity lawn chair, shouldn't be more than $100. Then get a 36"x18" shelf plank from Home Depot. It's light and portable enough you can put it wherever the family is, inside or outside. You can work sitting up or reclining.
The Ikea Poang chair is available in rocking and non-rocking (but still sorta springy) versions.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/living_room/16239/
Unbelievably comfortable and holds up well.