Ergonomic Multi-Shift Workstation Chairs: Sit and Work Longer with Fewer Aches, Kinks and Creaks
There was a time in the not-too-distant past when I split my days between slinging cappuccinos and hauling my rear end around campus with many, many pounds of textbooks strapped to my back. With all that time spent either standing behind an espresso bar or hiking around a university that seems to have been intentionally designed with inconvenient parking, I was in pretty decent shape, and felt exactly as a whippersnapper should: healthy and ache-free.
Then they handed me a diploma, at which point I traded my green apron in, and took a job that I continue to hold to this day: writing. Aside from thinking up pretty words and typing them out on my laptop, the other mainstay of this career is sitting. A lot. Sure, I hit the gym regularly, and I’m nowhere even near middle age, but I have to tell you: all of this chair time has made me feel like I’m falling apart. Aches, stiff muscles… I’m a groaning wreck. I’m thinking I should snag one of Middle Atlantic‘s new ergonomic, multi-shift workstation chairs.
These things look awesome. I’m not someone who’s remotely excited at the prospect of office furniture, but the features of these chairs made me rethink my standpoint on the stuff. They’re adjustable in pretty much every way possible (seat height, armrest position, and degree of recline), and are made out of the good stuff, like mesh and the lovely-sounding Technogel cushions (I imagine that would be like sitting on a body-sized gel insole). Lumbar support, high-tech weight balance, everything you dream of. These chairs are not for people at risk of falling asleep on the job.
The reason why these chair are so comfortably designed is that they’re intended for people who need to be pretty much glued to them once they punch in for the day. Security personnel at command/monitoring desks, programmers… writers… you get the idea. Longer on hours, shorter on aches – not a bad day’s work.
Dasco Media Storage Cabinets: Perfectly Customizable, Functional and Secure Storage
Filed under: Desks and Workstations, Server Racks and Enclosures
So, I saw the name “Dasco Media Storage Cabinet,” and I automatically got presumptuous and assumed that this one was like all the others: a plain metal cabinet used to put things like CDs, DVDs and licensed software under lockdown. Then I dug a bit deeper, and when I saw what this cabinet is truly capable of, I began to remember the old adage that says that “when you assume, you make an *ss out of u and me.”
Needless to say, I was wrong. This wasn’t any ordinary storage cabinet. It was a treasure trove of storage possibilities. From the outside, it doesn’t look like anything particularly special, but thanks to all of the optional accessories you can choose from to accompany it, it can be turned into an ultra-custom dream cabinet. Want to store CDs and DVDs? No problem – there are special dividers designed just for that. Need to hang files and store binders? Easy – there are special drawers and compartments for that too. But I think my absolute favorite would have to be the mail cubbies, so that you can sort and store mail for a bunch of people at once. I’m not so sure why I like those so much, but I think it might be because they remind me of Fawlty Towers, with John Cleese flipping out in front of the hotel’s front desk mail compartments.
Sorry, we’re talking multimedia storage, not BBC classics. Anyway, the whole concept is that you order the basic cabinet, and then treat it like a blank canvas, customizing it with whatever floats your boat. And then it’s beautiful, organized storage galore – under lock and key anytime you choose. Who knew that mere office storage could be this good?
The Cable Corral: Forget About Cattle – What Really Need Wrangling Are Your Computer Cables
Filed under: Cable and Wire Storage, Desk Cable Organizers, Desks and Workstations
Ah, under-desk cable managers. I’ve always like them in concept, but it seems like they’ve missed the mark (just a little) in one way or another every time I’ve tried to put them into action. There was one where I just couldn’t get the finished product to look anywhere near as neat and attractive under my desk as it did in the picture on the box, and there was another one that looked terrific once installed, but had a very easy to move lid that couldn’t stand up to my accidental kicks and knee-bumps. Since then, I’ve pretty much relegated myself to tried-and-true wire loom, cable ties and adhesive cord clips. But I just met a new under-desk organizer, and I think that I may finally be ready to cable manage again.
The new cord tamer in my life is named the Cable Corral, and I love it for its simplicity. It’s basically just a steel basket that mounts to the underside of your desktop, giving you a place to stash power strips, peripherals and long cables out of sight – without affecting your connectivity. This is great for antsy desk-dwellers like me, who need to frequently stretch their legs below-desk throughout the day to avoid both muscle atrophy and general insanity. It’s always nice to be able to do this without getting a foot caught in a pile of cable slack, or accidentally kicking a power supply.
And installation is so easy – the Cable Corral screws right into the underside of your desk, and then you just pile in everything you want to keep clear of the floor and out of sight. No need to precisely bundle or wind cords, no cover malfunctions – just stash your stuff, and let your feet enjoy the newfound wide open roaming space where there was none before.
Crossbar Mounting System: There Should Always Be Room for You at Your Desk
Filed under: Desk Cable Organizers, Desks and Workstations
Ever think about how much junk it takes to be “efficient?” Let’s see… you’ve got multiple computer monitors, a keyboard, a mouse, a phone, a cell phone, designated “in” and “out” boxes (maybe more if you’re super “organized”), office supplies, peripherals, and of course, a nice big bucket of coffee to give you enough energy to try and work around all of that space-eating stuff. Call me old-fashioned, but as soon a you can’t rest your elbows on your desk because there are too many business tools in your way, there’s a problem.
Whatever happened to the days when you could prop a book on your desktop if you needed to, or maybe a stack of papers that needed perusing? When you could find a clear spot on your worksurface where you could set down and actually sign an expense report, without your pen running off the edge? They may feel long gone, but you’re about to get them back, compliments of the Crossbar Mounting System.The Crossbar is an extremely cool workspace accessory that mounts right onto the back of your desk, and gives you a strong, elevated horizontal bar on which to mount everything that’s been cramping your work style. Flat-panel computer monitors, small peripherals, even mail trays and organizers – they can all be made to hover gracefully above your work surface, instead of hogging it and making things cluttered.
The Crossbar Mounting System is made of sleek, shiny aluminum and steel, so it’s a great modern-looking complement to flat panel monitors and other office tech. Once it’s installed and everything is attached, all of your work accessories are located at eye level, right in front of you, so you can see everything at a glance, and still have plenty of free desktop space to actually make yourself comfortable and get things done.
BlueLounge StudioDesk
Filed under: Desk Cable Organizers, Desks and Workstations
For the past year and a half, I’ve been pretty happy with my IKEA computer desk – it was cheap, looks reasonably good, and accommodates my desktop without eating up too much space. But just last week, satisfaction more or less flew out the window when I took my first gander at BlueLounge’s StudioDesk. Never mind that I don’t currently own a laptop, or that the StudioDesk costs several times what my little IKEA number did – I want one. Why the workstation envy? My avarice is founded on 3 different reasons, namely:
Mahogany. That’s right – this baby may be part white laminate, but I’m happy to say that all the important details are done in real, gorgeous mahogany. Legs, trim, grommet edging – you name it. This could be my ticket out of particle board prison!
The built-in faux leather laptop pad. Yes, it may be fake, but it’s also kind of chic, and does the very important job of keeping your laptop from sliding all over the place. Besides, wouldn’t you rather rest your wrists on a soft surface instead of cold, hard desktop?
The lack of visual cables. This is the part where I tell you that the faux leather laptop pad actually covers a slide-out tray that conceals the most magical part of the desk – a built-in cable management compartment. This secret hideaway has plenty of room to fit power strips, USB hubs, and even excess wiring, so instead of looking at multiple cords traveling around your desktop and stretching to wall outlets, you’ll only get an eyeful of clean lines and beautiful, clutter-free minimalism.
Well, I think you’ll find that my greed is justified. And now if you’ll excuse me, I have to shop for a laptop, and possibly a brick-walled downtown loft apartment. I think my future StudioDesk would look outstanding in one of those.
