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Kronos Lift Desk keeps your workspace organized at any height

The Kronos 6752 Lift Desk from BDI allows you to sit or stand, just as you’d expect from an adjustable-height desk. Kronos is a little different from other standing desks I’ve seen, though, because it adds a shelf to keep your desktop organized.  And its motorized adjustment makes going from standing to sitting and back again as easy as pressing a single button.

The desk is made of powder-coated steel, high-pressure laminate, and walnut veneers.  Work surfaces are smooth and durable.  In addition to the shelf, there’s a flip-down keyboard and storage drawer that’s lined to keep contents secure.  The workspace measures 61.75″ wide x 30.75″ deep; height adjusts from 29″ to 54″ tall.

Height adjustment is simple with the electronically-powered leg system that’s controlled with the digital keypad.  The keypad is programmable with four user-defined presets.  Built-in wire management channels and a “modesty panel” on the back conceal wiring to keep your workspace neat and uncluttered.

Kronos is available in white and natural walnut only.  BDI also offers a matching mobile credenza and multi-function cabinet to complete your office.

The BDI website can help you find a local retailer, or you can purchase BDI products from online retailers.  One online retailer offering the BDI Kronos 6752 Lift Desk is the Modern Essentials website, where it’s available for $1999.00.

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Kronos Lift Desk keeps your workspace organized at any height originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 2, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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FluidStance Bamboo Level balance board review

Standing Desks are everywhere nowadays. So, once you’re no longer seated, what do you use to keep your feet occupied and in motion while you’re just standing there? One suggestion is a balance or wobble board. We were sent one from FluidStance, their Level model in cast aluminum and bamboo, to test in the Gadgeteer way. I’ve been using it for a few weeks now and here’s what I have found.

Note: Photos may be tapped or clicked for a larger image.

What is it?

The Level is a beautiful Bamboo (also available in Dark Walnut and Natural Maple) deck mounted to a solid cast aluminum framework that allows you to stand, rock, pivot, and in general keep moving while in a standing position. Made from quality materials with a conservative modern design, it will fit into any office or home environment where a standing desk is in use.

Hardware specs

From the website:

  • 26.5″ long x 12.2″ wide x 2.5″ tall
  • Approximate weight: 7lbs, 12oz
  • Designed for use under 250 pounds
  • Ships in 1-2 business days

Design and features

The idea behind balance boards is that while standing, your feet will be happier with constant small movements, to keep the blood flowing. Your calves, ankles, and toes will all get a workout, and your core muscles will be engaged. This dramatically ramps up the health benefits of just standing versus sitting. Think of it as skateboarding, but without going anywhere. I’ve seen balance boards in materials from high-end laminated woods and exotic hardwoods all the way to cheap plastics. A work colleague recently had her 2-year-old get one as a birthday gift in plastic with decals and eye-popping colors. Another model had a ball-in-slot maze, where your challenge is to move the trapped ball from one part of the maze to another by changing your balance. (Think of it as a Labyrinth game that you play with your feet and shifting body weight instead of two knobs.) It’s all about moving.

The Level is FluidStance’s second tier product, but it’s far from a cheap-o board. The cast aluminum .19” military-grade aluminum frame raises the bamboo deck off the floor about 2.5”, and is designed for folks under 250 pounds. At 7.75 pounds, it’s not something that will slide out from under you, and it’s not going to crack or fall apart in normal use.

I used it for a day or two at home, just to see if I was going to survive using it. (At my age, that’s the first criteria! Note warning in the photo above.) I dropped it off at my office over a weekend and started using it there on Monday. My office is equipped with sit-stand adjustable desks throughout. Many folks spend all or part of their workday standing, so I was not sticking out by elevating my desk. I used it for 30 minutes or so, and then took it down to a sitting level. My legs felt good like I’d just done a quick run or ride, rather than the usual stand. I stood and used the Level a few more times that day, and have been using it more and more since.

I’m up to about 4 20-30 minute sessions a day now and find that a good place. Since most of my work is phone calls from customers, it’s not necessary for me to be perfectly still, and the note-taking/typing I do while on calls if not hindered by moving around. I did move my standing setting up a few inches to take into account the height of the deck. (There are 4 saved settings I can use, but it is fully adjustable across a huge range. I use heights from 27” – 43”.)

As soon as someone walked by and saw my feet and legs going, however, they were intrigued. I’ve loaned it out to several folks in the office, and they all really enjoy using it. (Note the variety of feet in the photos!) My boss even brought in one she had found at a discount store made of plastic. It’s not nearly as heavy or stable as the Level but still gives you a workout.

What I Like

  • Well designed and crafted from quality materials
  • Gives your legs and core muscles something to do while standing.
  • Conservative but modern design fits in with any office decor.

What needs to be improved

  • I really couldn’t think of anything, except maybe a chain lock to keep coworkers from borrowing it and not returning it!

Final thoughts

If you’re someone who chaffs at having to be sitting or standing at a desk while doing work to pay the bills, this may keep the fidgets under control. If you’re a more sedentary person, who needs to move a little or a lot more for your health, this may be the best thing you can get. It’s a bit of an investment, so you may want to try a less expensive model at first, or you may want to take the leap and use your financial investment to force yourself to use it more. However you decide to use it, you’ll probably enjoy it, and benefit from it.

Price: $389.00
Where to buy: FluidStance
Source: The sample of this product was provided by FluidStance.

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FluidStance Bamboo Level balance board review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 21, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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This standing desk uses witchcraft to fit in your gear bag

For years now we’ve all been hearing that sitting all day long is as bad as smoking cigarettes when it comes to your health. To help combat this issue, standing desks have become a popular office accessory. Standing desks perform as you would imagine, they make you stand up to use your computer. They are a great idea but are portable, so you can’t take them with you where ever you go… until now.

The Flat Folding Portable Standing Desk from Brando is a uniquely designed standing desk that you can take anywhere you go. This platform is available in four sizes and is made of a water-repellant material. It folds flat to easily stow in your bag, but pop open when you need to use it. The desk can hold up to 22 lbs! The Flat Folding desk is priced at $49 for the smallest size, up to $67 for the extra large desk. For more info visit usb.brando.com

Ergotron WorkFit-Z Mini Sit-Stand Desktop review

So you’re thinking about the benefits of a standing desk, but it just doesn’t fit into your workspace plans. Maybe you don’t have even have a traditional desk! Here’s where products like the WorkFit-Z come in. It’s a stand that converts any work surface into a adjustable sitting/standing desk. This particular model is designed for organizing yourself in compact spaces. Let’s check it out!

What is it?

The Ergotron WorkFit-Z Mini is a stand that converts your existing workspace into a height-adjustable standing desk.

Hardware specs

  • Footprint = 31″ x 21″ (79 x 53 cm)
  • Fits on desk surfaces 22″ (56 cm) deep or larger
  • Work surface dimensions = 31” by 15.8”  (78.6 x 40.2 cm)
  • Keyboard tray dimensions = 24.5″ x 9.1″ (62 x 23 cm)
  • Device slot dimensions = 11″ x 1.8″ x 1.1″ (28 x 4.5 x 2.8 cm)
  • Range of motion = 12.5” (31.7 cm)
  • Product Weight: 32 lbs (14.5 kg)
  • Total height in “low position” = 5.4” (14 cm)
  • Total height in “high position” = 17.9” (45.5 cm)
  • Maximum load capacity = 25 lbs (11.3 kg)

What’s in the box?

  • 1 work stand, fully assembled
  • 2 leg covers
  • A couple of zip ties for managing cables

Design and features

Construction and Setup

The Ergotron WorkFit-Z Mini is a surprisingly hefty beast, weighing in at a 32 pounds due to its tank-like construction. A beefy metal frame, thick composite surfaces, and what feels like commercial-grade hardware makes for a solid, stable stand for your precious electronics. Corners, edges, and finishing are all nicely executed with an elegant grey wood grain finish on the work surfaces. It’s a well-built piece of gear that will look great in either your home office, your home project area, or your corporate environs.

You can also leave the tools in the drawer because the Ergotron WorkFit-Z Mini comes fully assembled out of the box. The only required setup is to attach the two plastic covers to the “feet” of the stand with peel-off adhesive pads. Cut loose the packing straps, and you’re good to go. From unboxing to setting my gear, we were up and running in my office in under 10 minutes.

Layout and Functionality

As the smallest stand in the Ergotron lineup, the two-tiered design of the WorkFit-Z measures in at a space-friendly footprint of 31” wide by 24” deep. The top tier of your monitor and laptop measures 31” by 15.8”, and includes a clever 11” by 1.8” device slot to cradle your tablet and smartphone. The lower tier is an offset 24.5” by 9.1” dedicated tray for your keyboard and mouse. It’s a compact setup, but it does a nice job of organizing all of your work essentials in a small space.

At the lowest setting, the keyboard tray is flush with your desktop and the top surface sits at an ergonomically-friendly 4.3” above the keyboard tray. Squeeze a handle on the right side of the unit to release the brake, and lift (or lower) the unit to the desired height. Movement is smooth and linear and can be set to any position up to 12.5” above the desktop surface for standing operation. It should be noted that the keyboard tray is locked in position relative to the top surface with no additional adjustments.

Finally, the Ergotron WorkFit-Z Mini employs some nice little additions to manage cables. The desktop tray includes a pair of holes in the rear panel if you’re still using a wired keyboard and mouse. The device slot also includes a bottom port through which you can thread your charging cables. This allows you to run all of your cables behind the unit, keeping them out of the way of normal operation.

Performance

The Ergotron WorkFit-Z Mini does a great job fulfilling its mission as an accessory that turns your existing workspace into a convertible sitting/standing desk. Given the small footprint, you can use it in a variety of spaces: your office desk, a countertop, a built-in computer alcove, etc. It also looks great, so you won’t mind having it on display in high-traffic areas. 

We tested the stand with two configurations, as you can see from the pictures: a 21.5″ iMac with wireless keyboard/mouse, and a Windows-based setup with a 24″ monitor, wired accessories, a Chromebook, and an iPhone. I also tested the iMac with my 13″ MacBook to test the sizing.

For a compact footprint, the Workfit-Z offers a surprising amount of room for all of our gear. You can fit a monitor and laptop on the work surface with room to spare for your small devices. After testing both configurations with the help of my son, we found that there is plenty of room to work without feeling cramped. Ergotron does offer larger models if you need more space to stretch out for dual-monitor setups or larger pieces of equipment, so you’ll want to do some checking before you settle on this particular stand.

The dedicated keyboard tray does have its pros and cons. It’s not designed to handle a full-size keyboard and mouse but works just fine with the compact keyboard/mouse setup you see in the pictures. It’s also not adjustable and can’t be tucked out of the way, so using the laptop without external accessories can get a bit awkward for extended use. Depending on your personal preferences this may or may not be an issue for you.

The manual lifting/lowering operation is very smooth and works well. The unit is rated at a maximum load of 25 pounds, so you won’t need your big muscles to operate the device. We did find it easier to raise & lower the stand with two hands if it was loaded up, but it’s not a big problem.

I’m extremely impressed with the overall build of the Workfit-Z. It’s a rock-solid stand that’s extremely stable at any height without a wobble to be found. It is so well planted that I have no concerns about the safety of my gear toppling over. I’m also confident that the frame, surfaces, and hardware will last for years without failing. It’s that good.

What I like

  • Compact, organized profile for small workspaces
  • Rock solid, stable construction
  • Looks good enough for the home or professional office
  • Smooth operation
  • No assembly required

What needs to be improved

  • Doesn’t fit a full-size keyboard and mouse; check your gear dimensions first
  • Not ideal for dedicated laptop use over extended periods due to the dedicated keyboard/mouse tray; you’ll be more comfortable using an external keyboard/mouse

Final thoughts

The Ergotron WorkFit-Z Mini is a great solution for converting an existing workspace to a convertible sitting/standing desk. In scanning comparable products, it looks like the $250 price point is in alignment with similar products on the higher end of build quality. I’m OK with the price-to-value ratio here. A desk is a solid investment that gets daily use, so you want to make sure that your solution is solid and safe for your precious electronics. The WorkFit-Z scores on both counts. It’s also got a two-year warranty, which adds a level of confidence to your investment.

My only two caveats about this product are related to your intended use. Depending on your working style, the keyboard tray may get in the way of extended laptop use. It is also the smallest desktop converter in their lineup, so you should evaluate your gear needs (and take some measurements) to ensure that this model would work for you. Other than those two items, I would highly recommend this product.

Price: $249.99
Where to buy: Visit the Ergotron WorkFit-Z page for purchasing information, or check out their store on .
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Ergotron.

 

Flexispot all in one Deskcise Pro desk bike review

Did you succumb to the recent trend and buy a standing desk or are you still slouching in a chair behind your computer all day? I had a standing desk for a short time but just couldn’t learn to love it, so I gave it away and went back to slouching behind my computer all day at work and then going home and doing the same.

When the folks at Flexispot contacted me to see if I would be interested in giving their all in one Deskcise Pro desk bike a try, I was curious and said yes.

What is it?

The Flexispot all in one Deskcise Pro desk bike is a small low impact exercise bike with a built-in platform for a laptop that has been designed for people between 5’1″ and 6’2″

Product specs

Desktop size: 19.6″ x 22.8″
Bike size: 36″ x 22.8″ x 43.3″- 49″
Height adjustable seat range: 30.7″ – 38.1″
8 level magnetic tension resistance
Weight capacity: 300 lbs

Design and features

The Flexispot is made of white plastic and metal and is compact enough to fit in even small homes. It arrives assembled except for attaching the desktop which requires no tools to attach.

As mentioned in the product specs, the Flexispot is designed for people between 5’1″ and 6’2″. I am 5’6″, so I had no trouble adjusting the height of the desktop to accommodate me.

To adjust the height level of the desktop, you just press the lever on the side of the desk and lift upwards or press downwards till the height is where you like it. Then you let go of the lever to lock the placement.

A lever on the opposite side of the desktop allows you to slide the desktop forwards or backward to bring the platform closer or farther away from you. You can even pull the desktop back as far as it will go and then stand behind the seat to use the Flexispot as a standing desk.

You can do the same with the padded seat to raise and lower it.

The Flexispot has hard rubber pedals that work well when you are wearing shoes. FYI, I find it a little amusing that the pedals have reflectors on them considering you won’t be riding this “vehicle” on the roads.

If you want to ride the Flexispot without shoes, soft rubber covers are included to make riding more comfortable.

You’ll also notice that the Flexispot has caster wheels. This makes it easy to move the desk bike where ever you want to place it. The wheels also lock in place when you’re on the bike so that it won’t move while you’re getting your exercise.

The all in one Deskcise Pro has a large knob that you use to adjust the magnetic tension resistance. There are 8 adjustable settings to choose from so you set things up to be easy or challenging.

An LCD display above the knob will show workout time, pedal revolutions, distance, calories burned and speed. A button below the display is used to cycle through each of the readouts.

There’s even a built-in cup holder so you can stay hydrated during your bike desk sessions.

The desk platform is large enough for magazines, books, tablets, and laptops, and has a padded wrist rest for comfort.

Let’s go for a spin!

When I first jumped on the Flexispot, I thought that pumping my legs while trying to do work on my computer or reading a magazine would be really distracting. It was a little distracting at first, but after a few minutes, I forgot all about the fact that I was riding a “bike” and zoned out on what I was doing with my eyes and brain.


Before I knew it, 20 minutes passed by and I’d “traveled” a couple miles. I was surprised and felt good about myself because I was actually moving parts of my body that are usually sitting still while I surf and read. Getting a little extra movement without really trying is pretty cool.

The Flexispot seat is padded and pretty comfortable, but I did notice my rear end getting a little sore after using the bike for an extended time. I don’t have a lot of padding back there, so I have comfort problems with most bicycle seats but thought I should still mention it.

I like that the Flexispot comes 99% assembled and that it’s easy to adjust and use. There’s no thick manual to read. You just get on and ride.

I also like that the desk bike is small and that it doesn’t make a lot of noise while you’re pedaling it to bother other people in the room.

One thing that I’d like to see added to a future version is a tilt feature added to the desktop platform to make it easier to read or watch videos on a tablet without needing a separate stand.

Positives

  • Comes assembled
  • Small and compact
  • Doesn’t make much noise

Negatives

  • Expensive
  • Desk platform doesn’t tilt

Price: $499.99
Where to buy: Amazon

Final thoughts

We all know that it’s not good for our health to sit for hours at a time. Finding easy ways to add movement while still doing the activities that we like and need to do on a daily basis can be a challenge but the Flexispot all in one Deskcise Pro makes it easy and fun to go from sitting to low impact exercising with minimal effort.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Flexispot. Please visit their site for more info.