Desk – SoFun

Well Desk Double Monitor standing desk review

REVIEW – I don’t know about you but I have seen a great influx in the number of convertible and standing desks at my office. This got me thinking. I wonder if I would like something like this? Julie offered to let me review the Double Monitor standing desk from Well Desk. Let’s dive into it and see what we think.

What is it?

The Well Desk is standing desk that is designed to help you be more ergonomic and burn more calories at work by standing. This desk like the name implies is made to hold 2 monitors for double duty while working. The desk is designed to be easy to assemble and to be fully adjustable.

Design and assembly

In the box were the 4 pieces that make up that standing desk. Each was packed without any wrapping around them but none of my pieces had any damage. The biggest piece is the back of the desk which is made up of 3 pieces that are already assembled using screws and hinges. The entire desk is made out of Baltic Birch plywood and is really a high grade of plywood if you ask me. In fact, a colleague of mine asked where I got the plywood to make it because he wanted to make something with such nice plywood.

The first step in the easy assembly process is to add the rear monitor guard to the main legs of the desk. This will keep your monitors from falling off the back of the desk. Yeah, probably a pretty good thing! I would hate to lose a 24in monitor! Really, I would hate to have to explain to my boss why I need a new monitor!

The next step is to add the monitor and keyboard shelves and you are good to go! Then the fun part starts when you put your desk back together again. I think that it took all of 2 minutes to put together the Well Desk and that is probably a pretty long estimate.

This is one of the setups that I had using the desk. I tried several different setups to see what I might like better. The two monitors on the top are 24-inch monitors and they fit well with only about an inch of each base sticking over the end of the monitor. Not enough to really worry about them falling off. I like to have my monitors pointed in for a more immersive environment. You can see that in this picture my mouse and keyboard fit nicely on the keyboard shelf with plenty of room to spare. You might have a bigger keyboard but I went with a Logitech K780 that Julie reviewed and I now enjoy. Thanks, Julie!

In this picture, you can see the cord cutouts to run cables to cut down on the crazy wires going everywhere. This is a nice feature. I have been trying lately to get my wires tamed at my desk.

This picture gives you a feel for the thickness and quality of the plywood. It is made up of 1/2 in. thick plywood. This makes the unit very sturdy.

One of the neat features of the Double Monitor Well Desk is the mobile device slots on both the keyboard and the monitor shelves. The original model of the Well Desk does not come with these slots. I found it very useful for holding my phone throughout the day. They also have holes cut out so that you can charge you phone while it is in the slot. You can also see the keyboard and mouse cord cutouts in this shot but I use wireless so I had no need for them.

Standing vs. sitting

This is my original setup before I started reviewing the Well Desk. I had the three external monitors that I was using and then the laptop display as well. A lot of the time I found myself getting very tired in the afternoon.

This is me standing at the desk after it was all set up and after a little engineering of the Well Desk. Well not on the desk itself but the setup of the monitors that I was using. I did find that in the afternoons while I was standing I did not get as groggy and tired as I had when I was sitting all day.

The Well Desk is not designed for sitting, but…

After some thought, I figured out that even though the Well Desk is not designed to be a convertible desk why not try anyway! So low and behold you can fit a 27 in. monitor very nicely under the monitor stand on the top. This was my way to help with the transition to standing a lot of the time. One can never have 2 many monitors or in my case 3 monitors!

The shelves are easy to move and only take a few seconds to move. Because of the way the slots are cut they slide together easily without a lot of effort. I don’t think though that I would try moving the monitor shelf with two 24-inch monitors on the shelf. I have a feeling this might end badly!

What I like

Easy to Assemble
Very solid even with 2 heavy monitors on it
Quality materials

What needs to be improved

The corners of the shelves could be sharp depending on how you put your hand on them
For me being 6ft. 3in. tall, the top slot for the keyboard shelf was too short so I had to use the lowest slot for the monitor shelf which put me a little closer to the monitors than I would have liked

Final thoughts

The Double Monitor Well Desk is easy to put together and because it is not convertible, it is cheaper than most convertible desks. It is made of a high-quality plywood and seems like it will hold up very well. The desk is supposed to provide health benefits like burning more calories and reducing back pain. I would assume that this probably depends on the person using the device. I know for me, I started standing the majority of the day and ran into my back hurting but when I switched from sitting to standing throughout the day no problems. I have enjoyed using the Well Desk and will continue to use it at my office to see how it can help me long term. If you are looking to get a standing only desk then this would be a great and economical purchase. You might want to think about it more if you are needing a convertible desk.

Price: $179.99
Where to buy: Well Desk and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Well Desk.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Computer furniture, Desk, Office

Well Desk Double Monitor standing desk review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 24, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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iMovR ZipLift 42″ Standing Desk review

Get up outta your seat! Standing desks are all the rage for ergonomic workspaces, and convertible standing desks allow you to get healthy without buying a whole new office setup. The iMovR ZipLift Standing Desk we’re looking at is the 42″ wide model, which can handle 2 monitors and a laptop if you’re all tricked out. Let’s raise it up!

What is it?

It’s a desk converter that turns your work surface into a standing desk. It also includes a portable standing mat.

Hardware specs

Top Work Surface: 42″ W X 15.7″ D X .5″ H; maximum weight capacity 45 lbs plus 15 lbs counterbalance
Keyboard Tray: 26.4″ W X 13″ D X .5″ H; maximum weight capacity 5 lbs.
Base: 29.2″ W X 22.2″ D
Work Surface Maximum Height: 20 5/8″
Maximum Monitor Size: 2 x 27″
Grommet Hole Diameter: 2 inches
Keyboard Tilt: +10 degrees, -15 degrees
Unit Weight: 45 lbs.
Shipping Box Dimensions: 44″ W X 27.5″ D X 8″ H
Shipping Weight: 55 lbs.

What’s in the box?

A fully assembled ZipLift comes in the box, along with the standing mat.

Design and features

The ZipLift converts your existing desk into an adjustable standing desk. Place it on your desk, add your computing gear, and you can adjust the height for sitting or standing use. As we’ll see in a moment, the ZipLift incorporates a number of ergonomic & design details that separate it from the pack.

Size and stability tend to be the biggest problems with standing desks, and the ZipLift does a great job of addressing both of these issues. A wide, deep work surface allows plenty of room for dual 27” monitors and a laptop plus accessories. The beefy z-frame lift mechanism and heavy-duty construction can handle 45 pounds of gear, and is extremely stable at any height. It’s a solid piece of gear at a 45 pound net weight; fortunately, it comes pre-assembled and ready to go out of the box. Check out the burly construction under the hood:

I really like the design of the keyboard tray. The wide, deep tray space will accommodate extra-large keyboards plus a mouse, a feature that I don’t see in all the stands in this category.

Not only is it big, but the tray can be tilted up to 15 degrees up or down by loosening the adjustment handle. If you spend a lot of time on a standing desk, you quickly learn to appreciate this feature for comfortable ergonomics. Little adjustments make a big difference.

They keyboard tray also includes soft pads on the underside, so it doesn’t scratch up your work surface. A nice touch!

The lift mechanism is operated by squeezing the hand paddle to release the brake on the right-hand side of the desk. With a maximum height of 20 inches the desk will accommodate users up to 6’7” tall, and has an infinite level of height adjustments in between. A 15 pound counterbalance assists with raising the desk, which helps if your desk is fully loaded. The desk lift also brakes during lowering operations so that you don’t get any sudden jolts when you drop it to lower heights. Tracking is silky smooth (and quiet!) across the full range of motion, with no detectable wobble even at maximum height.

Here’s a comparison shot of the desk in the sitting and standing position, modeled by my 15 year old son. He’s 6′ tall, and I claim no responsibility for his fashion choices. He is a teenager, after all:

It’s important to note that the lift mechanism includes no additional power assist for raising operation. A 42” work space accommodates a lot of gear. While the 15 pound counterbalance helps, it still takes some effort to raise the desk if it’s fully loaded. You don’t need hulk-level strength to make it go, but you’ll want to consider your intended loadout if you have issues with this sort of thing.

You’ll also find some nice finishing touches in the ZipLift. The keyboard tray includes a couple of slots to wrangle your keyboard and mouse cables if you’re not wireless. There are also three ports in the top surface to organize your power chords and peripheral cables. All the edges are beveled and finished to eliminate sharp edges. The unit is also surprisingly lean and streamlined for such a beefy build. It all adds up to a nice package that, in addition to providing great ergonomics, makes your workspace a clean and organized place to spend your time.

As an additional bonus, ZipLift includes a standing mat with your purchase. The mat measures 18” by 24” and 3/4” thick, and includes a grab handle for portability. It’s a nice addition that adds comfort when standing for long periods of time, and saves you a few bucks in the process.

Speaking of pricing… the ZipLift is not cheap. The 35″ wide model starts at $350, while the 42″ wide model I’m testing comes in at $429 before adding any options (like monitor arms). There are a lot of options at this level including both motorized lift desk converters and full-size adjustable height desks. I think that the build quality and design is worth your consideration, but you’ll want to do a bit of comparison shopping before making the investment.

What I like

Huge work surface to handle two 27” monitors, a laptop, and accessories
Wide, deep, adjustable keyboard tray
Rock-solid construction with little or no wobble at any height
Multiple ports and slots to organize your cables
Smooth operation with a broad range of height adjustment
The inclusion of the standing mat is a great bonus item

What needs to be improved

Does require a little muscle to raise the desk if loaded to max capacity
Pricey for the category

Final thoughts

The iMovR ZipLift is a great all-around standing desk converter. Build quality is outstanding with excellent ergonomics, while the finishing details in the build (including the addition of the standing mat) make it a worthwhile lifetime investment. It is on the high end of the price scale, however, so you’ll want to make sure that you carefully consider your needs before purchasing.

Price: $369.00
Where to buy: You can purchase the ZipLift at iMovr’s web site. Also available on Amazon.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by iMovR.

The post iMovR ZipLift 42″ Standing Desk review appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Computer furniture, Desk

iMovR ZipLift 42″ Standing Desk review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 9, 2018 at 9:30 am.

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TaoTronics standing desk review

The TaoTronics Height-Adjustable Standing Desk provides great value in a space-saving vertical lift design. Whether you are looking for a boost in productivity or exploring the health benefits of standing, this desk will be a great addition to your home or office workspace.

What is it?

The TaoTronics Height-Adjustable Standing Desk is a pneumatic assisted standing desk converter that lifts and lowers smoothly to any position you need. Switching from sitting to standing is as easy as a press of a lever.

What’s in the box?

Standing desk
Keyboard shelf
Brackets, Screws and Hex Keys
User Guide

Design and features

The TaoTronics standing desk features a space-saving vertical lift design which doesn’t encroach on your floor space like some other designs that move outward when raised. Raising straight up above your normal workspace, it provides a compact and ergonomic workspace.

Supporting up to 80 lbs, the standing desk is strong enough for multiple monitors, speakers, and more. The desk also has a height range of up to 12 inches above your desk surface.

The desk’s upper surface footprint of 32 x 24 inches provides a lot of surface space for all the things you might want to have at eye level, However, this may also be a disadvantage for some people that may not have a desk that is very deep. The desk requires a 23 x 25 inch area to sit on, and the total area of the upper surface and the keyboard shelf is 32 x 33 inches.

The desk is operated by squeezing the levers on each side and pulling up or pushing down. This is somewhat of a disadvantage to an electrically operated desk, as it requires both hands to operate. The upside to this type of mechanism is that it’s much faster to operate than an electrical one.

The keyboard shelf is adjustable by simply turning a knob, and is also easily removable if you wish to use your keyboard on your desk surface or on the surface of the standing desk.

There’s also a slot in the upper desk surface, it’s for tablets and phones. That’s a pretty handy feature. There are no monitor arm mounting holes, but the frame design does allow for a clamp-style monitor arm on the back edge.

What I like

Large footprint
Option to easily remove the keyboard shelf
Tablet and phone slot
Beveled edges
Range of adjustment
80 lb capacity
Excellent height range
Ease of assembly
Sturdiness

What needs to be improved

Lift mechanism requires two hands to operate.
Sometimes sticks slightly when at the lowered position.
No monitor holes for a monitor arm.
No cable routing. You’re pretty much left to yourself on figuring out where to run the cables for your computer equipment. Although a few zip ties help, it would be nice if it included some kind of cable routing solution to both make it easier and neater.

Final thoughts

With the plethora of standing desks on the market today and the various designs and mechanisms they employ, you’ll probably want to do some research to see which one would best fit your needs. That being said, you’d probably be pretty happy with this one.

Price: $249.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by TaoTronics

The post TaoTronics standing desk review appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Computer furniture, Desk

TaoTronics standing desk review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 3, 2018 at 2:00 pm.

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Versadesk Power Pro standing desk review

Versadesk Power Pro standing desk is possibly one of the best standing desk converters on the market right now. Excelling in both features and quality, it certainly has a lot of “bang for the buck”.

What is it?

The Versadesk Power Pro standing desk is a standing desk converter that sits on top of your desk and provides a means of raising your work surface so that you can either sit or stand at your desk and work at your computer.

Unlike many other standing desk converters, it features an electric drive mechanism that raises and lowers it at the push of a button. This feature is slower than a manually operated desk but provides ease of use – especially for people with bad backs, such as myself.

What’s in the box?

Partially assembled desk
Assembly instructions and hardware

Design and features

The Versadesk Power Pro comes almost fully assembled, you simply install the keyboard shelf brackets with four screws, and then the keyboard shelf with another 4 screws. The main mechanism is already assembled.

From the start, I could tell that this is a well-built product. Both the fit and finish of the product exude quality. The work surface is basically the same material as a countertop, unlike some other brands that are simply painted wood.

The desk has three standard 2″ grommet holes that are compatible with most universal monitor mounts, and can also be used to neatly route wiring for anything that’s on the top. The grommet holes have plugs, so things won’t fall through if you’re not utilizing them.

The first thing I noticed was how sturdy it was. I really expected it to wobble or flex more than it does. The next thing I noticed was how high it extends. Although it extends up to 20 inches, I found that I only raised it 12 to 13 inches, and I’m 5′ 11″. It can accommodate someone up to 6′ 4″ tall.

It is available in a variety of colors, I chose the “Black matrix” because it almost perfectly matched the top of my desk. It is also available in white, gray, and maple. It is available in 30″, 36″, 40″, and 48″ widths.

Although with my back I don’t stand and work for very long periods, I did find it useful for the times where I’m working around the office and going to and from the computer often. Not having to either sit down or bend over to use the mouse and keyboard was a real relief.

What I like

+ One hand operation
+ Ease of adjustment
+ 80 lb capacity
+ Excellent height range
+ Monitor grommet plugs removable
+ Ease of assembly
+ Sturdiness
+ Quiet
+ 3 year electronics warranty, Lifetime frame warranty
+ Video section of the website includes a video on how to assemble the desk.

What needs to be improved

+ Auto up and down. Although it would add to the price, it would be nice to have an auto up and down function. It would be nice for the desk to go up and down while you’re running off to get some coffee.
+ No cable routing. You’re pretty much left to yourself on figuring out where to run the cables for your computer equipment. Although a few zip ties help, it would be nice if it included some kind of cable routing solution to both make it easier and neater.

Final thoughts

The Versadesk Power Pro just seems like one of those items that will last a lifetime, it’s that well built. You know that feeling you get when you feel like you got your money’s worth when buying something? This is one of those things.

Price: $370-$499 depending on the width
Where to buy: VersaDesk
Source: The sample of this product was provided by VersaDesk

The post Versadesk Power Pro standing desk review appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Computer furniture, Desk

Versadesk Power Pro standing desk review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 27, 2018 at 12:36 pm.

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Edge Desk System kneeling desk review

I don’t have room in my home for a full-size desk so when I’m writing for the Gadgeteer I usually end up working at my kitchen table, or in my recliner. Neither one is optimal. After about an hour or so my back, neck, and legs need a break. Then I was offered the chance to review The Edge Desk system. Becuase of its portability, it sounded like it would be a perfect solution to my problem. With my back issues, I was a little skeptical about using a kneeling desk, but I decided to give it a try. Man, I’m glad I did!

What is it?

The Edge Desk is a portable, adjustable, ergonomic all-in-one kneeling desk system. It adjusts in five different ways and can go from desktop to easel. And when you’re done it quickly folds down and can be put away until you need it again.

Specs

Dimensions: 40″ x 30″ x 26-31″
Weight: 28-lbs
Maximum desktop load: 15-lbs
Maximum seat load: 300-lbs

In the box

1- Fully assembled edge desk
Setup instructions

Design and features

The Edge Desk’s all-in-one design is insanely cool. It’s as unique as any desk system I’ve ever seen. The aluminum-bodied frame is very sturdy and strong, yet lightweight. And the plastic desktop provides a spacious work area.

Quick setup

Setting up the desk is quick and easy. It comes fully assembled with nicely illustrated setup instructions. I will admit first time set up was a little slow. However, after a couple of uses, I was able to set it up and break it down in around 30 seconds.

Fully adjustable

One of the great features of the Edge Desk is how fully adjustable it is. Multiple adjustments for tilt, angle, and height make it extremely versatile. There are four separate height adjustments for the seat alone. I used a permanent red marker to mark the holes once I found the settings I liked. Which made setup quicker and easier.

A pull-out handle located on the underside of the desk allows it to go from desktop to easel in seconds.

Portability

The Edge Desk is the ultimate in portability. When folded down the desk is just 61/2” high, which allows me to easily slide it under my bed when I’m not using it. It’s so compact that you can stand it up against a wall or in a closet.

Its portable size and built-in carrying handle make it easy to take virtually anywhere, inside or out.

Let’s see you do that with a typical desk.

Use and comfort

Like I stated earlier I was skeptical about how comfortable a kneeling desk could be. Needless to say, I was amazed at how comfortable the Edge Desk is. I’ve been using it for a few weeks now for writing and drawing. I love it! I’m able to use the desk for long periods of time without back or neck pain. I also found that the desk forces me to use better posture. It all adds up to me being more productive and that’s a definite plus.

Accessories

Along with the Edge Desk, I also received three different accessories (sold separately). A water bottle holder, phone/tablet holder and a set of transport wheels. I found them all to be extremely useful. Both the water bottle holder and phone holder allow you to keep the desktop clutter-free. They both use the proprietary “Edge” universal clip to hold them securely to the edge of the desk.

And the water bottle holder doubles as a pencil holder when I’m sketching, allowing me to organize my pencils and keep them off the desktop.

The transport wheels slide onto the front feet of the desk and secure with a snap of a locking collar. The wheels definitely make it easier to slide the desk under my bed and to maneuver it when it’s setup. And because the desk weighs 28lbs they could come in handy if you’re moving it any distance.

Just wheel it along like you would a piece of luggage.

What I like

Easy to setup and breakdown
Portability – you can use it virtually anywhere
Easily stores away when not in use
Fully adjustable
Can be used as both desktop and easel
Comfortable for long periods of time

What needs to be improved

Would be nice if there was a raised lip on the desktop to keep things from rolling off when using it as an easel.

Final thoughts

I’m in love with the Edge Desk. It’s the desk solution I’ve been waiting for. Its portability and storability solved my problem of not having enough room for a full-size desk. I’m more productive and it really helps reduce the stress on my neck and back. And now I have a space that I can dedicate to my artwork.

The Edge Desk might just bring standing desks to their knees.

Thank you Edge Desk and Bravo!

Price: Edge Desk – $ 399.99, water bottle holder – $24.99, phone holder – $24.99, transport wheels – $29.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Edge Desk System.

The post Edge Desk System kneeling desk review appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Computer furniture, Desk, Office

Edge Desk System kneeling desk review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 16, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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