Flute Light

History:

Herman Miller entered the LED Lighting market in 2006 with the Leaf Lamp designed by Yves Behar. The Leaf Lamp was revolutionary in design and function. In 2009 Herman Miller contracted Tom Newhouse to create a new LED light named Flute. Flute takes up a small foot print and is very light weight at just over 2 pounds. Available in multiple base options and finishes, Flute was designed to be flexible, versatile, and economical. It is 85% recyclable, the LED has a 24 year life span and it costs about $1.13 annually to run.

My Thoughts:

The Flute Light has a very nice look and is well balanced. The LED is bright enough for most tasks. One big thing I don't care for is the lack of adjustment; not in lamp brightness, but the ability to raise or lower the light. The only adjustments you are able to make are spinning the lamp post and lamp head 360 degrees. The light is easy to turn on with a one touch button on the top of the light, one brightness fits all with this lamp. The cord is a nice length and unplugs at the base for easy plug in.

Pros to owning:

• Light weight
• Descent amount of light
• Low cost of ownership

Cons to owning:

• Lamp brightness not adjustable
• Light cannot be raised or lowered

Overall Assessment:

The Flute Light is a good buy if all you want is static light on your desktop. If you do any task or design work it's worth spend a few extra dollars for a better light. The lack of adjustments is particularly bothersome.

Looks: B

Manufacturer: A

Durability: A

Value: C

Switch Mouse

History:

Way back in 1981 the first computer mouse started to slowly makes it way as an accessory for computers. In 1984 it became more popular when Apple Macintosh began shipping them with every computer. As the computer revolution gained momentum the mouse became a staple item shipped with every computer sold. With expanded use came injuries. Repetitive stress issues started to rise, carpal tunnel syndrome being one of the main results. Who would have thought that having a part of your body under constant stress would eventually lead to problems.

Humanscale developed a mouse in the last 1990's called the Whale Mouse. The Whale mouse was adjustable to more easily fit the hand. Adjustments could be made in length, so hands we not crunching down to grab and move the mouse. Your hand would be completely rested on the mouse to help alleviate stress. The Whale Mouse was replaced by the Switch Mouse around 2007. Offering more natural movements and the ability to use the larger muscles in your arm and shoulders to move the mouse, not just the small ones in your hand and wrist.

My Thoughts:

The Switch Mouse has some of the same features as the Whale Mouse, it's wider than most mice and has an adjustable length for palm support. The most unique feature of the Switch Mouse is the 'V' shape. To better explain the 'V' shape try this exercise: drop your arm to your side and let it go limp. Then moving only your shoulder and elbow, place your arm on your desk. Notice how in a relaxed arm state your have naturally lies on the outer edge of the hand? The 'V' shape of the Switch Mouse is to allow your hand to stay in that relaxed position, removing stress off the little muscle in the hand and wrist. The Switch Mouse can be used either right or left handed and Humanscale did away with the boring scroll wheel. They instead adapted the Switch Mouse with a four directional scrolling pad.

I have big hands, it's true. You know what they say about a guy with big hands... they need a big mouse. I was pleasantly surprised by the ease of set up for the Switch Mouse; it includes directions for fitting the mouse correctly to your hand. The grip of the mouse is comfortable, it does take a little getting used to the mouse 'V' angle. After all these years of flat mousing it seems unnatural. After 30 min of web browsing I the new motions were becoming second nature. The optics on this laser mouse are precise and the motions are quick, I even tried it with one of my favorite games.

Pros to owning one:

• Size is easily changed
• Laser mouse
• Long 80" cord
• Reduces repetitive stress symptoms

Cons to owning one:

• Not wireless
• I would be cautious if you have bad shoulders

Overall Evaluation:

The Switch Mouse is a great mouse. The price might be a little high for light computer users, but gamers, CAD operators, and other heavy computer users this item is a must have. Although the motion takes some getting used to, the movement is fluid. I purposely dropped the mouse a few times and it still worked like a champ. I wish the Switch Mouse was wireless, it would be easier for business professional to tuck into a shoulder bag.

Looks: A-

Durability: A

Manufacturer: A

Value: A+

** Please make a wireless version**

FYI Monitor Arm

History:

Monitor arms have been around since before flat panel screens. The invention and office standardization of flat panel monitors has coincided with the reduction of private workspace, and modern ergonomics. Monitor arms both free up desk space and raise the monitor to proper ergonomic eye levels.

The final component from my Walkstation trial is the FYI Monitor arm by Details.

My Thoughts:

The FYI monitor arm has a nice look and is easily adjusted once the initial counter-balance is achieved. It comes with multiple mounting options, including a slatwall mount. It also comes with mounting plates for different size monitors. I was not very impressed by this monitor arm. It uses a pneumatic cylinder for weight counter balance. If your monitor is too heavy you need to dismantle the monitor arm and install a stronger cylinder. If that were not enough you still need to use a hex-wrench for final counter balance calibration. I played around with this counter balance for a hour trying to get it so my monitor would stay in the correct position. Not very user friendly. The whole monitor arm although made from good materials did not have the fluid motion or ease of use I was expecting.

Pros to owning one:

• Lifts monitor off desk surface
• reduced eye strain

Cons to owning one:

• not easy to adjust
• may need to replace pneumatic cylinder for weight balance
• jerky movement

Overall Assessment:

The FYI Monitor arm looks nice, but the afterglow of ownership is quickly lost in the assembly and prepping of the arm for use. Even after setup, the inconsistent motion is not at all what I expected. I would recommend not owning this product. There are many better options out there for monitor arms.

Looks: B

Operation: D

Manufacturer: A

Value: F

Details Worktools making work easier.

History:

One of the things I never truly understood until now is how ineffective desk drawers are. Think about it, need a pen open a drawer. Need a paper clip open a drawer, need a binder turn around and open the overhead bin. Now, how much time do you think you could save by having it always in arms reach? If your supervisor or company are anything like some I've seen, they have strict clean desk policies; this just adds to the problem.

Yesterday I wrote about the Walkstation by Details and I mentioned that there were some other products I also tried out. One of the major add on components for the Walkstation are the Worktools by Details. The Worktools are a stand alone product, not just limited to use on the Walkstation. The Worktools were created to help make your desk organization functional while freeing up that useful highly coveted horizontal work space.

The Worktools utilize either a raised rail or slat panels to lift items off your desk and make use of that vertical space between the desktop and the ceiling. They have easily 30 different items to help organize your space from phone caddies, to pen cups; file holders, to cable management; they have the right tools to help make you space more user friendly.

My Thoughts:

This is a product line that has been out for close to 10 years, but not many people know about it. I tried out a set of tools connected to the Sit-to-Walkstation, and was amazed at the flexibility it offered. You can choose between three mounting options, on the wall, in a cubicle panel, or desk mounted. Once the mounting system is chosen the slatwall attaches and you're ready to experiment with different pieces. There are not any grab and go kit for this product, the slatwall is sold in 6" increments starting at 24". The organizational tools are sold separately so you can keep expanding them as your office or needs grow. I definitely recommend the personal shelf it is great to use as a charging station for your iPod or cell phone. The double square dishes are nice too for paper clips and rubber bands. Details also has monitor arms that connect to the slats for opening even more space.

Pros to owning this:

• more open desk space
• office and desk organization
• expandable
• multiple finishes
• recyclable
• Easy to use accessories

Cons to owning this:

• Installation of slatwall can get a little tricky for wall mounting
• Initial cost of investment

Overall Assessment:

This is a good product a must buy for people tight on office space. Easy utilization of vertical space without having to make tons of holes and hoping they won't pull off the wall. The Organizational Worktools are versatile allowing for reconfiguration as your needs change.

Looks: B

Quality: A

Manufacturer: A

Value: A

A desk with a treadmill?

History:

For years we have been hearing how we need to move more during the day. Sitting is bad for your health, prolonged sitting can contribute to poor circulation and other body issues. So what is a person to do? We have seen the trays that mount over a tread mill for a laptop, but what about your phone and other work tools? Details a subsidiary of office furniture giant Steelcase came out with a useful product to address the static work environment. Walkstation incorporates a treadmill with a full size desk. The table top is available in a few sizes and multiple finishes. They have also married the treadmill to a desk large enough to have a chair at the same surface and by using a height adjustable desk, you don't need to use a stool height chair. This will be a three days series about some Details and Steelcase products that I tried at the same time and can work together for your office.

My Thoughts:

A treadmill at my desk; could I make work any more grueling? Needless to say I was not looking forward to this product test. My immediate thoughts were, 'How can someone possibly be on a treadmill and work effectively at the same time'. When your legs are in motion your hands are moving, you can sound a little out of breath on the phone, what about the bouncing with your eye line of sight, or working up a sweat. Let me explain what I found out about the treadmill first; it is not a running treadmill, it is meant for walking with a speed range of .3 - 2mph. That speed range is adjustable in .1mph increments so you can go from a slow stroll to a fairly moderate pace. There is no incline adjustment, but it does have a safety cut off (as most treadmills do) in case you fall. There is a display that shows distance, speed, time, and calories burned. The treadmill is very quiet, and low to the ground (no dramatic step-up).

Originally I set to work on one with a kidney shaped work surface. The treadmill was easy to turn on and adjust in speed. I must say it was a bit awkward at first trying to walk and web browse. As time went on it seemed that my body naturally adjusted itself to the slight up and down movement while I walked. Now that's not to say that the belt was too loose, it was just from walking at .5mph. So after about 30 minutes of web browsing I decided to start answering emails. Typing on the laptop keyboard was a little hard so I switched to an external keyboard, that made it a lot easier. After a hour of email, I was feeling like a Walkstation pro! But... what about the phone? So I called my wife, who would be better to notice a difference in my speech pattern? I tried varying the speed to see if she could hear a difference. If I was walking in the 1-2mph zone she could hear a slight difference. So no big deal, just lower the speed down while on the phone. I just could not envision myself working in a standing position all day. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw the answer... a Walkstation with a desk surface large enough to have the treadmill and an office chair.

The Sit-to-Walkstation was sweet, the motion benefit of the treadmill with enough space to have a chair for longer conference calls, or when your legs need a rest. The desk height was very easy to adjust and moved very smoothly, no jerking what so ever. The desk surface wasn't so big that I felt as if I had invested to two desks and there was enough space to spread out and work. The eye line of sight concern was easily fixed two ways; 1. raise or lower the work surface. 2. Use a monitor arm or adjustable laptop holder.

Pros to owning one:

• Movement while you work
• No excuses for not hitting the gym.
• Nice warranty
• Nice finishes

Cons to owning one:

• Large foot print
• Additional tools needed for easier work.
• Assembly (hire someone)

Overall assessment:

The Walkstation is a nice product, but I don't see everyone needing or wanting one. If you are looking for a way to add more exercise into your daily routine, I don't see a better option. Assembly was about what I expected, not for the faint of heart. If you have the room I definitely would recommend going the Sit-to-Walkstation route, the added flexibility won't cause you to be looking for additional desk space later on. The treadmill was quiet, the desktop seemed sturdy and durable.

Looks: B

Durability: A

Service: A

Manufacturer: A

Value: B-

Element; All desk lights should be this good.

History:

Desk lamps have been a dime a dozen for years. It started with a single candle stick barely putting out enough light to write or read by, then good old Thomas Edison (he had a good first name) invented the light bulb. Incandescent lights have been around since the light bulb was invented, they are power hogs and don't offer pure clean light. In came halogen bulbs; brighter more intense light, but they give off a lot of heat and can be expensive to replace. Compact fluorescent bulbs came next offering considerable savings in energy at about the same price as a halogen bulb, but the light flickered and could cause eye strain. Then came LEDs (light emitting diodes); as bright as a halogen with considerable energy savings, light is more consistent and can be varied by warmth.

Humanscale has been on the cutting edge of ergonomic office accessories for years, starting off with glare screens back in 1982. They have had many successful computer products and chairs in the past 28 years. Roll forward to 2009 and meet the Element light. From the in house design staff at Humanscale the Element light was designed to be lighter, easier to adjust, sustainable, and recyclable.

My thoughts:

At first I was scared of how compact this light is. Very thin arms leading up to a head slightly smaller than a hockey puck. The whole light including the base barely weighs 8 pounds. Set up was a breeze the power cord is about 6 feet long, plenty for reaching most outlets or power strips. I really like the detachable power cord, very easy to snake through a desk and up to the writing surface. The model I tried was with a desktop base, from what I can understand is that there are 19 different mounting options available. The desktop base was heavy, but from how Humanscale claimed this light could move I kind of expected it.

The switch to turn it on could not be easier. A small black button on the top of the lamp about the size of your pinkie tip that takes a slight amount of pressure. The light is brilliant, very bright, and targeted. I was trying this light out in a room with sun shining in the window and you could still notice the impact. The height of the lamp moves effortlessly from about 1/2 inch above the desk to almost 90 degrees straight up. ** The fact that the lamp would move within 1/2 inch of the desk is cool, cooler yet is that the counter balance on this light is so perfect that it didn't raise up at all when I let go. The head of the lamp also pivots close to 360 degrees. This lamp can give you direct task light as well as ambient light with minimal effort. I had to see just how bright this lamp was. I waited until it was dark in the house turned off the lights in my office and turned on the Element light. Directed towards the desktop you could easily read or write by the light. There was very little light spillage in the room, in fact I couldn't even see a couch that was a few feet away. Raising the lamp slightly to about 15 inches off the desk it nicely illuminated both the papers on the desk and my computer, plenty of light to work by. Now the big test, how well could it light up the room in an ambient direction? I extended the arms all the way up and spun the lamp head around to hit the ceiling, it washed light over the entire 150 square foot room bright enough to read by.

The overall design of the light is nothing short of beautiful. So simple yet you can tell that someone spent many a hours getting the details just right. The one I tried was in the white finish, it was almost breath taking. The fins on the head are for more than just aesthetic, they also dissipate the small amount of heat the LED creates.

Pros to owning this light:

• Adjustable
• Light weight
• LED should last for 30 years of 9-5 work
• Recyclable
• Energy efficient

Cons to owning this light:

• Limited color pallet

Overall Evaluation:

This light is by far the best I have ever seen or used. Humanscale did a great job, not only on the look but also the functionality. The price of the lamp is also not out of reason, unlike many LEDs on the market. I would highly recommend this light to anyone looking for a new desk lamp. The flexibility to use this lamp for both task or ambient light is a huge plus. The light also has a 10 year warranty. My only regret is that I had to give it back.

Looks: A+

Durability: A

Service: B

Manufacturer: A

Value: A+

Aeron chair; is it the best?

History:

The Aeron chair was designed by Bill Stumpf and Don Chadwick for Herman Miller in the late 1980's and early 1990's. They threw out all of the existing ideas about what an office chair was, why did it have to be fabric over foam, why did the chair have to limit your movement, etc. What they did do was use anthropometrics to fit the chair to the user and allow the chair to fluidly move with them. Our gracious US military participated in the study by allowing soldiers bodies to be mapped and a solution to the problem of a one size fits all chair was solved.

The Aeron chair redefined what a work chair is. It doesn't have padding or fabric. Aeron comes in three sizes, not based on job title, but on body size and shape. It looked like nothing that came before it, and set the office furniture industry on fire. Named Design of the Decade by Time magazine and given a permanent home in the New York Museum of Modern Art the Aeron chair has reached a status unseen by any predecessor... some have even called it an icon.

My thoughts:

You have to admit the Aeron chair looks pretty cool, although fairly masculine. At first sit the chair feels different. You are suspended in a mesh called Pellicle allowing the seat and back to conform to your body. The chairs ability to conform allows your body weight to be distributed across a larger surface area and makes the chair comfortable for a longer sit. The mesh also allows for air flow. No more standing up with a sweaty back or seat, this can also be a negative for people who get cold easily. I thought the first time I sat in it that the frame would be hitting my shoulders or under my legs. Not so, they definitely spent some time making sure your body doesn't come in contact with any 'hard' surfaces. I read some websites that claimed the mesh ripped holes in their pants, so I contacted Herman Miller's customer service to get the low down. It seems that the original mesh used back in the late 1990's may have been abrasive, they since changed the way it was made to be less so.

The rest of the chair has a nice feel, I recommend spending some time getting used to the tilt features. The Aeron chair's mechanism has a lot of adjusting for body weight, this I was told is one of the biggest advantages to the chair. If you turn the knob on the right side of the chair; it will either increase or decrease the tension of the recline. If you have it set correctly the chair will support you in a sort of free floating recline. Of course the chair does have a lever to lock the recline. But take the few minutes to adjust that knob, oh one other thing, it takes a lot of turning to get set correctly. Don't expect to feel any difference after one or two turns, it takes about 15 to have any noticeable effect.

Newer versions of the chair adjust much easier than the original version. The biggest change is how the arms adjust. Back before 2005 the arm height adjusted by spinning a thumb screw to loosen or tighten the arms. Newer Aeron chairs have a flip lever, much easier to adjust and operate.

Back support is achieved in two different manners:

1. Standard lumbar support. This support is dual sided and can be adjusted in height an pressure to conform you the lumbar region of your back.
2. PostureFit. Herman Miller doesn't consider this a lumbar support, but more of a better posture support. What it basically does is if you sit up straight in your chair this devise will keep your pelvis from rotating back while seated. With your pelvis forward, your spine is kept naturally aligned. The height cannot be adjusted, but the pressure is adjusted by an additional knob on the side of the chair.

Is one better or worse? It's more of a preference thing, you could always buy both and return the one you don't like.

Pros to owning this chair:

• It breathes
• Nice clean look, available in a subtle color pallet
• 12 year parts and labor warranty (when bought new, or so they say)
• High resale value
• Fairly durable
• Three sizes A, B, C (small, medium, large)

Cons to owning this chair:

• The forward tilt can be tricky, even seems kind of useless at times.
• It breaks, with all those moving parts it happens.
• Unfortunately they are expensive to fix too, especially if you bought it used.(warranty does not transfer)

Overall evaluation:

The Aeron chair is nice looking and the mesh adds a comfortable feel. I heard some rattling around as the chair tilted which was a little nerve racking. My wife also sat in the chair, she found it uncomfortable. This is one of the draw back to the three sizes, she would be an 'A' and I'm a 'C'. The chair seems easy to clean. Back when I tried the chair I looked online for companies who fixed and could get parts for the chair. The best and most knowledgeable company I found was ChairMD. They have since dropped off the radar and been replaced by some companies that take forever to get back to you and even longer to get the chair fixed.

If you decide to own one or more of these chairs find out if the company you are buying them from also services them. These supposed "Service Centers" out there are a joke now; with the price of these chairs it should be easier to get it fixed.

Looks: A+

Comfort: B

Durability: B

Service: C

Manufacturer: A

Value: B