The working from home thread: tips and advice

Literally just looking at their desks. What are all the models? Also they seem to have some options with and without tops. Dafuq is that about?

I've been using it solidly since April with absolutely no issues. Very stable (though mine is on the narrowest width possible to YMMV on a wider setting) and the motors etc have been flawless.

Mine is the E5.

Ta.

Do you use a laptop or desktop? At the moment my PC is on the floor but I guess I'd have to get it up onto the desk or get a cradle for it as well?

Some people have their own existing tops they want to use (or make their own top).

Mine is the most basic motorised version, the EC1: https://www.lfgss.com/comments/15652789/

looks around for scrap timber

"Bekant" is what I was looking at. Once you get into the higher models of Flexispot and add a top there's not a lot in it. Any opinions of them?

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/bekant-desk-sit-stand-white-s99061198/

It was @Greenbank who high lighted the differences to me earlier. I'm just trying to get best bang for buck.
All the prices on my list I just posted into my earlier comment are without tops so need to add £75 except for the glass one (unless you buy or make your own)
Main things seem to be 2 or 3 stage as gives more height. Some have different weight capabilities but have no intention of having more than 20-30kg on the table ever. Speed they go up and down is something but low down in my list of GAF about. Some of the control units have a few different gimmicks too

Slow adjustment would annoy me I reckon. I like the idea of a memory setting so it knows your high/low setting. Otherwise, with the cheaper ones do you have to hold the button while it adjusts?

Yes you hold the button if you don't the version with presets, let me time mine (the EC1) from sitting to standing height for 5'9" me.

About 11 seconds.

(Any faster and it might spill my beer.)

Once you are used to it you'll know exactly what your preferred height is, and if it's not quite right a small adjustment takes a fraction of a second.

Don't forget that your preferred height will probably be slightly different day to day depending on time of day (your spine compresses slightly during the day), or whether you're wearing shoes or not, etc.

Personally I'd rather spend the £100 odd extra (that the snazzier models with height memory would cost) on something else. But that's more about my spending power than anything else. With the moneygun out you'd just be getting top of the range, even if you never used the extra functionality.

Laptop. In a cradle I created underneath (see up thread).

If you want a desktop cradle, I have a boxed Flexispot one (check their accessories) which you can have for postage...

Ikea will also have a sound returns policy and a you can head to one and test it out properly. And bring it home on the day.

I've got one on a gopro selfie stick velcroed to the monitor stand, looks ok.

That's a good point. Although I've lived this long without setting foot in an Ikea, perhaps I should maintain that trend?

The reason I started looking is the desk I'm on at the moment is terrible and I've got right shoulder pain (which could be gravel/mtb induced but I'm more inclined to think it might be mouse arm induced)

Ta.

I'm typically trying to do 5 things at once so if I can hit a memory button to get it close to sit or stand mode while boiling the kettle, lubing some Speedplay pedals, putting stickers on the bike, cleaning the coffee kit, etc that, at least in my head, is a bit of a win. But I've never used one so maybe there's less point to it with the need to microadjust like you describe.

Cheers. Will get back to you on that. Ikea might be a quicker option for me as there's one close and I don't then have to deal with finding or order a top for it and as kboy says I could try it out first.

OH has had one since the summer and is happy with it; no fancy presets or anything, but it goes up and down smoothly and seems solid.

But I've never used one so maybe there's less point to it with the need to microadjust like you describe.

You'll still be able to microadjust with the preset thing so you'll still get the benefit of pressing the button whilst you're doing something else.

As for stepping inside an Ikea, you can't really do that at the moment. The last two times I've bought stuff from Ikea have been click and collect, no need to go inside at all.

No need to enter, just buy what you think works and give it a go at home. Here's the returns policy

If you’re not totally satisfied with your IKEA purchase you can return
your products within 365 days, even if you assembled them, as long as
they’re in an unused. Please return them with proof of purchase
(original receipt) and, if possible, the packaging.

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/customer-service/returns-claims/return-policy/

no need to go inside at all.
How are you supposed to have arguments and end relationships then?

I haven't returned anything to Ikea for about 20 years. That was due to finish quality issues and the return was a massive hassle because there were huge queues. I've found quality control has improved, has customer service?

I've returned a few things in the last few years. We did our kitchen up and had heaps of leftovers. Returned about 30 packages, took maybe 10 minutes. This was in Sweden though, but can't see UK being that much different.

no need to go inside at all

How are you supposed to have arguments and end relationships then?

You can download store maps that'll show you how you can get to bitter confrontation directly rather than having to through all of the usual fluffy "good times" preamble.

Last time I went to Ikea the queue for returns was massive and slow moving. It was a couple of days before the second lockdown which may have made it worse.

It's still probably easier returning a desk to Ikea than returning it to Amazon.

So you can make you own! I thoroughly don’t recommend it! I thought it’d be a quick job but turned into a 8pm to 3am job for 5 nights. Doing it with a friend who knew what he was doing and drinking beers was fun though

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