Usenet 1994 January/usenetsourcesnewsgroupsinfomagicjanuary1994.iso/answers/typing-injury-faq/furniture

Text File | 1993-11-29 | 13KB | 292 lines

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From: Dan Wallach <[e-mail]>
Subject: FAQ: Typing Injuries (5/5): Furniture Information [monthly posting]
Message-ID: <typing-injury-faq/[e-mail]>
Followup-To: sci.med.occupational
Summary: workstations, thier manufacturers, and other furniture info
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Supersedes: <typing-injury-faq/[e-mail]>
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Reply-To: Carl P Baker <[e-mail]>
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Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1993 15:56:08 GMT
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Archive-name: typing-injury-faq/furniture
Version: @(#)computer_furniture    1.2 93/06/02 08:49:30

This FAQ may be cited as:

 Baker, Carl P.  (1993) "FAQ: Typing Injuries (5/5): Furniture
 Information" Usenet news.answers.  Available via anonymous ftp from
 rtfm.mit.edu in pub/usenet/news.answers/typing-injury-faq/furniture.
 5 pages.

This FAQ is actually maintained by Carl P Baker <[e-mail]>.
I post it, along with the other FAQ stuff.  If you have questions, you want
to send mail to Carl, not me.  -- Dan

OK, what we have here is a list of all the manufacturers of computer type
office furniture that I know of.  The style of furniture and any known
dimensions are listed together with the addresses of the manufacturer (if
known) and any known suppliers.  Also, I'll make a rough stab at what it
would cost to equip me with appropriate tableage for each manufacturer.

DISCLAIMER: I have no interest, financial or otherwise an any supplier
listed in this FAQ.  I have not (at this point) done business with any
of these suppliers and have no information about thier trustowrthiness,
reliability, or ability to deliver the products they claim to sell.

For this purpose, you should know what equipment I'm using.  I've got
a sun Sparcstation (Pizza box) with a 19 inch monitor (HUGE, 90 lbs), and
external (shoebox) hard disk, tape drive, and CD units.  All of this
equipment is set on a 30 inch be 60 inch table that is 30 inches high.
I'm using the table "sideways,~ meaning that I sit at the head of the table
with the keyboard in front of me, the monitor and pizza box behind the
keyboard, and way down at the other end of the table, I have the shoebox
units.

I'd like to have a table which was about 27 inches high with an adjustable
keyboard and mouse shelf.  The table should be at least 36 inches deep (or
face into a corner), and it needs to be wide enough that I can have
papers and such on either side of the keyboard.  It would be nice to be able
to put the shoebox equipment on a shelf or some such _under_ the table top
(to preserve table space and reduce noise).

First, some comments on "good" computer furniture.  Generally, it is accepted
that keyboard heights should be in the range of 26.5 to 29 inches.  This
means that whatever you have, it's too high.  Many computer tables have some
sort of shelf, stand, or table which raises the monitor.  I think that this
is a real mistake, as you end up hunched forward with your neck tilted back
in order to see the screen.  This is particularly painful if you wear
bifocals (I'm told).  Virtually all modern monitors offer some kind of tilt
and swivel, so for the furniture to provide this functionality is usually
redundant and silly.

Many computers (such as mine) require a vast amount of table depth - I'm using
about 44 inches.  One solution to this problem to to design a "corner" type
workstation which is designed to be placed facing into a corner with the
users back to the room.  This is a convenient way to create the required
depth, and work tables can be placed on either side of the corner unit
for a great deal of usable work area.  However, you can't see anyone come
into your office (your back is to the door), and I would expect that there
would be a possibility of severe glare problems (it's hard to move the screen
around to get rid of glare).

Ok, now for the manufacturers:

Bretford Mobile workstations

These are basically a set of tubular frames carts on casters.  Most of these
place the monitor on a shelf above the keyboard surface.  The only one that
doesn't is basically a desk on wheels except that it is only 24 inches deep.
It is, however 26.5 inches high.  Prices run from $223 to $370.

Known supplier:

Husk office furniture and supplies
327 W Clark
PO Box 886
Pasco, WA 99301
547-7593



Communicore CAD system
This is a "corner" type workstation - designed to be placed facing into a
corner with the users back to the room.  All units are 26.5 inches high and
the extension tables are 30 inches deep.  The workstation extension tables
have an under-table storage shelf.  Basically, you have the corner unit,
the "plain" extension table, and the "tilting" extension table (useful
for working from prints or other large paper).  Additionally, there is
something called a "workstation" which is neither shown in the picture
that I have, nor described in the text.  Prices run from $225 for a
36w x 30d x 26.5h "workstation" (also available in 60w for $304) to $345
for the 66w x 52d x 26.5h corner workstation.  A basic setup (corner
workstation, layout table and extension) would run about $900.  The flaws
with this are in the area of accessories - no drawer space, and no over
worksurface shelf space (for manuals, not monitors).

Known supplier:

ComputerVision
400 Horsham Road
Horsham, PA 19044
1-800-786-2231


Computervision
Computervision also markets a line of carts of varying descriptions; some
are basically traditional raised monitor computer carts, but one has the
monitor dropped down inside the cart and tilted toward the user.  This cart
has a wing for the mouse pad and under table CPU storage.  Runs about $300.

Other accessories are available from computervision as well, such as an
adjustable monitor stand (swingarm), tilt swivel base for the monitor, and
copy holders.

Known supplier:

ComputerVision
400 Horsham Road
Horsham, PA 19044
1-800-786-2231


Ergotron
This is a line of "ergonomic" workstations and "dense pack" racks for network
installations.  Basically, you buy a frame which can be fitted with legs,
legs with casters, or attached to the wall.  The top of this frame is about
70-78 inches above the floor; near the top is an adjustable shelf.  To the
bottom of the shelf is attached a "truck" which holds the monitor, allowing
for the monitor to slide from side to side, tilt, or swivel.  A "swing-arm"
version of the monitor truck is available as well; this allows the monitor to
be repositioned more freely.  The frame can be fitted with a work surface
(to which a keyboard holder can be attached) or with a digitizer support
frame.  Keyboard trays are also available to fit directly to the monitor
suspension truck.  No undertable storage is provided, although there is a
CPU caddy which attaches to the side of the unit.  Side tables, pencil boxes,
and print holders are also available.  Frame prices run from $160 (for a
wall mount unit) to $300 for a freestanding unit.  Shelves run $250;
monitor suspension from $200 to $425, and legs from $78 to $800.  Keyboard
trays can run as high as $300, and CPU holders from $100 to $250.

Known supplier:
Ergotron
3450 Yankee Drive, Ste. 100
Eagan, MN 55121
1-800-888-8458


Hon computer furniture (66000 series)
This is essentially a set of tables which match one another.  Under table
storage is limited to a center pencil drawer or a center keyboard drawer,
either of which can be mounted to the task desk (which has no keyboard
shelf).  Cable management is provided.  The keyboard shelf is a cutout/
dropdown; it's not clear if it is adjustable.  My guess is not.  The
following table types are available:

Table with center keyboard shelf (30 deep by 36 or 48 wide)
Table with right or left keyboard shelf (30 deep by 60 wide)
Task desk (30 by 60)
Printer Stand (36w x 30d x 26.5h) with paper feed slot.
Return (42w x 20d x 26.5h) freestanding.

Cost is from $300 for the Typing Return to $500 for the table with keyboard
shelf.

Known supplier:

Husk office furniture and supplies
327 W Clark
PO Box 886
Pasco, WA 99301
547-7593


Mayline/Hamilton
There are two lines of furniture from Mayline/Hamilton:
The Creativity Corner line is similar to the Communicore cad system.  The
table height for this system is not listed in my catalog.  There is a corner
unit with under table storage and a "reference desk" with under table storage.
The adjustable table seems to be adjustable for height, and it looks as if
the reference desk top can be tilted.  The adjustable table has no under
table storage.  There are drawer (pencil and storage) and shelf (hutch)
accessories for the reference table and a corner shelf (for the monitor -
yuck) for the corner unit.  Costs run from $256 for a 36w x 30d reference
desk to $512 for the tilt top adjustable table.  Hutches are about $200,
corner shelf $118, two drawer unit $215, keyboard/pencil drawer $91.
A basic setup (Adjustable table, refernce table, and corner unit) would
run $1150; with pencil drawer, storage drawer and hutch it would run $1650.

The CADCorner units from Mayline Hamilton are similar to the creativity
corner units.  All units are 29 inches high (too high!!), but they come in
both 30 inch and 36 inch depths.  No under table shelf space is provided,
but a two drawer storage unit can be got for $336.  Rather than a full
hutch, a bookshelf is available (8h x 12d).  A 20 inch wide keyboard
drawer is available (where am I to put my mouse?), as is a two drawer
storage unit.  Prices range from $400 for a basic 36w x 30d x 29h desk
to $760 for the 36d corner unit.  A setup with the 36d corner unit,
a 36w desk, a 60w desk, a bookshelf, a two drawer storage unit and
a keyboard drawer runs about $2200.

Known supplier:

ComputerVision
400 Horsham Road
Horsham, PA 19044
1-800-786-2231


Tiffany Office Furniture
This is a line of stands and carts; there is a basic workstation cart (mobile
bi-level table) for about $450 and a more elaborate but smaller cart (less
available workspace for $400.  The smaller cart has space under it for a
printer.  The stands consist of towers on pedastles with casters;  The monitor
sits on a stand atop the tower, the keyboard on a tray clamped to the tower
and the cpu unit on a bracket at the base.

Tiffany also makes a line of terminal stands; these are simply small tables
on pedastals with casters.  Prices range from $200 for a simple table to
$320 for a very adjustable table.  Larger units are available too.

The smaller cart may work for what I need if the keyboard tray will adjust
out from the table far enough; the keyboard tray is a little too narrow
for my keyboard and mouse together (stupid optical mice!  The only thing
worse is a mechanical mouse; think I'll get a trackball).  There is no
workspace on this thing, but I could put it right next to a table.

Known supplier:

Husk office furniture and supplies
327 W Clark
PO Box 886
Pasco, WA 99301
547-7593


VariTask Workcenter
This is a fully adjustable two surface workstation.  The keyboard surface is
24d x 48w or 30d x 48w; the monitor surface is 18d x 48w.  The two surfaces
can be tilted and elevated independently; adjustment range is 27.5 to 42.5h
for the monitor table and 26h to 41h for the keyboard surface.  Price runs
from $2915 to $4052, depending on which of the lift and tilt operations
are manual vs electrical and depending on table size.

Known supplier:

ComputerVision
400 Horsham Road
Horsham, PA 19044
1-800-786-2231


WorkManager System
This is a line of tables, corner units, dividers and accessories which can
be configured in a number of different ways - corner units, clustered
workstations, lab workstations, etc.  They have a clean, futuristic look
to them that I like; others may not.  No undertable storage is provided
except on the printer stand; roll-under type storage units and undertable
brackets for CPU's are available.  No table heights are given in my
descriptions.  There are corner units with keyboard shelves (where am I
supposed to put my mouse?), tables 34, 48, and 60 inches wide, a tilt top
table, printer stand, and laser printer stand with supplies storage.  Prices
run about $300 to $350 per desk or corner unit; printer stand is $200,
underdesk file cabinet is $200.

Known supplier:

ComputerVision
400 Horsham Road
Horsham, PA 19044
1-800-786-2231
--
Dan Wallach                "One of the most attractive features of a Connection
[e-mail]  Machine is the array of blinking lights on the faces
Phone#: [phone]       of its cabinet." -- CM Paris Ref. Manual, v6.0, p48.