Aeron chairs / physical stuff for programmers

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On the advice of Joel and PhilG I have ordered an Aeron chair. (Herman Miller has finally opened its web store. It's so new that the customer service person whose number was in the confirmation email, wasn't aware it was live.) I used the sizing chart and it arrives Friday. Any advice from current users would be welcome.

This topic could expand to discuss all of Joel's recommendations for physical support of software development.

Or if you don't want to do that: discuss whether I am an idiot for paying for this chair myself (its cost is more than the company maximum) and in other respects applying feng shui to my cubicle.

-- Anonymous, November 06, 2000

Answers

For those over 6 feet tall, I'd strongly recommend the Leap chair rather than the Aeron. At my last job, even the large Aerons jabbed into my upper back painfully (I'm 6'5").

As far as feng shui goes, all I know is that my current job has gone a little better since I realized that all of my Star Wars Legos were aiming their weapons at me. I pointed them at the producer across the way instead, and I've been breathing a little easier since.

-- Anonymous, November 06, 2000


Aeron chairs - I forget that I am sitting.

Got Aeron chair a month ago. At first it was a bit getting used to. Now when I sit in it for few hours I forget that I am sitting. It's only when I need to get up I realize I have been sitting. Awesome chair. I alos glides nicely across the floor. I got concrete floors so it's fun to move to my other machines with a slight push. The suspended feeling in it is really great. I am 5'8" so the chair is perfect for me. I only wish they had foot support built in like some other architect chairs that have that metal "O-ring". Shameless Plug: if anyone wants them I know people in Dallas that sell brand new chairs for $500 bucks. Email me if that interests you.

-- Anonymous, November 06, 2000

Wow, I'm impressed by the sizing chart - the chair I sat in was too big for me and I was underwhelmed.

Slightly tangential, but amusing enough to share: Seats of Power an OpenLetter about Aerons.

-- Anonymous, November 06, 2000


Julianne, I hope you are just paying the *difference* between the aeron price and what the company will spring for (the weasels!).

My boss was willing to get all of us Aeron chairs, but I preferred a Balans knee chair from Hag. I've used knee chairs since the early nineties.

The aeron comes with instructions -- maybe they need an instructional video too! (as seen on late night infomercials)

We don't have cubicicles or offices -- we are a small company, all in one room, including our boss. Headphones are a necessity.

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2000


I would like to second the recommendation that the Aeron chair isn't the best option for big & tall people. At 6'3", I too found the chair less than perfect, mainly because of the lumbar bar.

-- Anonymous, November 09, 2000


Upper limit for Aeron chairs?

I'm an even six feet tall. Should the Aeron be good for me? What is the upper height/weight limit that they accomodate?

-- Anonymous, November 09, 2000

sizing chart goes up to 6'6", 270 lbs

Michael, the sizing chart (which you can find on Herman Miller's new web site goes up to 6'6" - so, based on the previous postings, you shouldn't take the chart's word for it...that lumbar issue...

I did take the chart's word. It looks a lot like the charts on packages of women's stockings with different jagged shapes of what size to get based on a combination of your height and weight. Those always worked pretty well for me - back when I wore stockings - so I figured, what the heck. (Note to self: try not to shop quixotically when angry!) My plan, if the chair doesn't fit, is to sell it to one of my colleagues who also want one (they come in a variety of sizes, I mean my colleagues do), at a slight discount because it'll be "used".

In other news, I just got a phone call from Herman Miller. Due to web site glitches they didn't use the type of shipping I requested and the chair's not getting here until next week. (But they are refunding the money I paid for ultra-quick shipping.) So it'll take a few more days to discover whether the sizing chart worked for me.

-- Anonymous, November 09, 2000


I've been sitting in an Aeron for the last month (but no longer, alas). While it was comfy, it would have been nice if the back was adjustable (I would have liked to tilt it forwards a little). However, everything else about the chair was nice.

I guess that since you're paying for it, you get to take it with you when you leave, which is a bonus.



-- Anonymous, November 09, 2000

What do a good programmer needs? A good chair, a strong table, & the latest, fastest PC?

What do you think?

-- Anonymous, November 13, 2000


Has anybody used the humanscale chair: http://www.humanscale.com/products/seating/specifications_content.html

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000


Before settling on a trendy Aeron, do yourself a favor and check out a high-end BodyBilt executive chair (http://www.bodybilt.com/). I bought mine about 5 years ago for $800 and it has been worth every penny. I can sit in it 10-12 hours a day (if I have to) without any musculoskeletal discomfort.

It's a terrific chair.

-- Anonymous, November 21, 2000


Programmer needs:

- good chair - Eclipse computer light (or appropriate substitute) - high end 21" flat trinitron tubed monitor or an SGI 17" LCD display - extremely high quality chair (such as the one in this thread)

So far I have the Eclipse light ($30). I'm working on the rest! Do we get an update yet on how you like the chair?

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2000


A report after sitting in the chair for a month: I love it. When I used to get out of the old chair, I would have to hobble around for the first minute (back issues). Now I just get up and walk. My incidence of ankle swelling is way down because I can actually get my feet flat on the floor (instead of having my legs dangling). Plus when I am stuck on a problem I play with the lumbar support piece, which is totally fun and distracting (choosing which way to face the piece, and then sliding it up and down). It scoots around very cleanly even on carpet (my last chair's wheels were really cheap and kept sticking).

In the interests of trying to share the negatives too, I had a minor glitch with delivery (they didn't use the method I requested; on the bright side they called me to warn me - "Sorry, we've already shipped it the other way," - and didn't charge me), and I have one paranoid worry. I am sitting on this nice mesh platform and...there's nothing underneath the mesh but air (between me and the eight zillion adjustment mechanisms). It feels about as "secure" as a mesh patio chair (you know: "Don't stand on those!") I worry that this mesh is not going to be strong enough to support my weight and over time it will either stretch or tear away from the frame and I will fall through. Then I tell myself that when this happens I can get it repaired.

Digression: Last time I bought my own chair (2 companies ago) I found something I liked and rolled it from the store (Staples) to my workplace *on the subway* (MBTA in Boston). Its wheels were never the same...

Thanks for all the comments and ideas of other chairs to investigate!

-- Anonymous, December 20, 2000


All of you clones are a marketeers dream! I'm a furniture dealer and have been in and around this business for all of my life. The Aeron chair's comfort is no more or less subjective than any other chair in the world. In fact I'd call it an over-priced lawn chair with wheels. Get a life people, Herman Miller has won over all of your hearts with it's little rich boy chair!! LMFAO!!!!

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Do you knoe any old office chairs shops in SFO-Bay Area (CA),i am looking for Herman Miller Aeron chair?

Thanks,

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2001



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