Lightweight Geek Pods

February 21, 2003 12:41 PM

Personal Computing Environments - Herman Miller, eat your heart out. Personal Computing Environments has what has to be the strangest piece of office furniture ever made. There's no denying the interesting and unique design, but with prices ranging from $4,000 to $9,000 and up and the economy in somewhat dire straits, is there a market for this? I mean, I could almost buy a couple of these for that kind of dough.
posted by phong3d (30 comments total)

I thought that proper ergonomics dictated a monitor slightly below eye level. These would have you looking up slightly all day - does that sound comfortable?
posted by lbergstr at 12:49 PM on February 21, 2003

I bet it works out your pecs and abdominals while you websurf.
posted by Shane at 12:53 PM on February 21, 2003

It doesn't appear to support your wrists either.
posted by machaus at 12:54 PM on February 21, 2003

It's not the expense, it's the practicality. Who here doesn't have any paper at all on their desk? I look around, and in addition to the switch, monitors, cpus, scanner, etc, I also have post-its, file folders, a calendar, pens, a couple books...all at arm's lenth. This is how I have to work, and I bet if you took paper or desk space away from most people, they'd scream.
posted by frykitty at 12:57 PM on February 21, 2003

Maybe it spins around like a gyroscope...
posted by Stuart_R at 1:03 PM on February 21, 2003

I agree with Ibergstr. Sitting too close in a movie theater, looking up even slightly at the screen for a half an hour can give me a painfully stiff neck. This looks excruciating.

I like modern furniture, but I think furniture needs to harken to what we're familiar with. This system looks like one would need to climb into and perch rather than casually approach and sit on. This is the reason designers such as Charles Eames and Saarinen remain so popular. Their work is modern, but accessible.

This is also why, though possible, our offices don't look like the interior of the Death Star. ( though in some cases it might be an improvement)
posted by jeff-o-matic at 1:04 PM on February 21, 2003

I agree, that doesn't look very comfortable or practical at all.

Also, not nearly as impressive (in the most ridiculous sense) as the PoeticTech Desks. If you're gonna go all out, go all out.
posted by malphigian at 1:10 PM on February 21, 2003

I'd hate to haul this to a LAN party.
posted by cowboy at 1:15 PM on February 21, 2003

I like it, personally, though I would want to lower the monitors.

I could pretend I'm captain of the Enterprise!

[this is droolworthy]
posted by WolfDaddy at 1:17 PM on February 21, 2003

Maybe it spins around like a gyroscope...

Just like the gun turrets in the Millenium Falcon. Now that would be cool...
(...or what WolfDaddy said.)
posted by Shane at 1:25 PM on February 21, 2003

Am I the only one who likes a plain cubicle with flat work surface? I shove my keyboard rack under the deck and put my keyboard directly on the desk. But I have an L shaped cubicle with two small filing cabinets and an overhead compartment, and it works great for me. The one I have is extremely durable, as well.
posted by benjh at 1:31 PM on February 21, 2003

a new company with a passionate belief in a simple premise: Anyone who uses a computer has the right to comfort and performance.

dear god. glad I dont work for them.
posted by stbalbach at 1:33 PM on February 21, 2003

Also, not nearly as impressive (in the most ridiculous sense) as the PoeticTech Desks.

Oh, so that's the first thing I'm going to buy if I'm ever obscenely wealthy. I've been wondering.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 1:34 PM on February 21, 2003

Looks like the contraption the dude sat in in the surveillance center of the Village in The Prisoner.
posted by Ty Webb at 1:35 PM on February 21, 2003

Where do you put your coffee?
posted by gruchall at 1:51 PM on February 21, 2003

Also, not nearly as impressive (in the most ridiculous sense) as the PoeticTech Desks.

Oh, so that's the first thing I'm going to buy if I'm ever obscenely wealthy. I've been wondering.

Me too. That PCE thing does look like a piece of workout gear -- but the poetictech desks do look like sitting in the death star. "Now, witness the power of this fully operational office furniture".
posted by malphigian at 1:51 PM on February 21, 2003

stbalbach: I thought the same when the table on the custom options page said:
You can choose, but we'll put in all the high-end components you'll ever need. Let's talk so we can mack it out with everything you want, including:
(emphasis mineee!)

Does it come in burberry plaid? Is there a Moet-sized wine chiller option available? I need a little holder fo mah 2 way.

holla back, ya hear me!
posted by shadow45 at 1:59 PM on February 21, 2003

I wonder if it comes with a safety harness, I think I'd fall out.
posted by agregoli at 2:18 PM on February 21, 2003

I want a Laz-e-Boy recliner with a swing-table for my laptop and a swing-arm with a monitor for the 19" CRT attached to it. And perhaps a small swing-table for a book, pen tablet, or somesuch.

Man, I could really get some work done in that kind of environment.
posted by five fresh fish at 2:20 PM on February 21, 2003

wheres the built in minifridge, microwave, and toilet?!
posted by sixtwenty3dc at 2:39 PM on February 21, 2003

Eek. Shutdown windows improperly, and the infernal thingamajg might start to travel through time!
posted by sixfoot6 at 2:44 PM on February 21, 2003

Somebody tell me how to post a .jpg to this page, and I'll show you a REAL good time...
posted by alumshubby at 3:02 PM on February 21, 2003

Kinda looks like Taelon tech. Only without the cool display technology.
posted by kaemaril at 3:17 PM on February 21, 2003

Am I the only one who likes a plain cubicle with flat work surface?

I think I'd like a tilted illustrator's/drafting table, or maybe a rolltop desk.
posted by Shane at 4:37 PM on February 21, 2003

She appears to like it, what more do you need? And if my aging eyes don't fail me, her T-shirt says, "Get in. Sit Down. Shut Up." Wait, maybe it *is* for fun. Wonder where you keep the handcuffs.
posted by jdiaz at 7:39 PM on February 21, 2003

It just needs some fine tuning, and then attach one of these to it, and you're set. It already looks pretty durable, and you would never have to wait to read another terribly funny joke being emailed around once again, which you first saw two years ago. Imagine the convenience of being able to download mp3s as you steer your wheeled Personal Computing Environment through the grocery store checkout line. And then all you really need is one of those beer hats, and maybe like a toilet receptacle in the seat, so you'd never, ever have to leave your blessed Personal Computing Environment. It is, after all, much safer there, nice and cozy, and has everything within arm's reach. Yes, go ahead, sit down, it will take care of everything, you'll never want to walk again ...
posted by krinklyfig at 8:45 PM on February 21, 2003

Didn't Darth Vader have one of these on his Star Destroyer?
posted by aladfar at 9:07 PM on February 21, 2003

If you want to live out fighter jock fantasy in a virtual office, a completely self-contained and enclosed 'capsule', 4' wide, 7' long, and 4.5' high, designed specially for concentrated (and ergonomically correct) computer use. that looks like a 1950's sawn off slingsby sailplane then check this out.
posted by marvin at 10:15 PM on February 21, 2003

Reminds me of the chair Lt. Barclay built for himself in the holodeck when he was evolving off this plane of being and took over the Enterprise.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 2:41 AM on February 22, 2003

I actually got to sit in one of these at Comdex last November. It is quite comfortable and the angle of the seat and headrest has you looking directly at the monitors. But, while it is comfortable, it's not practical unless all you do all day is data entry without paper or need for a cup of coffee. And the price tag is a bit steep.
posted by MediaMan at 9:50 AM on February 22, 2003