I’m finishing off an article about my standing desk after @dave2 asked. Writing it made me curious about the percentage of people who work at standing desks, so I want to do a poll about preferred working positions. However, as I can’t change a Discourse poll after it has received votes, I want to make sure I don’t miss an obvious answer. Here is the list of preferred positions I’ve come up with—if you have another suggestion, please share it below.
Please don’t write in if you use one of these positions or with comments other than about the poll itself—save those for the actual article!
What is your preferred working position on a Mac?
Sitting, at a desk or table
Sitting, with a MacBook on your lap
Sit-stand, but primarily sitting
Sit-stand, with equal time sitting and standing
Sit-standing, but primarily standing
Standing, with a stool or perching chair
Standing
Standing with an option for walking on a treadmill
I don’t see my work case listed. I was supplied (against my will) with an incredibly fancy motorized adjustable desk courtesy of the CA taxpayer. Back when I got it, I set the desk once to the proper height for me to use when seated. I’ve been sitting at that desk ever since and never once moved it (same goes by the way for the incredibly fancy chair they gave me). So I guess I would wonder what to select if I’m always sitting but at a standing (non-traditional) desk.
It might be good to include the task along with the position.
For example, for a long bout of writing (or other work), I want to be seated with better ergonomics, but if I’m just doing something quick, or web surfing, doing research, watching a video, etc. I might be okay with a different position.
I currently work at a fixed high desk (former industrial drafting table) and alternate between a high desk chair and standing, adjusting the height of my monitors as needed. Do you need a question distinguishing the type of work surface or type of adjustability if present? At other times, I sit at a normal-height desk for which I use and recommend a kneeling chair like @MarkNagata; I regard the body dynamics in a kneeling chair as different from both sitting and standing. It’s almost like you need a matrix of equipment, features, and positions.
yes, this is very true for me as well. If I’m working in Photoshop, or writing a detailed business email, I will sit at my desktop Mac. If I’m drinking my morning black coffee, and browsing news sites, or writing comments at TidBITS, I’ll stand at a different desk with my MBP.
Will this be multiple choice, or ranking the positions with points that and up to, say, 10? Some time sitting in front of a deck (4) and some in an easy chair (6)?
I’m the same, I do creative work sitting down and productivity standing up. I also… stand in the morning and sit in the afternoon… so time of day is also a factor.
Well, that was a useful discussion, even if it did make me switch to a multiple-choice grid in Google Forms.
I think this should do it. I dropped the ratios of sit/stand time because people can now rank each option by frequency. The weird laptop tray thing would fit into “Standing” or could be handled with “Standing, with the option for a treadmill.”
