Open-Source Controller for the IKEA Bekant Standing Desk • Hacker News Board

Re: Open-Source Controller for the IKEA Bekant Standing Desk

#81

Post by neomantra » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 9:21 PM UTC

protomok wrote: post #53

Has anyone tried the Tresanti standing desk which is sold at Costco? It seemed pretty sturdy and reasonably priced at $400 CAD ($300 USD) EDIT: link - https://www.costco.ca/Tresanti-Adjustable-Desk.product.10042...

I bought that for my home and two for my office -- Costco had it for $300 USD in the warehouse (I see $400 USD online). Maybe cheaper in Canada because it is a Canadian distributor, it is made in China.

A few weeks after purchase, I waited at Costco for new tire installation and worked on my laptop for a few hours. I evangelized standing desks and this product many times while there.

It has very high build quality, especially for the price. The glass is nice and strong, the metal is sturdy, and it doesn't wobble. The setup was super easy, the three integrated charging USB ports are very handy -- too bad no USB-C though. It has presets and a nice little integrated LED. I put my 75 pound kid on it moving up and down with no problem. I have not cracked open the controller and open-sourced the breakdown.

I used an Uplift for many years; it was nice too and good wood and a bit larger at ~$750. But if you like the modern look, the product and the price is great.

Re: Open-Source Controller for the IKEA Bekant Standing Desk

#82

Post by driverdan » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 9:23 PM UTC

If you're going to have a standing desk at home I recommend building one that's fixed height. A fixed height desk will be much more stable and allows you to have storage underneath. If you want to sit use a drafting chair or stool.

There are a number of designs that require minimal skill and tools. The first one I built used parts from Ikea and only required a drill and some hand tools. It looked great, had a ton of storage, and cost under $400.

Re: Open-Source Controller for the IKEA Bekant Standing Desk

#83

Post by sammycdubs » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 9:24 PM UTC

I was completely blown away by the Fully Jarvis (https://www.fully.com/). Mine worked out to ~$500, took all of 5 minutes to set up and has been completely rock solid. It's super customizable, and the quality has been really excellent so far (especially the bamboo top).

I dig that they're a B corp too.

Re: Open-Source Controller for the IKEA Bekant Standing Desk

#84

Post by jstsch » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 9:24 PM UTC

whalesalad wrote: post #28

Ikea's standing desks aren't that great. They wobble a lot and then anything attached to it wobbles too. Still looking for the perfect heavy-duty standing desk and heavy-duty VESA arm combo. I don't want anything on my desk moving unless I am moving it myself. To put it this way: if a desk is $500 and wobbles slightly (meaning if I touch the desk or type, my coffee jiggles and waves are seen) or is $1000 and the desk…

The Skarsta is cheap and fine. When you go to Ikea they tend to wobble, because about a month after assembling them you need to tighten the bolts once. Done.

At home, I customized my Skarsta a bit. Bigger top (200CM wide versus 160CM, 70CM deep) in order to fit 2*27" LG5K and two monitor speakers. And a sliding shelf hanging below the frame, just deep enough to fit a master keyboard. Works fine! :)

Oh, not motorized. No problem. 30 secs of light excercise :)

Re: Open-Source Controller for the IKEA Bekant Standing Desk

#85

Post by martin » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 9:25 PM UTC

protomok wrote: post #53

Has anyone tried the Tresanti standing desk which is sold at Costco? It seemed pretty sturdy and reasonably priced at $400 CAD ($300 USD) EDIT: link - https://www.costco.ca/Tresanti-Adjustable-Desk.product.10042...

Yep, I've had it for about 2 years. Biggest complaints are that the buttons are on top and easy to press by accident (although there's a lock button on the side), and the lowest setting isn't low enough for me (5'8"). All that said, I think it's great for the price. I'm thinking about upgrading to a big ol' Uplift Desk because I want to get an under-desk treadmill with enough room for a chair next to it.

Re: Open-Source Controller for the IKEA Bekant Standing Desk

#86

Post by st3fan » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 9:25 PM UTC

xenophon wrote: post #75

I'm the co-founder of an office furniture startup called Bureau (www.bureauwork.com) and thought I'd chime in here. By far the most frequent complaint that came up in our research about cheaper standing desks is their tendency to wobble, along both the front-back axis as well as the side-to-side axis. Generally, there are four reasons a standing desk will wobble: 1) Frame materials: I'd highly recommend a steel frame…

My BEKANT does not wobble at all.

Re: Open-Source Controller for the IKEA Bekant Standing Desk

#87

Post by beatgammit » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 9:27 PM UTC

protomok wrote: post #53

Has anyone tried the Tresanti standing desk which is sold at Costco? It seemed pretty sturdy and reasonably priced at $400 CAD ($300 USD) EDIT: link - https://www.costco.ca/Tresanti-Adjustable-Desk.product.10042...

I've heard good things and I played with it at Costco, and it seemed solid enough. I didn't get it because it just wasn't big enough.

My wife has the Skarsta, which is a good size, though it doesn't have a motor. I've heard the Becant has problems with the motor, so I didn't get that.

I'm still in the market for a decent, reasonably priced (under $500 preferably) motorized desk, but it needs to be serviceable (I want to be able to replace the motor or desk top without sending it in).

Re: Open-Source Controller for the IKEA Bekant Standing Desk

#88

Post by TaylorAlexander » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 9:27 PM UTC

driverdan wrote: post #82

If you're going to have a standing desk at home I recommend building one that's fixed height. A fixed height desk will be much more stable and allows you to have storage underneath. If you want to sit use a drafting chair or stool. There are a number of designs that require minimal skill and tools. The first one I built used parts from Ikea and only required a drill and some hand tools. It looked great, had a ton of…

I got the IKEA Bekant sit/stand L desk and I’ve been really satisfied with it. I alternate between computer chair and standing and don’t think a stool would provide enough comfort for me.

Re: Open-Source Controller for the IKEA Bekant Standing Desk

#89

Post by whttheuuu » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 9:30 PM UTC

xenophon wrote: post #75

I'm the co-founder of an office furniture startup called Bureau (www.bureauwork.com) and thought I'd chime in here. By far the most frequent complaint that came up in our research about cheaper standing desks is their tendency to wobble, along both the front-back axis as well as the side-to-side axis. Generally, there are four reasons a standing desk will wobble: 1) Frame materials: I'd highly recommend a steel frame…

I have the Bekant and it is very well built. I have a monitor arm with 2 monitors on it and the desk doesn't wobble at all.

Re: Open-Source Controller for the IKEA Bekant Standing Desk

#90

Post by whttheuuu » Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 9:32 PM UTC

whalesalad wrote: post #28

Ikea's standing desks aren't that great. They wobble a lot and then anything attached to it wobbles too. Still looking for the perfect heavy-duty standing desk and heavy-duty VESA arm combo. I don't want anything on my desk moving unless I am moving it myself. To put it this way: if a desk is $500 and wobbles slightly (meaning if I touch the desk or type, my coffee jiggles and waves are seen) or is $1000 and the desk…

Have the Bekant and as others have mentioned the build quality is very good. I have 2 monitors mounted via an arm and it really doesn't wobble.