I'm one of those poor buggers who suffers from lower back pain, and I'm seriously considering getting an Aeron. I'm heading out this week to actually try one out (a "C" size for the heavier fella naturally) and although AU$1300 is a crapload of money, I've easily spent that in the last six months on physio, back specialists, scans, drugs and even a spinal injection. Those posters who say "Just get a $100 ikea chair lol" don't understand how horrible having a bad back can be. I'm actually really glad they don't, because it really really sucks. I'm pretty sure that an Aeron would make a difference, but $1300 worth of difference? I'm not sure...

this post makes me very happy that i got a free aeron from work when we moved buildings.. so now i sit in an aeron 12.5 hours a day at work and hours at a time when i'm at home too!

The keyboard design looks ancient.

I've had back and neck problems for several years due to computer work. I do a lot of sport and visit the physiotherapist every once in a while, but nothing really fixes the problem completely.

I should look for a chair like that. But €700, damn...

Nice clicky keyboard!

I do all my computing in bed and have done so for the last five years or so. Gives me tons of positions and variation, right now I'm lying belly-down with my chest propped on a couple of pillows! Comfy!
And for you office guys, yes, I do spend at least(!) eight hours a day in front of the computer (in bed). Kind of hard if you really got to go to the office to do your job but that's what the internet is for, right!?

How come your back is to the door? Facing front changes your whole psychological outlook. Like they say, it really does make you feel more important, therefore more comfortable in your surroundings.

I've got one of those myself a couple years ago, probably $700 to $800 with options. It was hard and I never did get used to it. It does seem very high quality though, and my friend who "inherited" it seems to like it a lot.

For that much money, the armrests damn well ought to be silent and solid.

No matter how awesome, I couldn't possibly justify spending so much for a desk chair (I barely was willing to spend 500 on a recliner, and I spend more time there than at my desk). A huge chunk of that price is just for the name Herman Miller. There's a limit to how much I'll spend just to get a name brand stuck on a product.

And really, the chair isn't why I slouch. I slouch because I'm lazy and out of shape, and it takes less energy to slouch than hold my shoulders straight, especially when I need to lean forward.

I want a chair that has a FRONT-rest. So I can lean forward and have chest support to help keep my back straight. Tilting the backrest forward never seems to do anything useful for me unless I'm sitting all the way back, and a lot of the time I don't. I could just spin a regular chair around, but then it would need to be an armless one, and I couldn't lean back at all.

Maybe some straps attached to the backrest and crossing my chest.

sweet coffee mug USA#1

Armrests are bad for your back too. Hence most "ergonomic" chairs don't have armrests.

I have an Aeron at work. Didn't even realize there was suppose to be anything special about it until a friends told me how expensive it is. I just seemed like an average chair with a bunch of extra controls that I thought were mostly useless. My suspicion is that these chairs are like an expensive wine. You enjoy them because they are expensive and not necessarily because they are better. I don't think I'd care if I had a different chair but now that I know how expensive it is I treat it as a status symbol. Mwahahahah.

Looks like a 1391401 to me.

i'm curious. does the potted plant get enough sunlight in your office?

Sit On It is a great value and name. ;)

Steelcase Leap is also a great alternative to the Aeron.

You have what looks like a 42H1292 and you are worried about fan noise ? Anything over 30pwm sounds an explosion in a leggo factory!

Oh for anyone that doesn't know the 42H1292 is an IBM buckling-spring k/board. Out of all the k/boards I have tried over the years I keep going back to mine.

oh the chair is nice as well !

What can you all recommend in the $100 range :)

I can justify the price of a GREAT chair, but I can't afford it. I do need a new one.

I took the armrests apart and filed down some parts to get the wiggle down to an acceptable level. It still bothers me from time to time, but I'm just unnecessarily obsessive like that.
Will that void the warranty?

I agree a good chair is a must. I spent like $350 on a leather chair back in the summer 03 and its still going strong. When you spend alot of time on the computer it makes a huge difference, I've also slept on it once or twice which was decent. Highback leather chair is a must, I can never go back to anything less now. Alot of my friends thought it was excessive back then, but in the 4 years i've had it they have had alteast 2-3 chairs so well worth the money.

http://www.bizchair.com/react-seat.html?CAWELAID=64842898
This was on sale for $100 at storables. It looks cool and is comfy. recommended.

Forget the chair. What the heck is up with those displays! Now that the cats out of the bag you are going to have to upgrade to something decent. The pride of TR is at stake!

A good office chair will easily outlive a bunch of computers.

When i started working in the gov back in 2000, i got a Kinnarps Synchron 8000 at the office. After having spent 8 hours a day in that feeling just great, i got one for my home too, but all leather as its more sturdy than cloth/leather combo even though the cloth is tested to hold up for something like 8h/5d/32w/10y.

When I sat down the most, i counted that i spent something like 12-16 hours a day in a synchron 8000 chair. Without that, i dont know how my back would have coped. So that $1000 chair was worth every penny i spent on it.

http://www.damocles.nu/old_galleries/HobbyRoom/images/Synchron%2080...

For that much money, the designer of the chair should come to my house and engage in carnal relations with me or another family member.

The ironic thing is: chair from Herman-Miller $1000, table from IKEA $3.97

We had like 10-20 of these all around our office not being used.
Never knew there was anything special about them.

Time to go "borrow" one to try out in my office.

I have a Herman-Miller Aeron. We use them at work and I bought one with an employee discount.

What? no benchmarks?

Damn good advice Cyril.
I've been going through computer chairs every couple of years.
Always the same problem...the seat cushioning goes flat and loses all support.It ends up like sitting on the metal frame.
Somewhat inevitably,you can't just get the cushion replaced(in Japan..its new or its junk).
Maybe high time I sprung :) for a decent high end chair such as you've just described.

My wife used to work for Herman-Miller so we were able to get an of Aeron at cost price (and I'm not going to upset you by telling you how little that is). We've had it eight years now and it still looks and feels brand new, so I'd recommend it to anyone.

If the full price is bit of a stretch, try checking with office clearance specialists - last time there was an economic downturn, hundreds of just worn-in Aerons became available at very attractive prices.

LOL.
The Keyboard stole the show.

I've been pushed my GF to get a good new chair.
I'll do it again this year.

Cyril, please gift me your keyboard :D