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Comment by redelbee | Hacker News Reader

This is neat and makes me want to take a router to my existing standing desk to organize cables in a similar fashion.

That said I think a focus on the entire desk might be a difficult sell. I’m not going to replace my existing desk with this. I’m not even sure if I would go for this if I was in the market for a desk unless I could customize it in some way (or at least choose from multiple configurations depending on my needs). It looks like that’s included in your future planning, so congrats.

You know what I would buy immediately? A well-designed standing/convertible desk that makes a modern design statement. I don’t like the extremely utilitarian look of all the standing desk options I’ve seen. Give me the 2020 version of the Steelcase (or numerous other manufacturers) tanker desk and I will buy in a heartbeat. Those tankers are utilitarian and stylish. I would probably own one already if they didn’t weigh half a ton.

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The height-adjustable desk we have at my company are the Watson C9 which sounds like it might be up your alley design-wise.

It has 4 thin legs instead of 2 T-Rex style legs and you could probably customize it with storage on both sides to get close to a tanker-style desk.

https://www.watsonfurniture.com/gallery/images/859

Edit: I should also note that it is a bit more of a B2B company as opposed to B2C, but figured I'd share since I am very satisfied with them.

Oh wow this is great, thank you!

I hadn’t heard the T-Rex description before. It perfectly captures the look of every standing desk I’ve seen. It’s amazing how much the four legs changes the look and feel of the desk.

Since you seem to be in the know: Do you see any of the more B2B type companies (or designers) focusing more on the consumer market in the future or is the opportunity in selling to corporate offices going to keep things as they are? It seems like a lot of the design talent is focused on the corporate office space and needs. For example this C9 looks to have a rail system line etc built around the desk, which makes me wonder if different design choices would be made if the focus was more for a home office setting.

I'm pretty sure I made the T-rex thing up after trying to find a way to describe the difference between that style and the ones I currently have. Glad you like it :)

Most of the big companies such as Herman Miller, Haworth, Steelcase, Knoll all have online stores where consumers can buy individual items. Those brands also own a bunch of other brands such as Muuto, Hay, Naughtone, turnstone, Coalesse, BuzziSpace, and more which could have some crossover into the home office setting (and can also be shooped for online).

I imagine as the consumer market for home office heats up other brands will figure out how to manufacturer limited lines with limited options for finishes and fabrics so they can be made and shipped more rapidly.

For C9 though, you actually don't need the rail (we have 3 single desks in our office without a rail). While these are more expensive than something you could get elsewhere, they are built like a tank and manufactured to order to the specs you need at a facility in Washington State.

This makes total sense and I think you’re onto something with the limited lines/finishes/fabrics for the consumer market in the future.

I really appreciate you taking the time to list those companies and I’m definitely going to look into them, although with your experience and what I’ve seen of the C9 it looks hard to beat.

I didn’t have a new desk in the budget this year but it might be time for an upgrade!

You’re welcome, feel free to hit me up with more questions at stephen@ the website in my profile and I can shoot more detailed desk photos if you’re interested.

> Steelcase tanker desk

With hydraulic car jacks to make it sit-stand ;-)

Thanks for the feedback. The tanker desk is a classic!

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