I've bought a lot of gadgets in my time, but this rates as my number one. Does it count as a gadget?
About three years ago, I started working from home, and so built my workspace out of what I had around me: a dining room table, and a dining room table chair. It wasn't exactly ergonomic. After a visit to Ikea, I had a better desk, but I still couldn't find a chair I was happy with. On my birthday (and after a particularly large chunk of revenue) I bought a Herman Miller Aeron chair (size 'C', fully adjustable, leather fittings) for about £600.
Six weeks later, it arrived. Since then, there hasn't been a single moment I've considered it anything but my best gadget purchase ever (and those of you who know me will understand what that means!) One day, the chair broke. Well, it developed a slight squeak in the hydraulic lift. So I emailed Herman Miller and asked where I could get it serviced. Less than an hour later, I got a call from "John" on my mobile that went something like this:
John: Hi, this is John from Herman Miller, returning your call. Is Chertsey Road just off Whiteladies?
Me: Yes, that's it.
John: If it's okay with you, I can be round in about twenty minutes.
Me: Okay, see you then!
John turned up shortly afterwards. He bashed the chair with a rubber mallet, at which point it fell apart. He replaced the lift, replaced the castors ("They're the wrong size for carpet") and the lumbar support, put the chair back together, bashed it the other way, and then started to head out the door. "So, are you going to invoice me?" J: No, no charge. 10 year on-site warranty!
Anyway, back to the present day. My current employer (being "fiscally responsible") is too tight to get me a decent office chair. A few months into the project, my entire neck and shoulders seize up, requiring an osteopath and two weeks off. Back at work, I get my Aeron shipped up from storage in Bristol. Not a twinge since. So, it's worth a look, even if it's just window shopping. If the full price tag seems steep, you can get a cut-down version a lot less... fewer levers, and vinyl fittings, but it's still a geek's throne.
Some links:
Aeron Chairs
And another one
!!
