NextDesk Terra

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NextDesk TerraI spend a lot of time sitting in front of a computer both at work and at home, so for some time I’ve been considering getting a standing desk (reading reviews on LifeHacker and The Wirecutter) but was never really serious about it. Then for my birthday my siblings all contributed money towards the standing desk fund so I decided it was time to pull the trigger and try it in my home office.

It definitely wasn’t the cheapest option, but I selected the NextDesk Terra. I tend to keep and use stuff for a long time. My last setup, just your typical MDF computer desk and hutch, I got back in 2000 and survived multiple moves. Hopefully the Terra lasts just as long and from what I’ve seen so far with the build and materials quality, I think it will.

The NextDesk consists of a recycled solid aluminum frame and bamboo desktop. I went with the standard jet black gloss frame and upgraded to the darker bamboo finish. The two pillars (four in the Pro version) house the lifting motors, connected to a simple LED controller used to raise and lower the desk and store up to three different positions in memory. I also added the power management (a 12-outlet surge protector mounted to the underside of the desk), dual grommets, and vanity cover options.

The desk arrived in three boxes (vanity cover, desktop, and frame) while I was away on my business trip to New York City in mid-October, but once I got home and managed to clean out and remove my old desk, it was time to assemble the NextDesk:

Despite a few issues with the documentation, assembling the desk was relatively easy. The hardest part of the setup, for me, was deciding how to reorganize everything: where to put my monitors, the PC, re-routing all the cables, etc.

Then the next big hurdle was the lack of storage. Getting a desk like this really forces you to organize. Due to the design it’s hard to do a really clean-looking setup (just do a Google image search on standing desk setups to see what I mean) even with the NetFlex cable management and vanity cover. I don’t like clutter and it takes a lot of work to make a standing desk seem non-cluttered. I lost a lot of storage space compared to my old desk/hutch so I was forced to re-think where/how to store the rest of my stuff (I’m buying a lot of plastic tubs now to hold blank DVDs, accessories, cleaning supplies, toner/ink cartridges, etc.).

A few more random thoughts:

  • the NextDesk is rated to lift 315lbs (630lbs in the Pro version) so the motors have had no issue lifting my two monitors and Sony LCD TV
  • I’ve used two of the programmable memory settings to easily switch my desk between sitting and standing modes
  • the desktop has nice rounded corners, but the aluminum feet have very sharp corners. I’ve only stubbed my toe once so far, but it hurt!
  • I’m using the Imprint CumulusPRO anti-fatigue standing mat

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