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Is this desk too high for a 24 inch Imac to be used comfortably?

Whackintosh

Whackintosh

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 8, 2009
435
14
Montreal, Quebec
Given that my desk has a monitor riser that cannot be removed, I'm a bit concerned about how high the screen would be because of the Imac's chin. Don't want to be dealing with a sore neck every time I work. Attaching a pic here for some input. Sorry for the messy work station, lol!
 

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as an owner of a 24" iMac, I definitely think that a 24" would be too high up if you leave your desk the way it is and place the 24" iMac on the elevated part.

If you were to remove the elevated part, I think you'd be fine using the 24" iMac.
 
since I have both the 24" iMac and a 20" ACD hooked up to it, I decided to take a quick pick with my iPhone so you can see just how much taller the 24" iMac is compared to the 20" ACD - the same display you have.

apologies for it being a little on the dark side.
 

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Just recently got a new 24 inch iMac in the house. It was something I was worried about with just a standard table just due to its height.

As it stands the standard table with no extra height and the imac set back slightly is the pretty much the perfect position. Personally I would make a change and get rid of that extra height that your desk would provide. Then again your milage may vary. :D
 
Yes, it's too high. Get rid of that desk and invest in a quality executive desk (not a credenza/computer desk with keyboard drawer). The iMac is designed to sit on a pedestal desk with the keyboard right in front of it.
 
Thanks for everyone's replies. Getting rid of the desk isn't an option and I'm not sure I want to mod the Imac for a mount. My chair has the option of being raised, so perhaps that may be the best route? That or I'm back at looking at a mini but I'd much prefer to get a machine with a dedicated gpu and faster cpu.
 
Every ergonomic specialist has told me the same thing. If the top edge of the display glass is above your eye-line you'll more than likely cause problems with your back or neck.

Your thoughts on raising the chair might also lead to problems. Your chair height should not be so high that your feet don't sit flat on the floor. You also don't want to put pressure on the length of your thighs.

Consider modifying the desk or getting a display mount.

My two cents but I do live with back pain full time so I do look for ways to keep pain to a minimum.
 
It should be fine. My desk is similar, with a raised portion for the monitor. I went from a 23" apple display to the 24" imac. There's a little adjusting to get used to, but in the end, its 2" up. If it bothers you, try adjusting the chair up, and then slowly reduce the chair height a bit each day to get back to your old height (my chair doesn't fit under the desk when i raise it, so i had to trick myself back into its old height.)
 
Redbeastmage said:
It should be fine. My desk is similar, with a raised portion for the monitor. I went from a 23" apple display to the 24" imac. There's a little adjusting to get used to, but in the end, its 2" up. If it bothers you, try adjusting the chair up, and then slowly reduce the chair height a bit each day to get back to your old height (my chair doesn't fit under the desk when i raise it, so i had to trick myself back into its old height.)
Click to expand...

Great! Your neck/back never gets sore?
 
jtgotsjets said:
(no offense, but i love how pretty much everyone told you not to do it— then one person says it works for them and you sound quite ready to believe)
Click to expand...

I know, lol! What got me was that this poster actually has a desk setup exactly (more or less) like mine, and has had no problem with his Imac on it. The other posters are confident that it would be too high, but they haven't had the benefit of trying it out in this setup. Having said that, yes, it really does seem like it would be too high, but if it can work, I'd be thrilled.
 
Whackintosh said:
I know, lol! What got me was that this poster actually has a desk setup exactly (more or less) like mine, and has had no problem with his Imac on it. The other posters are confident that it would be too high, but they haven't had the benefit of trying it out in this setup. Having said that, yes, it really does seem like it would be too high, but if it can work, I'd be thrilled.
Click to expand...
You can hang your iMac on the ceiling and it'll still work. Fact is that there are certain ergonomic guidelines for responsible computing. Knees and elbows 90 degrees, top of display just below the eye-line.
 
Whackintosh said:
Thanks for everyone's replies. Getting rid of the desk isn't an option and I'm not sure I want to mod the Imac for a mount. My chair has the option of being raised, so perhaps that may be the best route? That or I'm back at looking at a mini but I'd much prefer to get a machine with a dedicated gpu and faster cpu.
Click to expand...

My advice is to get a new desk. I ran into the same problem as you, and I have a executive desk with that damn "shelf'. So now I have a 20 imac for home and a 24 for work. The 20 looks good on the desk since it is elevated, it seems bigger than a 20 because of the elevation. I am 6 FT and with my chair elevated to the 'max' my 20 imac is still two inches higher than my head. The 20 imac is not a small screen it is tall, the 24 is two inches taller, thats it.

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/imac?mco=MTE2NjM

But as was found out you have to play a 'panel lottery' if you want a 20 imac. The panel used on the 2009 imacs or should i say 'panels' one is a 6-bit with FRC and one is a 8-bit TN panel which looks much better.

Do yourself a favor and get a 24' with a new desk without the 'shelf'. If you raise your chair, your hands will be too low to type, and will hurt your wrists. Trust me. I am in the process of getting a new desk regardless because of this and will have a normal desk without the 'shelf' with a 20 imac when I could have had bought a 'normal' desk with a new 24' imac in the first place.

Don't make the same mistake I did.
 
Please take an interest in comments that have years of experience.

You will begin to gain partiality in your setup not realizing the stress it creates. Years later you will discover your neck or back will begin hurting.

After two back surgeries that did not work I now must depend on a a pain pump for relief I should have spent more researching a chair and other items. For me it is too late for preventative action. I now truly enjoy my Human-scale Freedom chair, keyboard tray, and Human Scale footrest.

I was researching the posts for ideas if I need to raise the 27" iMac a bit? With my chair height I seem to stare into the camera on my iMac. I noticed a small neat stand in last months MacWorld if something is needed.

Good luck and Blessing!
Michael
 
Whackintosh said:
Given that my desk has a monitor riser that cannot be removed, I'm a bit concerned about how high the screen would be because of the Imac's chin. Don't want to be dealing with a sore neck every time I work. Attaching a pic here for some input. Sorry for the messy work station, lol!
Click to expand...
I actually think you would be safe removing the keyboard drawer and having the keyboard/mouse sit on top of the desk. This would cause you to naturally raise your chair higher and would lessen the awkward-ness of the iMac sitting higher on the monitor stand.
 
michaelk7 said:
Please take an interest in comments that have years of experience.

You will begin to gain partiality in your setup not realizing the stress it creates. Years later you will discover your neck or back will begin hurting.

After two back surgeries that did not work I now must depend on a a pain pump for relief I should have spent more researching a chair and other items. For me it is too late for preventative action. I now truly enjoy my Human-scale Freedom chair, keyboard tray, and Human Scale footrest.

I was researching the posts for ideas if I need to raise the 27" iMac a bit? With my chair height I seem to stare into the camera on my iMac. I noticed a small neat stand in last months MacWorld if something is needed.

Good luck and Blessing!
Michael
Click to expand...

I'm in IT and sit for hours on end (though with many short breaks). As the owner of both a Herman Miller Aeron and a Humanscale Freedom Chair (gel seat and arms) which I bought for the headrest, I have to say I like my Aeron better, particularly because the front lip of the Freedom Chair tends to place too much pressure on the underside of my thighs, though if I were to buy yet another chair, I would pick the Herman Miller Embody, solely for the reduced amount of pressure it seems to impose compared even with the Aeron.
 
Why not put the iMac on the bottom part of your desk? Unless it's an optical illusion, there appears to be lots of room.

If you put it on the top, it will be way too high. I had a 21.5" on a regular desk and I found the screen too high for my liking due to the chin.
 
MinkyMomo said:
I'm in IT and sit for hours on end (though with many short breaks). As the owner of both a Herman Miller Aeron and a Humanscale Freedom Chair (gel seat and arms) which I bought for the headrest, I have to say I like my Aeron better, particularly because the front lip of the Freedom Chair tends to place too much pressure on the underside of my thighs, though if I were to buy yet another chair, I would pick the Herman Miller Embody, solely for the reduced amount of pressure it seems to impose compared even with the Aeron.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the reviews. I started to purchase the Herman Miller. I will always be searching for a more conformable chair.
Good Day!
 
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