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From: hosking@convexs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: British Design "Back" Chair
Message-ID: <14100003@convexs.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 5-Dec-84 02:49:00 EST
Article-I.D.: convexs.14100003
Posted: Wed Dec  5 02:49:00 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 7-Dec-84 01:47:06 EST
References: <1934@pegasus.UUCP>
Lines: 33
Nf-ID: #R:pegasus:-193400:convexs:14100003:000:1769
Nf-From: convexs!hosking    Dec  5 01:49:00 1984

I assume you are talking about Balans chairs, which are available in almost
any Scandinavian furniture store, and are often copied by other companies.
[If you can't find them, drop me a note and I'll mail you the address of
the mail order place where I bought mine.]

Are they any good ?  Well, let me put it this way.  I'm sitting on one right
now.  It's my normal desk chair at work, and I have only one complaint about
it.  It keeps vanishing because others around here borrow it when I'm not
around!  (Are you reading this, Alan ???)  One of the people who used to
borrow it liked it so much that he bought one for himself, and many others
would buy them if the price dropped.

I bought my Balans chair almost two years ago, and have been using it at
work ever since.  I find it much! more comfortable than many other chairs.
They're supposed to be great for people with bad backs.  (I haven't had any
back problems for several years, so I can't really say how true this is.)

If you're interested in getting a Balans chair, be careful to get a REAL one.
There are a number of knockoffs floating around.  A REAL Balans chair has
a curved bottom which makes it somewhat like a rocking chair; the knockoffs
generally have flat bottoms.  A REAL Balans chair is made of beechwood;
knockoffs are often made of cheap plastic.  A REAL Balans chair goes for about
$175; knockoffs often go for < $100.

I could say a lot more about the chairs, but the best thing I can say is
to try one.  The standard reaction of those who try them is that they look
strange, feel strange at first, but are very comfortable after the first
few minutes... if you can keep one around long enough to enjoy it.

					Doug Hosking
					Convex Computer Corp.
					{allegra, ihnp4}!convex!hosking