Cheap alternatives to Aeron chairs: Aeron chairs of craigs list. Only took me a week of looking to get a new one for $350 including delivery. Saving $550 for using my dining room chair for a week paid off. Same goes with my desk. Best part is that if I never need to sell it (such as when I moved to Europe a few years ago) I know I will be able to get most of that back. Compared to any no name chair I will be lucky to give it away.

Bingo, during college I re-sold office furniture by purchasing bulk quantities from foreclosed businesses. Aeron and Steelcase definitely retain their value, it's hard to find a used Aeron under $300. As an alternative to the Aeron, you may like the Steelcase Leap chair but they are much harder to find.

There are a few things worth checking on an aeron to make sure you're getting a good deal:

1. the quality of the mesh (check for cuts, etc. I would avoid if the mesh is in bad shape).

2. check the base, make sure you rock side to side. avoid creaks, and clanks. Aerons are generally REALLY durable unless they've been abused.

The issue with ordering Aeron's blindly is that they come in a ton of different configurations. Some have tilt forward, not just tilt back for example. Some have leather arms rests, different lumbar system, etc..

Like car shopping, there's no such thing as a "last good deal" so don't force yourself into purchasing something you're having second questions about. The economy is in the shitter, plenty of Aerons will be available if they aren't already.

I've been very happy with my Markus chair so far. I would also recommend the Mikael desk (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40079218) and drawer unit if you're looking for something cheap, simple, and functional.

That's the desk I use. It's works fine, but it's very lightweight and therefore not exceptionally sturdy. But for $80, it's not bad.

I agree, I got a used Mikael off craigslist in 2002 for $20 when I was a grad student and it's still going strong.

How long does the Ikea one last? The aerons are expected to last about 10 years from what I have heard. $40 a year is how I am trying to justify the purchase to myself.

I've had my $139 IKEA chair for 7 years and never had a problem with it.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00074840

Interesting alternative to the aeron. I have had similar chairs from staples etc... and all of them the seat cushion breaks down to the point where I am sitting on the particle board under the padding after a year or so. Does this IKEA chair do that?

I am not a heavy guy by any stretch of the imagination and these chairs all break down on me so the aeron is something that I am considering largely because of the cushion problem. (also the mesh keeps cool during a long session and the posture elements are nice too)

On the other hand, what necessary features does this chair have that the most basic ones don't?

I was going to buy me the most basic office chair (height and tilt-adjustable, as I guess just any of them) because I don't wish to pay price of something like Aeron and I don't understand what the above-basic chairs have to offer me.

I second this choice of chair. I picked mine up for half price in the "as is" section. To me, it's more comfortable than just about any office chair I've had, and I've had the Aeron chair. (The Aeron wins out, but it's not by $300 worth!)

I've had an Aeron (at work) before too and I prefer the IKEA one, mostly because I don't like chairs with arms. I've honestly never gotten the whole cult-of-the-aeron.

The Aeron chairs do not last ten years per se. One in my team uses it and the webbing wore off (as in, there was a hole in it) in under five. They did replace it under warranty after a bit of moaning.

I have been looking at the humascale chairs (http://www.humanscale.com/) but they are not cheap either.

VDU breaks and good basic ergonomic positions still get you a long way towards pain-free work, anyway. A chair can't fix everything.