I'm really not trying to be mean, but imagine your ancestors for a second. You know, the guys who ran down and killed animals that weighed several tons. Imagine how befuddled they'd be, sweating and bloodied from defeating the mastodon that just tried to kill them, when you told them that you can't be bothered to stand up for a little while while you type. It says something pretty embarrassing about society when we've collectively decided that myriad orthopedic problems are better than standing up.
That rant over with (sorry, again), I just went to the local hardware store and got some cinder blocks. The price difference (~$7 for the cinder blocks versus ~$1000 for a height-adjustable desk frame) was worth the slight lack of convenience. That, and without the adjustability, I won't be tempted to just leave the desk in the 'down' position.
There's a big difference between walking (or jogging) for hours and standing in one spot for hours. I can walk for significantly longer than I can stand in the same spot before I experience discomfort.
The reason that I don't experience that might have something to do with my latent hyperactive tendencies. With my standing desk, I'm able to pace around the office, walk to the whiteboard, and then return to the keyboard.
I think that helps me focus more, and it's probably one reason that I don't get sore from standing in one spot. Others may experience different results.
How do you know that your ancestors didn't have numerous orthopedic problems caused by constantly running down and killing animals, which resulted in drastically lower life expectancies than we enjoy now?
However, I did have someone with a Ph.D. in kinesiology (I think?) tell me that there's essentially no evidence of knee, hip, or back dysfunction in developing countries where people don't sit all day.
One of the interesting things you see in undeveloped countries is that people squat in a position that is hideously uncomfortable if you're used to using a chair.
I tried a standing desk. You get tired, numb and painful after half an hour. I can run several hours no problem. So indeed evolution did it's job and optimized for running.
I'm a part-time stander; perhaps 25 hours per week. I also sit, recline, and every once in a while decadently lounge while reading super-important work email on my iPad. Still, I've been standing a lot for many months, so I can look back and observe:
* It takes a few weeks to feel right. I'm far past that, and I feel much less tired after standing most of the day, than sitting all day.
* Standing a lot is really not a big deal. Lots of people work on their feet all day. Every day. See the above comments about ancestors.
* It is probably possible to develop all manner of trouble by standing too still. I wouldn't know; I am essentially incapable of standing still. I shift around continuously as I work.
* It is indeed very helpful to have the monitor high enough to look straight at it; this has totally removed the incentive to slouch.
It's good to be able to switch positions. You can get an (expensive) desk that easily adjusts height, or a drafting stool so you can sit at your standing desk, or two desks. I found that I did tire of standing, but getting one of those comfort mats for standing helped, and adding the treadmill so I can walk or stand helped more (and has made it much easier for me to lose weight, I believe).
That rant over with (sorry, again), I just went to the local hardware store and got some cinder blocks. The price difference (~$7 for the cinder blocks versus ~$1000 for a height-adjustable desk frame) was worth the slight lack of convenience. That, and without the adjustability, I won't be tempted to just leave the desk in the 'down' position.