1.24.14 Apple Ad Shot with the iPhone.

So Apple put out a pretty cinematic TV ad, shot entirely on the iPhone. The director was Ridley Scott's son, the editor was the legendary Angus Wall and Lee Clow (Creative Director of the original 1984 Ad) collaborated. The video is pretty impressive but what I liked the most from reading the "behind the scenes" was not about the technology being used. It was .....

It was the chairs. Damn right, I was drooling over the Aluminum Group chairs used by the editing crew. So many of them! I was sitting in my Soft Pad Aluminum Group chair all weekend at home; wondering if I'd ever get the similar chairs at work in the office. That would be such a great perk to have. I rarely sit on mine because I'm rarely in my bedroom office. Most of the time, it is draped under a throw to protect it from the sun but when I sit on mine, I love it. I've been looking to add two more Task Chairs (like the ones pictured below) to compliment my Soft Pad.

(images by Apple)

iMacs, Macbook Pros, even the new trash can 2013 Mac Pro? Nah, I'm more interested in those chairs. Money shot right here folks. In 2-3 years when those computers get listed on Craigslist after their obsolescence, these chairs will still be worth money.

Just look at how many Eames Task chairs they have! Everyone has one. And they're not knock-offs either. $3200 a piece. Just drooling. And you thought I was going to talk about computers and gadgets in this post.

Adventures in moving to a new place.

I've been really busy and I don't even have internet at my new place yet. It has been a bit crazy so no new tech postings. A few things noteworthy.

First, if you have three floors, do not wire your house with CAT6 wiring. I made that mistake. There are cable length issues and you will need to add some switches or repeaters if you want gigabit. I'm only getting 100 Mbit. I may have to go back and do CAT5E. I did get a new Wi-Fi router with the new AC standard so I'll see how that works.

I discovered Foscam. I've used other IP cameras in the past but I think I am going to standardize on the fi8910w. It works pretty well and I can access and control them with my phone. The Wi-Fi range is pretty good on these so I can stick them anywhere.

I'm still working on my home offices.

So far, I have a small 27" iMac set-up. Doesn't this look stylish with an Artimede Tolomeo desk lamp and a Herman Miller Eames Soft Pad management chair? That is about four grand in office gear before counting the iMac. I feel like Don Draper in that set-up.

For my real workspace, I have a vintage Bent Silberg desk with a Knoll Charles Pollock chair. I wanted a bigger desk to support 3 monitors. You can feel the retro vibe. Since my entire house is mid-century Herman Miller Eames, I may want to swap this out with the Eames ESU storage and a EDU desk unit. Man, that stuff is crazy expensive. $5-6 grand for desks and shelves. Then add the chairs, you'll have yourself a 10 grand office. This will suffice for now.

And for my laptop lounging, the Eames Lounge with an Otto MAG side table. The lounger is absolutely worth the drool. I look forward to spending a few years and decades with that chair.

Hopefully, things will settle in. I got a bunch of new electronic gadgets that need to be un-boxed.

Two of the nicest MCM Executive Office Chairs

This post is dedicated to those who want to outfit their home office with some swanky gear.

Here are two iconic MCM (MidCentury Modern) Executive chairs. Two of the expensive kind. Combined, you are looking at $5,000 for the set retail. $2,000 for the Knoll Charles Pollock on the left and $3000 for the Herman Miller Eames Softpad management chair.

These aren't your typical Aeron, Mirra, or modern equivalent ergonomic chairs so you can sit in your desk for 8 hour type chairs. These are made for the top tier executives and they're both my latest acquisitions. I would never have a plasticky, space-age looking ergo chair in my house. It would ruin the decor. These, chairs would look swanky.

Both are modern classics that have stood the test of time. The Eames Soft Pad was introduced in 1958 and the Pollock chair in 1965.

Unfortunately, these are bad photographs from my phone in front of my storage. My house is currently being renovated so I can't show you these chairs in better setting.  One chair will be in my den and the other in my bedroom office.

Of course, I would not pay $5,000 for the two. I got one at a major $1K discount and the other one is mint vintage that I scored for $250 off Craigslist. Guess which one was which. Both are authentic pieces as I do not deal in replicas of any sort. Both have luxurious Vicenza supple black leather. They both fit in any decor from traditional to ultra contemporary modern. They are over 40 years in design so they have stood the test of time. 

So which one?

I love the Eames. The Pollock is a great modern unknown chair with rich history. It is unknown by modern audiences but it is a great alternative to the "Eames."  The only chair I like better than these two is the Eames Time-Life Executive chair and that one goes for over 4K with Edelman all grain leather. That one is too rich for my blood. The Time-Life one is the one used by Don Draper in Mad Men. I would say the Pollock is closer to the Time-life in terms of "CEO" material than the SoftPad. The Softpad would be the top manager chair. Eames also comes in a lower price ($2k) ribbed model which is more of a Task chair than an executive chair. That one was also a consideration. So in order of food chain, I would rank them in this order: Eames Time-life, Pollock, Eames Soft-pad, Eames Aluminum Group Task.

There are countless knock-offs and replicas of the Eames that go for $350-500. The Pollock is replicated to a lesser extent with Steelcase "inspired" clones out there. Obviously, the Eames will always fetch a higher price tag and popularity. Here are a few things to look for when inspecting a piece. Check for tags and labels. If possible, the COA (Certificate of Authenticity) and receipts are important if you are buying vintage. Fake Eames usually have something off like an incomplete arm handles that do not make a full "D" while the Pollock clones have a different tufting and plating on the leg base.

Here are more professional photos:

I will probably post a fuller review later.

Links on where to buy::

Pollock Chair:

http://www.dwr.com/product/pollock-executive-armchair.do

Eames Softpad

http://www.dwr.com/product/eames-soft-pad-management-chair-vicenza-leather.do

Office acquisitions: Eames Lounge and Ottoman

This absentee blogger is busy furnishing his new house. I just ordered one of these for the office: An authentic Herman Miller licensed Eames Lounge and Ottoman (aka ELO). It was a pretty big purchase; setting me back close to $5K with tax/delivery. Yep. 5 with three zeros behind it. It has upgraded leather. I debated this heavily in my mind for quite a bit. I replace a laptop or computer every few years and those items cost me $2-$3K. Electronics are so disposable. I figure I'd keep this for a very long time and I could pass it along to my kids.

It is the real deal and should arrive in 6 weeks. I was looking at some fake reproduction ones and it bothered me to think about getting a fake. I love design and this is an iconic piece of 20th century furniture. Originally designed by the husband and wife team of Charles and Ray Eames in 1956, it has stood the test of time for over 57 years. 57 years is a long time to qualify this as a true classic. It is also a drool-worthy man-cave acquisition piece.

Trust me, this is the ultimate laptop lounging seating. This is one of the benefits of being fortysomething. I even got a matching portable walnut stand for my laptop.