There is a huge demand for inexpensive products that allow you to stand while working. Not everyone can afford the cost that comes with an electric standing desk. Some people don’t have the option to add an entirely new desk. Others like their current desk and don’t want to have to lose it for a standing desk. For these reasons, standing desk converters have become the #1 way that people have incorporated standing into their work day. We have recently added the 5100 by OFM Inc to our website and I have been using it for the past few days. Here is what I think about the OFM-5100 so far.
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OFM 5100 Review Snapshot
Pros
- Easy to Use
- Good Stability
- Strong Warranty
- Large Task Space
Cons
- No Dual Ergonomics
- Slippery Platform
- Limited Adjustments
OFM Inc History
In 1995, Abel Zalcberg and his family began their venture to become an office furniture manufacturer. With a huge focus on providing a reliable product line that shipped quickly, they soon became a mainstay in the industry. In 2016, The Hon Company purchased OFM Inc. and they retained Blake Zalcberg as their president.
OEM 5100 Manufacturer
The 5100 is made in China. The product is sourced by a company called Locktek, makers of the Flexispot. The item is stocked by OFM in three different locations across the country: North Carolina, Kansas and California.
After 10 months of testing, comparing and reviewing 40+ standing desk converters the results are in! |
Product Specifications
Weight Limit: 35 lbs
Overall at lowest height: 35”W x 23.5”D x 5.75”H
Overall at highest height: 35”W x 23.5”D x 19.5”H
Base Dimensions: 31”W x 22.25”D
Keyboard Platform Dimensions: 35”W x 13”D
Monitor Platform Dimensions: 35”W x 23.25”D
Max Keyboard Platform Height: 13.5”
Max Monitor Platform Height: 19.5”H
Min Keyboard Platform Height: .75”
Min Monitor Platform Height: 5.75”H
Distance Keyboard to Monitor: 4.5”
OFM 5100 Converter Price
$395.00 + Free Shipping |
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Product Features
Black only
Gas assisted lift mechanism with 15 different height adjustments
Sits on top of existing desk
Dual monitor capacity
Straight up & down movement
Two-tier design: Upper monitor platform with lower keyboard & mouse platform
Convenient slot on monitor platform securely holds a tablet or smart phone at just the right angle
Constructed using 3MM wrapped PVC and a heat shrinking process for a superior and durable bond
5 year manufacturer warranty
Shipping & Assembly
The 5100 ships FedEx ground within 2-3 days of placing your order. It will then arrive within five business days to most locations. There will be assembly required on the 5100. You will need a Phillips head screw driver for the eight screws needed to attach the mounting brackets to the keyboard platform. You will then hand-tighten four knobs that attach the keyboard platform to the rest of the unit. I would estimate assembly time to be about ten minutes.
Initial Impressions
This unit surprised me quite a lot. I have been a skeptic of the whole standing desk converter movement for a while now. I have always been an electric desk user, so testing a desktop unit, like the VARIDESK Pro Plus 36, has typically been quite a bad experience for me. My time with the 5100 has been much different. While the 5100 did exhibit some drawbacks, overall it does a much better job than similar converter models I’ve tested recently.
5100 Stand Up Desk Converter Set-Up
The convenience of being able to simply place the unit on top of your existing desk is fantastic, but that comes after 10-15 minutes of un-boxing and assembly. After you are done, you will still need to clear a new space on your existing desk, run your wires and then make sure that it is stable enough in that location. There is going to be a bit of set-up required with the 5100, but it will be much less than full standing desks.
I was comfortable placing this unit on one of the return sections of my desk with a depth of 24”, because of the straight up and down movement. I would not recommend a surface smaller than 24” deep.
One problem that I did run into was wire management. The storage tray with built-in slots to run charger cords to your phone or iPad are great, but they aren’t enough. You will need to make sure that all of your wires are held tightly out of the way or they could get crushed when you lower the unit.
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What do I like?
Price & Warranty
The price is probably the best thing to like about the 5100. Unless you go with a DIY starter kit, it can even be tough to find a decent stand up desk converter option for less than $400. This unit is a solid option for almost any application and it doesn’t break the bank if you end up not liking it.
The five year warranty adds more value to the product. If something breaks or becomes damaged, then OFM will send replacement parts for no charge. This is a strong warranty when compared to direct competitors who often only cover the product for 1-2 years.
Easy to use
The 5100 is an easy solution for people looking for a standing desk. The assembly required is limited and simple enough for almost anyone. The item is also straightforward to use. The only function on the 5100 is height adjustment. Squeeze both handles underneath she sides of the monitor platform and you can move the unit up or down with the help of gas lifts. It takes very little effort and the 5100 goes from sitting to standing in a few seconds.
Stability
I am very pleased with the stability of the 5100 and I think it is one of its strongest selling points. I need to be specific with my wording here because I do not want to overstate the stability. The 5100 is very stable for a desktop converter. It will still have more side to side movement than traditional standing desks and keyboard bounce will be more noticeable. Overall, this is a very solid product.
The stability comes back to the scissor lift base system. This system evenly distributes the weight of the entire unit over the center point of base. Since the lifting motion is straight up and down, the keyboard tray remains close to the base of the unit which helps to reduce keyboard bounce.
Space usage
One of the biggest problems with desktop converters is that you will almost always lose space compared to your existing desk. For instance, I am currently using this product on a section of my desk that is 24”D x 48”W. The unit fits great, but it is 23”D x 35”W. So, I lost an inch of depth and about 13” in width because that space became too awkward to use efficiently.
Compared to other standing desk converters, the 5100 is one of the best at replacing your lost space with a large useable area on top of the monitor platform.
The monitor platform is large with a thin cut-out near the front edge that has a small plastic tray. This tray is used to hold your phone, iPad, etc. It has slots in the bottom to run your wires so that you can be charging your items without them being in jeopardy when moving the 5100 up or down. The keyboard tray was also very large with plenty of room on both sides of the keyboard for left or right handed mousing. This large amount of work space has made a big difference with my experience. I love being able to have all of my important items within reach. I am not forced to have things like my notepad on my main desk because there is plenty of room for everything that I need.
What don’t I like?
Wire management
The 5100 suffers from one major issue that plagues many desktop converters, lack of wire management. The unique storage system with charging slots on the monitor platform is nice, but it doesn’t help with the wires for my monitor, speakers, keyboard, mouse, etc. Higher priced units will often have some type of built-in wire management system, or at minimum, some clips or straps that are included. Unfortunately, wire management will be entirely on you with the 5100.
Tip: Use as many wireless accessories as possible to avoid the issues I am experiencing with wire management.
Not dual ergonomic
The OFM 5100 may not provide a true ergonomic position for every user because the distance between the keyboard and monitor platform is fixed. This may cause you to have a downward viewing angle when using your monitor. It could also mean that your forearms are angled upwards toward your keyboard.
There is a grommet mount on the back of the monitor platform for you to add a monitor arm to help with this problem. But, this will be an added cost and will also cause you to approach the maximum weight rating.
Slick keyboard tray surface
The keyboard platform is made of a very smooth plastic. I find it to be a bit annoying because it is so slippery that my keyboard will sometimes slide around while I am using it. The keyboard platform has two little plastic pieces toward the back of the tray to keep your keyboard from sliding off the back, but the same cannot be said for the mouse. My mouse has taken a few falls off the platform from bumping it. The sliding of my keyboard is getting better the more I get used to the 5100, but it is definitely something that could be improved.
Tip: A keyboard without rubber stoppers, like mine, is not the best option with the 5100.
Not ideal for people over 6’1” or under 5’4″
I am most disappointed with the height range on the 5100. So many standing desk converters lack the height adjustment to accommodate short or tall people and the 5100 is no exception.
I am most comfortable at height setting eight, out of the twelve positions available. I am 5’8” and each height setting is about an inch taller than the previous. The additional four height settings do not provide the height needed for people over 6’1” unless you increase the height of the desk that the 5100 is placed on.
The second problem with the height range is that it may not be ergonomically correct for short users. Standard desk height is 29 or 30 inches. The keyboard and mouse platform on the 5100 will raise your desk height another inch. If you prefer to have your hands lower than this, then the 5100 will not work for you.
Tip: For users over 6’1”, I would recommend the Health Postures 6400 or Duke Clamp Mount. They are similarly priced but feature larger adjustment ranges.
Bottom Line
The 5100 can only lift 35 pounds and it isn’t going to work for taller people. It also doesn’t feature dual ergonomics like the TaskMate 6400, Duke or Kangaroo, but I think that you will be hard pressed to find a better product in the $300 range. It arrives quickly and requires minimal assembly. It goes right on top of your desk and moves up and down very easily for anyone. It is also quite stable with a lot of usable space for your everyday tasks. One thing that I will say that even surprised me about this product is that I have stuck with it, even after my testing period has ended. I just like using it. And this is coming from a guy with a fully electric l shaped desk
Additional Standing Desk Converter Resources
- The VertDesk Converter vs. VariDesk Pro Plus 36
- BTOD Duke vs. Varidesk Pro Plus 36
- VariDesk Pro Plus 36 vs. Flexispot M2 35″
- Top 6 Most Stable Standing Desk Converters
- How Much Does a Standing Desk Converter Cost?
- An Honest Comparison: Electric vs. Crank vs. Desktop Converter
