At A Glance:
The Cobi Chair is sometimes referred to as the "Mac Chair," because its design is so similar to the bulky, white Apple monitors of years past. The Cobi Chair, too, has a white outline with bright, bold color on the seat and seat back, and the design of the chair makes it appear to be unfolding, the way a laptop might. It's also quite small and slight.
What's To Like:
The smallness of the chair and the complete lack of bulk or clutter when it comes to adjustments, armrests, and features, make it very freeing. The chair was designed so that you could constantly shift positions without getting uncomfortable. The open design of the chair combined with the bright, light-hued color makes the chair so fresh you may want to slap it. And it starts at $399, so if the aforementioned slapping episode were to get out of hand, you could replace it very easily.
What's Not to Like:
Again, this is not a chair for tall, large, or heavy people. It can't hold just any old passenger in a deeply comfortable way. There are also no big features and few adjustments.
The Bottom Line:
This is a youthful chair. It's high gloss, high fun, high color and style, and it's meant to embrace movement. This is not a work-ten-hour-days chair, or a one-size-fits-all heavy duty work chair. It's the fun, fresh Cobi.
Meet Cobi, the newest addition to Steelcase's home office and task seating collection.
Some people call this a "Mac chair," but those people are confused. It's a Steelcase chair. We can see why they get the two mixed up; they see a chair outlined in white, thin yet sturdy, with bright color on the seat and seat back. The chair looks as if it had opened, or bloomed, the way a laptop looks when the screen has been pulled up. But the comparisons stop there; if you don't believe us, try sitting on your open laptop (don't).
SmartFurniture.com has developed a web based product design tool it calls the 3 Minute Cobi Designer. This provides customers with the ability to pick and choose among the dozens of Cobi feature alternatives, view how the different combinations look, and order their customized version of the Cobi Chair on the spot (most configurations ship in just two days!).
Standard Cobi Chair and Cobi Stool features include:
- Flexing top edge: The Cobi chair allows users to rest their heads, arms, backs, even legs on top of the chair, supporting a variety of postures. The flexing edge takes pressure off the back, shoulders and limbs that use it for support, as well as increases circulation. Cobi makes you more comfortable, looser and more free to move as you please.
- Flexing back: Provides comfort and support for users. The Cobi also conforms and contours to the shape and pressure of your back and shoulders.
- Flexing seat: Encourages users to move and shift, and allows for any variety of postures. Whether you're laid back or posture-perfect, Cobi works for you.
- Weight-activated mechanism: Sensing your center of gravity, the Cobi adjusts to the position that will put the least amount of stress on the back, shoulders and legs, while still keeping you properly oriented and supported.
- Adjustable Seat height: Cobi accommodates different heights and leg lengths. To raise or lower the Cobi chair, just pull the lever up.