Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

101–110 of 1001 posts

Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?

#101

Post by iloveyouocean »

eappleby wrote: post #94

I love my Fogless Shower Mirror: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003BQ6QXK?ref_=ams_ad_dp_asin_1 Most others use chemicals (I believe) to stop the fogging, which fades in effectiveness over time. Had this one for 5 years and it works perfect! Wish everything I owned just worked like this does.

I have also used this exact mirror for about five years. And I agree that its great. And it will continue to be because the hot water inside will always be the same temp as the hot water outside, and thus no fogging. That really can't be improved on.

Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?

#102

Post by SwellJoe »

drew-y wrote: post #65

The 1996 Mazda Miata. Super simple, reliable and fun to drive.

First gen Miata was even simpler, and similarly fun to drive, though not quite as fast or comfortable as what came later. It had a certain charm that I still like a lot whenever I see a well-maintained one driving around.

Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?

#103

Post by ky738 »

kchoudhu wrote: post #74
apankrat wrote: post #67

Aeron chair. Aeropress. EIZO monitors - http://www.eizo.com uTorrent, the older versions. Dead serious about uTorrent. One of the best designed and engineered pieces of software ever. Everything you need, where you expect it to be, doing exactly what it should be doing, and nothing more.

I haven't used bittorrent since about 2010. Would a 2006 era uTorrent client still be able to speak to today's network?

Fairly easy to download uTorrent 2.x and it works fine on Windows 10 :)

Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?

#105

Post by codemac »

FreakyT wrote: post #27

Another odd one, but my Honda Fit 2nd Generation. So many things about that car are so well thought-out, and even more expensive/luxurious cars miss things that the Fit designers included. Some examples: - Cup holder on the dashboard to the left of the steering wheel. As a left-handed person, this is amazing. - Window power remains on after turning off the car as long as doors haven't been opened, allowing you to clo…

Yes! I think some of the changes they made ~2007/2008 in their interior design were huge leaps in front of most other cars IMHO.

Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?

#106

Post by synicalx »

Inconel wrote: post #53
synicalx wrote: post #21

Odd answer, but probably a Blackberry Passport. Clean and sturdy design, OS is on point (assuming you dont use many 3rd party apps), keyboard is brilliant - it leverages the benefits of a physical keyboard and adds the flexibility of touchscreen keyboards. Not to mention the screen, never thought I'd enjoy using a 1:1 screen but it's so good for reading on. Outside of technology, probably my old man's Eames Classic.…

I've never owned a Blackberry before but the Passport Silver Edition is one of the most aesthetically pleasing phones I've ever seen. This is the studio responsible for it's design[1] if you're interested in some of their other work. [1] http://objectsandideas.com/projects#/passport-silver-edition...

Nice find there, I think I can safely say I like just about everything that studio has done.

Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?

#107

Post by blakes »

nodesocket wrote: post #89

My Altec Lansing ACS48 computer speakers. I paid $299 for them in 1999 and to this day they still work flawlessly and beat most every other computer speaker. Audiophiles swear by them, and still buy them in bulk when they can find them. Here's the Amazon reviews: https://www.amazon.com/Altec-Lansing-ACS48-Computer-Speakers...

Ah!

The other day I was trying to remember the brand of computer speakers that I had from the 90's that were so, so, so solid. Great sound (for computer speakers), and extremely robust. Dropped off the desk all the time and never had a problem.

Now to eBay to see if I can't find them.

Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?

#108

Post by rorykoehler »

pgreenwood wrote: post #87

Almost every bicycle. Our noblest invention.

From mass market brand road bikes I'm quite partial to Giant. I just bought a Defy Advanced 2. Truly an excellently designed and engineered machine.

From custom builders my bros Black Sheep Bikes Road Rage Downhill custom was and is the best bicycle I've ever had the pleasure of riding.

Link for the curious: http://www.spoke.ie/2011/10/red-bull-road-rage-janos-kohler-...

Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?

#109

Post by synicalx »

yousifa wrote: post #61
synicalx wrote: post #21

Odd answer, but probably a Blackberry Passport. Clean and sturdy design, OS is on point (assuming you dont use many 3rd party apps), keyboard is brilliant - it leverages the benefits of a physical keyboard and adds the flexibility of touchscreen keyboards. Not to mention the screen, never thought I'd enjoy using a 1:1 screen but it's so good for reading on. Outside of technology, probably my old man's Eames Classic.…

+1 on blackberry. Their keyboard is the most intuitive and comfortable keyboard I have used. BB OS10 was the best designed OS, guestures were intuitive, design was beautiful. It's unfortunate they didn't make it as a dominant platform in the smartphone era.

I agree, I'd love to see another BB OS phone or two but I think the Passport was their last stand. The Android phones are good and the BB apps work well even on other phones, but it's just not the same. I'll still follow the Mercury very closely because it looks promising, but I'm not sure I really trust Android to begin with.

Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?

#110

Post by prezjordan »

Baeocystin wrote: post #80
vinchuco wrote: post #5

The Curta handheld mechanical calculator https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13120233

I'm not much of a collector, but I have always wanted one of those. Beautiful design.

FWIW if you're not collector you can find some with a repaired handle for cheap! They'll pop up on eBay every once in a while.
Post reply on HN