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

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

#191

Post by roland35 »

toomanyrichies wrote: post #155

One example of quality design which I gleaned from reading Don Norman's "The Design Of Everyday Things" is the metal plate I've frequently seen on doors which are meant to be pushed. The only affordance of such a plate is its push-ability, and the fact that someone actively installed a metal plate (instead of just relying on the door's natural flatness), as well as its location at the point of maximum leverage (all t…

That is a great book! There is so much discussion around doors, and rightfully so! I can never walk through an unusual door again without thinking about it since reading that chapter.

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

#192

Post by muzani »

kunle wrote: post #93

Pic's creamy peanut butter: https://picspb.com/products/creamy-pb I don't even care for peanut butter and this just hits. Super smooth, not too sweet - i eat it by the spoonful. I literally did not think there was any difference between different peanut butter brands until I had Pic's.

I've been searching for a PB that didn't literally add trans fat. After a few years of searching, Pic's was the only good one.

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

#193

Post by ChrisMarshallNY »

toomanyrichies wrote: post #155

One example of quality design which I gleaned from reading Don Norman's "The Design Of Everyday Things" is the metal plate I've frequently seen on doors which are meant to be pushed. The only affordance of such a plate is its push-ability, and the fact that someone actively installed a metal plate (instead of just relying on the door's natural flatness), as well as its location at the point of maximum leverage (all t…

> "The Design Of Everyday Things"

That book changed my life.

Totally agree. Anyone that designs things to be used by other people, would be well-served, reading that book.

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

#196

Post by atribecalledqst »

Havoc wrote: post #59

Zojirushi rice cookers. Even though the shell is plastic it has a durable feel to it like you don't find it kitchen appliances anymore. It'll still work in 20+ years type feel

I still use the Zojirushi rice cooker I grew up with after my parents bequeathed it to me. We probably got it around 2000 give or take a few years. So definitely bumping on 20 years.

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

#197

Post by djmips »

invalidator wrote: post #149

GearWrench ratcheting wrenches. They're compact and fit in places that sockets never will. The ratcheting mechanism is very fine, with low backlash, which matters a lot in those tight places. They feel great, and they're a delight to use. Wirewrap tools. They're mechanically simple, easy to learn, and let you create neat, dense hobby prototypes faster and easier than soldering. Wago Lever Nuts. These let you join a w…

Speaking of hand tools, how about Channel Lock pliers developed by Howard Manning.

https://patents.google.com/patent/US2592927A/en

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

#198

Post by ghostly_s »

andersco wrote: post #117

The Technics SL-1200 turntable. The fact that the design has not changed except for minor tweaks since the product was released speaks for itself. I used it both as a DJ many years ago and now kept one of the turntables just for listening. The quality of the turntable is palpable not only in its physical weight but in the utter simplicity of the design. The dotted edges of the rotating plate are both aesthetically pl…

> The dotted edges of the rotating plate are both aesthetically pleasing while also informative communicating rotation speed.

Isn't this pattern actually used as a rotary encoder for speed control?

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

#200

Post by idontwantthis »

skemper911 wrote: post #108
idontwantthis wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Been using an aero press for years, but the seal wears out. Need to press very carefully or the air goes out the top instead of the bottom.

replacement seals are cheap $6

Do you know if you can get a real one on Aliexpress? I’ve looked at replacements but wouldn’t want to get a fake that will leech at high temps. I’m not in the US.
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