Ask HN: What $500-2500 product improved your 2022 • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What $500-2500 product improved your 2022

#191

Post by thefz » Sat, Jan 07, 2023, 10:21 AM UTC

lampington wrote: post #184

40" Dell U4021QW UltraSharp Curved Monitor. It's a great monitor, but what really makes it amazing is the built in KVM. My personal machine is a Linux desktop with displayport, but my employer gave me a Mac laptop which I have to use for work - lovely machine, just not my preference. The keyboard and mouse plug in to the monitor, the Mac plugs into the monitor by USB-C (which changes it, drives the display, and route…

Amen to that. Before owning a display with built in KVM, I kind of did the same with an button USB switch, but the integration is much more nice.

Re: Ask HN: What $500-2500 product improved your 2022

#192

Post by minerva23 » Sat, Jan 07, 2023, 11:15 AM UTC

slt2021 wrote: post #113

I bought OneWheel XR (superseded by GT model) and my quality of life and happiness level increased tenfold. Very good electric mobility device in-around town and on trails https://onewheel.com/products/

For you or anyone who might be considering it, there's a safety warning on that brand: https://www.engadget.com/cpsc-onewheel-safety-warning-213555...

Re: Ask HN: What $500-2500 product improved your 2022

#193

Post by lefalx » Sat, Jan 07, 2023, 12:56 PM UTC

alkonaut wrote: post #117

Huge 900mm induction cooktop. Having lots of space for pans and 400V/16A induction was a real change from my old cooktop.

Switched also in 2022 from gas to induction. Never going back. No open fire, cook faster and also cleaning became much easier.

Re: Ask HN: What $500-2500 product improved your 2022

#194

Post by tomjen3 » Sat, Jan 07, 2023, 1:37 PM UTC

SudoAlex wrote: post #151

Sony ZV-1, Elgato Cam Link 4K, and a few other minor accessories (eg. lighting). A huge amount of time is spent on video calls these days, and although there are more advanced webcams out there these days - a camera which is geared towards video (the ZV-1 is aimed at vlogging) will produce significantly better video for any calls you're on. Spending a little bit of time optimising your setup so that you're the one in…

If you have a mac you can get most of that with continuty cam for a fraction of the price.

Re: Ask HN: What $500-2500 product improved your 2022

#195

Post by des1nderlase » Sat, Jan 07, 2023, 3:04 PM UTC

Some of the hobbies

Some of the basic (power)tools, drill, driver, saws, clamps. It's increadible how cheaply you can start a woodworking, metalworking fabrication projects. Trick is to dedicate some time and have a big enough garage/basement/room. For woodworking dust is the largest limiting factor in having fun for hobby shop. For metal, its the fumes, smell. Getting into machining, with lathe/mill requires a bit more space/dedication but is suprisingly clean(er), so people have done it even in their apartments.

Also for folks in the apartment, a 3D printer (full frame based ones that could be upgraded over time) and/or laser engraver-cutter (one of the latest diode 20-30w range) assuming you can ventilate the fumes, would get you and your kids endless fun.

Other than the above, for me personally, getting a good bicycle (a cyclo-cross-road type) with good all weather gear allowed me to ride anytime, anywhere and really use free time to the max (a honest recommendation, don't bother with performanse spec and weight too much, get a wider tire bike that can go anywhere with a widest range of gears, it's so much more rewarding). No other activity you can burn calories for 3-5 hours straight, and it helps away from a screen.

Re: Ask HN: What $500-2500 product improved your 2022

#196

Post by shireboy » Sat, Jan 07, 2023, 3:40 PM UTC

robmerki wrote: post #36

I spent ~$2700 on a new mattress. I no longer wake up with hip or lower back pain. My sleeps are an order of magnitude better. I ended up with a Tempurpedic. I spent about 2 hours trying every mattress at the store and bought the one that felt best. There’s probably a million hacks to get that mattress cheaper, but I regret nothing. One of the best purchases I’ve ever made. It also came with 2 “free” memory foam pill…

I did similar but had worse outcome. Thought my shoulder pain was due to 10 year old mattress. Tried them all, got Tempurpedic thinking "30 day guarantee" would be worth trying. 30 days passed and we both felt it too hard, but not so terrible we wanted the hassle of returning and picking another. Didn't fix my shoulder - that was unrelated. Still have insomnia.

Re: Ask HN: What $500-2500 product improved your 2022

#197

Post by SauciestGNU » Sat, Jan 07, 2023, 4:07 PM UTC

des1nderlase wrote: post #195

Some of the hobbies Some of the basic (power)tools, drill, driver, saws, clamps. It's increadible how cheaply you can start a woodworking, metalworking fabrication projects. Trick is to dedicate some time and have a big enough garage/basement/room. For woodworking dust is the largest limiting factor in having fun for hobby shop. For metal, its the fumes, smell. Getting into machining, with lathe/mill requires a bit m…

Big cyclist here and I fully agree with the cyclocross (now frequently called "gravel bikes") suggestion. It's versatile, can get me around in Michigan winters, and it's really fun. Great way to get/stay fit and reduce car dependency.

Re: Ask HN: What $500-2500 product improved your 2022

#198

Post by SauciestGNU » Sat, Jan 07, 2023, 4:13 PM UTC

LesZedCB wrote: post #99

ajkjk wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not a bad idea, although I guess personally I don't mind my coffee budget particularly because it goes to local cafes that I like supporting. I also don't drink all that much (2 cups a day) so it's not much money to support my 'habit'.

Yeah it's not really a money saver, I already upgraded my roaster, but it is really fun and satisfying. The are ways to start for like $20 if you ever become interested.

I've been roasting for about 12 years now. I still use the second roaster that I bought 10 years ago, a Behmor 1600. The unit cost under $400 new, and I get my coffee for about $8/lb max including tax and shipping. I have absolutely saved money, probably thousands of dollars over the course of this hobby. And I've become proficient enough that I can produce coffee that I prefer to anything sold commercially I've been able to find.

That being said, I am considering upgrading my roaster to the Aillio Bullet, which costs around $3k, so that would probably put me back in the red for this specific hobby.

Re: Ask HN: What $500-2500 product improved your 2022

#199

Post by LesZedCB » Sat, Jan 07, 2023, 8:21 PM UTC

SauciestGNU wrote: post #198

LesZedCB wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah it's not really a money saver, I already upgraded my roaster, but it is really fun and satisfying. The are ways to start for like $20 if you ever become interested.

I've been roasting for about 12 years now. I still use the second roaster that I bought 10 years ago, a Behmor 1600. The unit cost under $400 new, and I get my coffee for about $8/lb max including tax and shipping. I have absolutely saved money, probably thousands of dollars over the course of this hobby. And I've become proficient enough that I can produce coffee that I prefer to anything sold commercially I've been…

i highly recommend the bullet! the batch size is great and the data logging and responsiveness with the induction heating is pretty amazing. i wasn't planning to upgrade but a local one went on sale for 2500 and i couldn't pass up the opportunity.

Re: Ask HN: What $500-2500 product improved your 2022

#200

Post by gtvwill » Sat, Jan 07, 2023, 8:52 PM UTC

antisthenes wrote: post #188

gtvwill wrote: post #142

12kg direct drive LG washer. 2nd biggest you can get. Washing for the house has gone from an unmanageable 7-9 loads a day to 3 tops. Life changing. Hercules 500 mixer and an Omni turntable. Been flogging myself as a one man band MSP the last 2 years. Got this for a self bday prez last year. Been using it to wind down and have some hangouts w my stepkids. Music is great for breaking barriers and DJing im finding is a…

What in the world is going on in your house that requires 7 loads A DAY? Is everyone in your house a germaphobe? Do you run a hotel? It just blows my mind. I run maybe 1 load/week, tops, sometimes every other week.

Lol kids + rabbits + in-laws who own dingos. All it takes is for one rabbit to piss on a doona, one kid obliterating 3 pairs of clothes in a day via mud/dirt/being bush rats (then multiply that by 3) and doing a house load of sheets or towels and blamo. 7 loads easy. Or atleast 7 small loads. Now 3 tops generally.