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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?

#241

Post by elil17 »

theduemmer wrote: post #91

McMaster-Carr has the best shopping website I've ever seen. The UI is beautifully intuitive; even if I don't know exactly what I need, odds are I can easily find something that will work and they can have it at my doorstep in under 24 hours, no matter how obscure. Even if I don't plan on buying anything, it can be helpful to click through the site just to see what is available. Because most categories of parts have s…

This has actually created a huge bias in my company. People try to solve problems with parts from McMaster because it’s so easy to search, but we often overlook other company’s (e.g. Cole-Palmer) products (which may be much better suited for our applications) because it’s a pain to find them on their websites.

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

#242

Post by etempleton »

i_am_proteus wrote: post #73

W123 Mercedes-Benz sedan with an OM617A motor - the classic "300D Turbodiesel" from the early 1980s.

My first car was a 1985 300D Turbo Diesel. It spoiled me for all future cars. It drove wonderfully and had a ton of charm.

Not great in the cold, the controls were weird as only German cars can be, and acceleration was paltry by modern standards, but it was a tank that could seemingly drive forever. You still see some on the road.

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

#244

Post by kevinmchugh »

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…

I'm currently in a country where I can't read the language and memorizing push vs pull feels so unnecessary when you could just design a door with obvious operation mechanics

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

#245

Post by dekhn »

gorbachev wrote: post #201
erikschoster wrote: post #51

Legos; also the ender 3d printer. I had a nostalgic time putting the ender together. Felt like a lego set. That's not saying it was trivial (it challenged me) but that I trusted it every step of the way not because of previous experience, but because of the obvious well-designed aspects of the experience as I was putting it together. For example: I put on a part sloppily, and trying to attach anther part was the firs…

I'm sorry, but 3D printers, while quite an innovation allowing cheap and fast prototyping, are not well designed things. I own three, and talk to friends who collectively probably own close to 100. They, including models with great reputation (e.g. Prusa printers), break all the time. Also the mere fact that there are thousands of mods for all of them on sites like Thingieverse to make them better is another indicati…

With the exception of having to occasionally replace the print head my mk3s are excellent. No leveling problems, solve all layer height with live z. Flex filament works great

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

#246

Post by samsolomon »

I’m not sure about the best designed things ever, but here are some purchases in the last year, that I’ve really appreciated:

Corona 10-inch Pruning Saw

I had been using an old pair of loppers to trim most of the low hanging branches in my yard. This pruning saw is so much easier. It can cut through a 4-inch branch like nothing. Also it folds up so there’s no need for a sheath.

EGO 650 CFM Blower

Electric lawn tools are amazing. No dealing with fuel and oil. Plus they are so much quieter. This blower has been a life saver this fall. Planning to purchase an ego mower soon.

Leatherman Skeletool CX

The skeletool has replaced my pocket knife on camping trips. It’s not like most leatherman tools with 100 functions. The skeletool has about 7, but pocket knife, pliers and bottle opener cover most of my needs.

Outdoor Voices Sunday Short

Bar none my favorite pair of athletic shorts. Extremely flexible, comfortable and they look pretty good. I can wear them working out, lounging around the house or out to run errands. I probably own 6 pairs.

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

#247

Post by throwaway6734 »

harrydehal wrote: post #35

Sony MDR7506 Professional headphones -- haven't changed since the 80s (on which a lot of classics have been recorded/mixed with). Honda S2000, particularly the F20C 2002-2003 model years. High-revving 9000 RPM redline, completely driver-focused cockpit (tachometer from the Senna-era Honda Mclaren F1 cars), minimal computers besides ABS, hidden radio, et al. Bolt-action gearbox. The driving experience is sublime.

>Sony MDR7506 Professional headphones -- haven't changed since the 80s (on which a lot of classics have been recorded/mixed with).

Agree. a great pair of headphones

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

#248

Post by elil17 »

theduemmer wrote: post #203
jbay808 wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd love it if they added a price filter option! If I want a clear plastic tube I don't always know whether I'll get a cheaper price with acrylic, UV-resistant acrylic, static dissipative acrylic, ultra-strength polycarbonate, high-temperature polycarbonate, etc... It can take a lot of clicking to find the cheapest option!

Unfortunately I don't see them creating a price filter as they are mainly geared at businesses vs. hobbyists or consumers, where "get it here fast" is more important than saving a few dollars. That being said, I find adding all of the prospective parts to the cart works well for me when I want to compare prices

As a business user, I’d like the price filter too. For instance, I might be okay with any material for a valve in a prototyping application as long as it’s the right size, I just need to find the cheapest one (with one day shipping of course!)

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

#249

Post by jounker »

The Aerostich Roadcrafter single piece motorcycle suit. It’s not the best protection, it’s not the most weather resistant, it’s not the warmest in cool weather, it’s no the best ventilated in warm weather, but it is the best all round motorcycle suit I’ve worn.

Best of all you can step into or out of one faster than most people can take off a jacket. Every time I put it on I feel a rush of joy and satisfaction.

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