Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not to mention detonates a bomb like no other.
I thought that was Nokia phones that did that?
Each has their place. Nokia 3310 for remote detonation, Casio F-91W for a time bomb.
Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
251–260 of 1001 posts
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#252Any of the Olympus cameras designed by Yoshihisa Maitani - pen F and original OM-1 being particular standouts. Simply wonderful objects to hold and even more fun to use.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#253I loved my Mini Cooper: it was surprisingly versatile, had arguably beautiful estetics (me and my wife felt cool while sitting in it at least), was fun to drive in the small alpine roads, etc For us: 2 (at the time) DINKs living in the middle of Europe, it was a thing of beauty. I bought one with 0 fancy gadgets and I loved that about it. By far the best purchase (albeit expensive) I've made.
Assuming you are talking about a BMW Mini and not an original?
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#254Google Reader. It actually let me add feeds, read them, and mark them read reliably. Everything after is focused on value-add instead of just fucking working.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#255AK-47
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#256Aeron 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.
Since I discovered the Aeron stool (http://www.hermanmiller.com/products/seating/stools/aeron-st...) + standing desk combo for me years ago my back just thanks me every day!
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#257Apple MacBooks are the best laptops that I have ever used. Nothing comes close to them. Even my Surface. It's a great device (by far the best Windows laptop/convertible available), but it misses on some details (light bleed on the edges, kickstand doesn't align all the way)
The Metal Unibody Macbooks have been first in class since the first introduction in 2008. It's truly a remarkably designed machine.
I agree. I have a mid-2009 15" MBP to which I long ago maxed-out the RAM and replaced the HDD with an SSD, and it's still my daily driver.
About the only time I notice its age is when I do something involving very heavy disk i/o. While it is an SSD, it's still only SATA II. The vast majority of the time I don't even notice. It's been a great machine.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#258The Kinesis Advantage contoured ergonomic keyboard. Once you've used it for a few weeks, regular keyboards feel awkward and uncomfortable. They are pricy and completely worth it.
Not for me. I've tried this (quite expensive) keyboard for two weeks. It was awkward to use and really, really complicated. The best non-mechanical keyboard I've used is a $20 Anker 84-key Wireless keyboard. It's extremely comfortable, and extremely portable.
I had one for around 6 months and always found it frustrating to use. Eventually gritted my teeth and started to use it all the time and it's been a huge relief on my hands. Considering getting another one for home so I don't have to lug it back and forth to the office.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#259The Casio F-91W Digital wrist watch https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casio_F-91W Keeps better time than a Rolex, and is a fraction of the price. Waterproof. Has an alarm, stopwatch, and timer; all things missing from traditional wind ups. Interface is easy to use and discover. The battery last almost forever. Now, if you're asking if it's aesthetically pleasing, that's a different story. But we were talking about design…
Unfortunately, combined with eastern features, it can get you into trouble in US. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seton_Hall_reports#Detainees.2...
Where "get you into trouble" means "you can be sent to a secret prison to be tortured for the rest of your life just because you were wearing a common watch".
Yay.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#260Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not to mention detonates a bomb like no other.
I thought that was Nokia phones that did that?
The F-91W is so ubiquitous that at one point it was associated with Al-Qaida's bomb making techniques.