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

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

#341

Post by dirktheman »

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…

I had several Fiat Panda's (1st generation). It's automotive mobility boiled down to the bare essentials. A 50-year old motor design that has been completely finetuned to the point where it's unbreakable and economic (the 1.0 Fire motor). No power steering (not needed since the car is so lightweight), no brake assist, no power windows, no A/C. Just one windshield wiper, one heater and turn signals, that's it.

I love how simple and intuitive these cars were. Super dependable (lack of options make it so that nothing much could break down anyway), economic and yet some smart mechanical features: the light switches off when you turn the motor off, it's impossible to lock yourself out of the car and the best thing: the back seat is basically a hammock that converts to a bed. Since the car is so boxy it's easy to transport big things like fridges or large IKEA-packages.

I had several of these since they were so cheap (400 euros 5th-hand, but no mechanical issues). Only downside is the rust and the fact they're not very safe.

Ah, the memories...

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

#342

Post by teknologist »

zakk wrote: post #245
kalleboo wrote: post #174

* Chopsticks. One-handed eating is just convenient. * Palm Vx. At the time this thing has fantastic functionality (all that freeware!), the OS had great charm, and I still think it looks really handsome. * Sony Ericsson w580. One of the last really small cell phones before huge screens took over. And the slide mechanism was really satisfying - the ultimate fidget

Regarding chopsticks and one-handed eating: you could do the same with a fork, as long as the food is already cut in small bites, like Asian food usually is. On the other hand you cannot eat a steak with one hand, neither with chopsticks nor with a fork. I think that the good design is in the food, rather than in the chopsticks.

It IS possible to eat a steak with either of those in one hand. Using a controversial method called the stab and bite.

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

#343

Post by nailer »

polemic wrote: post #176

Ok, this corkscrew: https://www.amazon.co.uk/MONOPOL-Bell-Corkscrew-BAROLO-Germa... (Note this appears to be a later design, slightly less pretty as the original IMO) My parents bought one of these years maybe 15 years ago and I was always fascinated how he thread was so smooth, well machined and balanced that you could unwind it and it would smoothly wind back up under its own weight. When it hit the bottom the mome…

On that note: the Stelvin! No more cork rot and far less spoiled wine.

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

#345

Post by Johan-bjareholt »

i_don_t_know wrote: post #317

The ancient microwave in my first apartment. It had two knobs: one for time, one for power. It's immediately obvious how to cook something for how long, how to add more time, etc. All other microwaves that I've used I had to have someone explain to me what buttons to press in what order to do even the simplest things. And I've never seen anyone use all of those fancy buttons.

I recently bought a microwave from Samsung that has one know for time, one for power and a button to set the clock. I do love when appliances are stupidly simple, but I do miss the timer function on my old microwave.

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

#347

Post by nailer »

joe563323 wrote: post #100

pencil, paper and eraser dell keyboard Model number: SK-8115 (felt like machine gun for the first time) http://dellparts.us/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2... org-mode emacs macros git Qt c++ framework unix pipes matlab npm install --save # dont have to edit the package.json, awesome tmux pm2 # npm package to make the node app as service. Just mindblowing. ssh-copy-id user@ip # no need to type password alway…

You can use a .service file - about 10 lines in ini-ish format - to make node run as a service on most Linux distros
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