As much as I'd love to say iPhone or my MacBook Pro, I'd have to say the best-designed thing I've used is probably my Nikon D3x, their top-of-the-line professional SLR.
It does exactly what I want, and is so perfectly designed.
Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
421–430 of 1001 posts
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#422HP 48G https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP_48_series
HP 28S.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#423Stokke/Variable rocking kneeling chair. http://www.arredamentisartori.it/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/... After all the pricey Aeron crap that is actually _bad_ for my back, this works.
I've heard it said that this is bad for your knees, but I don't know one way or the other.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#4241. I have products from Bang & Olufsen to be exceptionally well designed. Sure, they cost fives times more but IMHO its worth it.
2. Nokia 3310
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#425Nikon FE manual focus SLR. Every control a real photographer needs, nothing you don't, and the match needle exposure meter works better than anything else ever invented. Tough—mine is 35+ years old and works like it's brand new.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#426Nikon FE manual focus SLR. Every control a real photographer needs, nothing you don't. Tough—mine is 35+ years old and works as well as the day it left the factory. The match needle exposure meter is better than anything that came before or after. I love mine, even if shooting film is a pain in 2017.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#427Grado headphones.
My SR-80s have what many reviewers (and I) say is the best sound for anything under $1k (and these were under $100). That said, they're poorly designed mechanically, and they use lower quality materials - especially the type of plastic. The way the speaker unit attaches to the head piece is just a little pole of metal (textured at the end) stuck into a plastic hole, and the hole can eventually stretch. The result is…
My SR60's broke that plastic yoke -- I wound up replacing the part. They lasted ~20 years until the Y junction of the headphone cord started having intermittent faults.
I was going to replace the cord with a detachable mic + volume cable, but wound up just getting a set of SR-80s.
Sound wise, I think the high end Sennheisers have better balance and are a bit more comfortable. A little clearer treble, not as heavy bass. But either way, they're really good for the price.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#428The 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.
Completely agree! The funny thing is the first thing I thought of was an old microwave I owned with a similar setup mainly because the microwave I own, today, is so awful [0]. I have a GE combination convection oven/microwave and it was clearly designed by someone who had their first experience with LSD that day. Every function requires a different, magic, set of key combinations to make it work. Want to set a timer?…
Obviously whoever designed it didn't get the 'good' acid.
Had he gotten the real shit, it would have been a musical instrument... with wheels, which also microwaves... inside and outside... Because that's how you get to the aliens.
Who wouldn't want his oven to roll around the house improvising some trippy music while the meal is being heated ? While at it, why not also vacuum clean the house ? Just hit the knob a magical 4 times ..
You've got the wonder machine right there. I mean hello? Whatever happened to creativity these days ?
Experience tells me I have to disclaim this: yes, of course it's a joke.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#429Earlier quoted context omitted.
What brewing method do you use the grinder for? I've been using a blade grinder for French press, and the grind is so uneven that part of me feels like it probably doesn't matter, but the other part feels like a barbarian.
Upgrade to a burr grinder would be the first step - this one from Krupps[0] I've had for about 4 1/2 years, got as a present but can be had for under £40. The increase in consistency is worth it. [0] http://www.krups.co.uk/coffee-grinder-gvx231
Thanks for the recommendation! I think I was looking at that exact grinder, but was deterred by a review that said it obliterated everything to too fine a grind for French press. I'll definitely have to pick one up.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#430Instant pot pressure cooker. Want to use it as a crock pot? sure. Want to saute things inside it first? sure. Frozen meat or dried beans? Why not! https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00FLYWNYQ?psc=1
Does it replace a stove for you?
For most recipes, totally. I think many pressure cooker recipes don't involve other pans / the stove, which is convenient.