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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?

#441

Post by pkd »

tdk wrote: post #414

1. Noodler's fountain pens. These are 'Hacker-friendly' pens. With most pens the nib and feed are glued in, but in the Noodlers pens they are push fit, so can be adjusted. You can adjust the amount of flex and flow independently. You can also take out the entire filling mechanism, and use the whole pen body as a reservoir. Neat. http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/209380-noodler... 2. Vim It was a bold desi…

Re 1. Almost all fountain pens are "hacker friendly". I have a couple of pens which are much more expensive than Noodler's and I have completely dismantled and then reassembled them multiple times while cleaning. Unless you are using some proprietary filling mechanism, both the nib, and feed are interchangeable.

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

#444

Post by spilk »

Veen wrote: post #81
sprobertson wrote: post #19

The mid-2014 MacBook Pro. I fear that one day I will have to upgrade to a poorly reviewed newer model, or change my system entirely.

Unless you really need a lot of processing power or ram, the backlash against the new MacBooks is overblown. I was hesitant to get one, but I've been very happy with it. The screen is incredible,the keyboard is excellent, and it's by no means a slow computer for most tasks. The touchbar is a wash as far as I'm concerned, it doesn't add much, but it doesn't hurt much either.

the most painful design loss on the new MBPs is the lack of MagSafe.

When that came out it was just so obvious that it was the best way to do it, but now it is gone.

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

#445

Post by roryisok »

leonroy wrote: post #288

* Blendtec Blender - blew my first pay cheque on one nearly 10 years ago and it still looks and works good as new. Absolutely superb design and construction. * AGA Oven - I don't own one, but my parents do and growing up this thing was just incredible. Still looks and works like new. I honestly have never used an oven which looks and cooks so damn good. * Apple (Unibody) Macbook Pro - Despite my present feelings towa…

I have to argue with the last one, I think this garlic press https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/oxo-good-grip... is superior. When you're done with this one, you rotate the handle all the way around and the rubber cleaner on the back cleans the press.

I've used both, and mine is easier to clean.

You've hit on something though - it's amazing how many people out there suffer with badly designed kitchen utensils. it's like a blindspot where you don't realise that you could buy a much better vegetable peeler / potato masher / garlic press that would literally make your life easier every day, for the price of a cinema ticket.

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

#446

Post by idonotknowwhy »

#1 The Nokia N9 (specifically the alarm clock) When trying to find a clone for Android, I found this guy's blog post which explains why it's perfect:

http://www.nition.co/2014/08/the-nokia-n9-alarm-clock/

The swipe interface of the operating system is also the best I've ever used. If I play around with the N9 for a few minutes now; then go back to android, it feels clunky an inefficient again.

#2 The Nintendo Gamecube It just works without having to setup profiles or download updates, the controller is awesome (subjective) and it carries the greatest Mario Kart, Smash Brothers and Mario Party ever created (also subjective).

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

#448

Post by roryisok »

jameskilton wrote: post #11

Dyson vacuum cleaners. I have never once wondered "how do I do this?" when using my Dyson. From cleaning, to extensions, switching modes, and just plain using the thing, every inch of these vacuums is designed to the utmost degree to make them not only super powerful suction machines but also trivially easy to use.

I actually came here to post the Numatic Henry vacuum cleaner. A big simple cylinder with a face on it. Fantastic suction. Super long cord. Hand crank retractor (those spring loaded ones always wear down over time). Easy to unblock, the pipe unscrews at both ends.

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

#450

Post by sublimnall »

sgt wrote: post #392
nunez wrote: post #26

Apple 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 Macs are legendary for their design, but I have to say the winner is the MacBook Air. We have one at home, specifically the 2011 model MacBook Air. Such a fine piece of equipment and it still works pretty today as well as it did 6 years ago.

Got the some model here. Even though I now also own a 13" rMBPro which is barely heaver, there's something about the MBAir's design that makes it FEEL so much lighter to carry around. It's much easier to hold, and it looks much thinner on a table as well thanks to the curved shape. A truly amazing design.
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