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Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

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Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#441

Post by sokoloff »

jwr wrote: post #424
haunter wrote: post #378

An Elgato Stream Deck but for general purposes https://www.elgato.com/en/stream-deck-mk2 Basically imagine having 15 physical buttons to use with any kind of actions, shortcuts, macros etc. but you have a visual feedback too. It’s pretty great! I know there are alternatives like the Adafruit RP2040 https://www.adafruit.com/product/5128 but the visual knobs make the Stream Deck much better imo.

I used a Stream Deck XL for a long time, mostly as an app launcher, but the most useful feature was a "universal MUTE key". I used Keyboard Maestro to set up macros that would mute/unmute the microphone in any videoconferencing app, with the same physical key that also indicated the current status. This worked for Zoom, GoToMeeting and Google Meet. I sold the Stream Deck XL for two reasons: I didn't need that many ke…

Came to search for Spacemouse. Even as a fairly casual Fusion360 user, that was a great purchase.

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#442

Post by ndsipa_pomu »

I've been using an Elecom EX-G left-handed wireless trackball (thumb operated) for ages: https://www.amazon.co.uk/ELECOM-Left-handed-Wireless-functio...

I'm naturally right-handed, but learnt to use a mouse/trackball with my left hand ages ago when I figured out the twisting/ergonomic issues with a right-handed mouse and a keyboard with a numeric keypad. I was previously prone to hurting my right-shoulder blade (pulled muscle?) as there's a constant twist compared to the mid-line of the keyboard.

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#444

Post by fhcbix »

Since I make music as a hobby, some of these are not gonna be incredibly useful for most:

- Behringer XR18 digital mixer, mounted under my desk

- DIY wooden stand for a small MIDI controller keyboard & an integrated XLR socket for a conference microphone (used for meetings)

- the MIDI controller is connected directly to the XR18 so I have convenient faders and knobs for mic volume, mute, master volume and other stuff connected to the mixer (piano, edrums etc)

- DIY shelf to have my displays & speakers at a comfortable height and distance

- dishpan under the desk for the occasional footbath

Not at all uncommon but still highly recommended: vertical mouse (cheap one), split keyboard (r-go), docking station (old thinkpad ultra dock)

Things I still want but never got around to:

- my desk lamp (cheap wifi bulb) is cold/warm white fadeable but I want that to happen automatically throughout the day based on sunset

- a better drawing tablet so I can ditch my whiteboard (current one sucks)

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#445

Post by capableweb »

Brajeshwar wrote: post #194
hipplec wrote: post #75

I have a heating pad under my keyboard which keeps my hands warm in the winter. Was like $20 on amazon, and I can't even begin to describe how amazing it is, since I was really tired of always having a mug of hot water / tea / coffee to hold and didn't want to keep the heat on my house super high when I could just wear a sweatshirt and be fine except my fingers.

Is there a device that does the opposite -- something to keep your hand cool? It is getting hotter and sweaty in India.

Back when I was younger and lived in a hot place, I removed one of my chassi fans and put it next to my keyboard instead. Cheap and worked wonders.

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#446

Post by FranklinMaillot »

cmpalmer52 wrote: post #22

I use a 60% keyboard that doesn’t even have dedicated arrow keys. My caps-lock is configured as the Fn key and, when it’s held down, the JKLI letters are the arrow keys. This (and other macros) are actually really convenient when you get used to them. Unfortunately, it’s hard for me to type on “normal” keyboards because when I end up tiYping thinks like that. My keyboard is a Mistel MD600 split. My favorite unusual a…

Same, but I use hjkl and I have the Home, End, PgUp, PgDwn, del keys also accessible with my right pinky when caps-lock is held down. I could never go back. Actually, I now have a 65% keyboard with arrow keys (Keychron V4), but I've never used them, so I'm thinking of going back to 60%.

I also have a Autohotkey script to replicate this when I use my laptop on the go. But I haven't managed to make it work when I need to hold other modifier keys at the same time, like shift or ctrl.

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#447

Post by vbarrielle »

dzhiurgis wrote: post #375
modeless wrote: post #237

Gaming wireless headphones, not for gaming but for videoconferencing. Bluetooth headphones are universally terrible for videoconferencing because the Bluetooth standard sucks and requires downgrading to telephone audio quality whenever the mic is enabled. Plus terrible latency. Gaming wireless headphones that come with their own dongle completely fix these issues and are perfect for videoconferencing. Someday the Blu…

Using laptop mic’s fixes bluetooth issue and massively improves audio quality

Really depends on the laptop. On my work laptop, the microphone is located next to the fans (instead of for instance next to the webcam). You can imagine the audio quality.

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#448

Post by barbs »

hipplec wrote: post #75

I have a heating pad under my keyboard which keeps my hands warm in the winter. Was like $20 on amazon, and I can't even begin to describe how amazing it is, since I was really tired of always having a mug of hot water / tea / coffee to hold and didn't want to keep the heat on my house super high when I could just wear a sweatshirt and be fine except my fingers.

Reminds me of this 2010 article: "micro heaters cut 87% off my electric heat bill"

https://www.richsoil.com/electric-heat.jsp

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#449

Post by lifty »

Eisenstein wrote: post #419
modeless wrote: post #237

Gaming wireless headphones, not for gaming but for videoconferencing. Bluetooth headphones are universally terrible for videoconferencing because the Bluetooth standard sucks and requires downgrading to telephone audio quality whenever the mic is enabled. Plus terrible latency. Gaming wireless headphones that come with their own dongle completely fix these issues and are perfect for videoconferencing. Someday the Blu…

Don't use magnetic USB adapters. They run a decent risk of frying your device. The USB-C spec was not designed to have the connection broken in that way. You will have no issues 99% of the time, but you will eventually have that time when your device gets fried. It takes a very precise design and a lot of clever engineering to have a high-current power connector with tiny pins be able to break without having the grou…

Thanks for the heads up. This is a useful warning, as the magnetic adapters seem attractive, but they are not worth it if they risk frying your device.

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#450

Post by mellosouls »

enigma20 wrote: post #320

Portable screen. Didn't know that such exists, till about few weeks ago. Have a small apartment and sometimes have to work at the dining table. Using a big screen is not an option. Portable screen is light, size of the laptop and charges/sends data through one cable. Perfect!

I've just bought a 16 inch high-ish res (QHD) one.

I don't do dedicated co-working spaces, but when desk-space and etiquette allow, I use it as a replacement for my 14inch FHD work laptop screen, rather than a second screen. I use it with a portable keyboard and mouse and just stand it on the folded laptop.

When I'm in a normal cafe or pub I just use the small laptop and mouse, no external keyboard or monitor.

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