The legendary Nokia 3310. Military grade build quality, and an amazing UI at the time.
It's coming back: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2017/02/18/nokia-3310-...
Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
461–470 of 1001 posts
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#462The iRobot Roomba is one of the best electronic devices I own. The durability is simply impressive, only the battery breaks eventually since well, there is no escape for this. Even without using crazy AI, it kinda works well, and is one thing that when released looked pretty revolutionary but is actually useful instead of being just a fake induced need.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#463Ortlieb messenger bag:
https://www.ortlieb.com/en/Messenger%20Bag/
Have had one for over 10 years now, used it for bike commuting in Seattle, motorcycle commuting in Rwanda and a grocery shopping in Ecuador. It is pretty much indestructible, to the point that I wonder how they can afford to make it. The velcro is starting to stick less now but otherwise it is perfect and that seems repairable.
Gaggia Coffee Deluxe & Haro Slim Grinder: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001804CLY/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001KOA4Q/
For roughly $400 you can get yourself a setup that will make you better latte's than 90% of coffee shops. I have a souped up PID'd Silvia with a super fancy burr grinder as well, which is also great, but the bang for the buck of the Gaggia is hard to beat and it is serviceable, so you can take it apart and descale or repair it for decades to come. The hand grinder has enough adjustability for this class of machine, produces a super consistent grind and adds a fun routine to your morning.
Dell USB-C Multi-Adapter: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012DT6KW2/
Ethernet, VGA, USB-3 and HDMI in a tiny little adapter which has a cable that folds on itself. This is a pretty perfect companion to the new MBP's and works without drivers. Really nicely done and has been reliable for me, always keep it in my bag.
Swiss Tech Utility Key: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001EFSTI/
Always have it on my keychain, passes security in airports, super handy. Really see no reason to NOT have one of these.
Leatherman Wave: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JCN6C8/
Others designs have come and gone but I've had one of these for 20 years and it is still going strong. Super sharp blades that keep an edge, one handed opening and tools that actually work. I really don't think anyone has improved on its design since introduction, it is the type of thing you can hand down to someone.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#464* 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 love the odometer on the blendtec. I think we are something like 1600 blends and it still powers through anything we throw at it. It's been about 5 or 6 years. It better not die the day after the 10 year warranty runs out!
The only complaint would be sometimes we wish it had the integrated stir stick that the Vitamix comes with. If there's not enough liquid in your smoothy it tends to not blend through everything without a bit of shaking the carafe.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#465Vim.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#466It took me about a second to think of Dixon Ticonderoga pencils. These are the perfect nexus of good and cheap. These things have the critical features one looks for in a writing instrument, my favorite of which is that I can put it in my electric pencil sharpener and the lead never snaps just prior to the point at which it becomes sharp. And these guys finally figured out something useful to do with that pink, rubbe…
I've never seen someone that excited about pencils. Might this be satire? ;)
Doubtful; I feel quite the same about the Pentel Twist-Erase III, which, in a variety of lead diameters, has been my implement of choice since high school. This is not least because it excels among mechanical pencils in having the eraser be other than an afterthought - as hinted by the name, the upper barrel contains a twist mechanism which houses an eraser that's a quarter inch in diameter and over an inch in length, and which is immediately available rather than requiring partial disassembly to access. It's also, like that on the Ticonderoga, made of rubber that does its job, which you'd think would be the only criterion but go figure.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#467The Lido 2 Coffee Grinder: http://www.oehandgrinders.com/OE-LIDO-2-Manual-Coffee-Grinde... Heath Coffee Mugs Trains in Switzerland (including the great app!) Hosu (chair) Cutipl (silverware) Emile Henry Flameware (Dutch Oven) Mountain Collective Ski Pass Black Diamond Hiking Poles
>Cutipl (silverware)
Probably Cutipol - http://www.cutipol.pt/store-cutlery
Good stuff, household name for donkey's years.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#468Moka pots. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moka_pot It is simple and just works.
What if you have a gas stove? :) But I agree, it's a good product and design. Never read wiki, I always thought it comes from Spain, not Italy.
I have an induction stove and I use a diffusion plate like these http://www.frabosk.it/ita/prodotto_scheda.jsp?idprodotto=099 to be able to use my moka brewer. They work for gas stoves as well.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#469iPod with the spinning click-wheel
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#470The 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.
My dad worked as a the head of an engineering department at Miele in Germany, and therefore my family would always get new appliances before they hit the market, to actually test them out. My mum hated it, of course, to always have to relearn new interfaces etc. And yes, one day our perfectly good microwave with just these two dieals was replaced by an abomination: tons of soft-touch buttons, digital clock, what have you. None of us could fathom why anyone would want such a UI/UX for this simple device... and we lobbied hard to get the old one back. Which we did.