The Leopold FC750R(T) mechanical keyboard.
Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
471–480 of 1001 posts
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#472"The C Programming Language" by K&R.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#473The Casio F-91W Digital wrist watch https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casio_F-91W Keeps better time than a Rolex, and is a fraction of the price. Waterproof. Has an alarm, stopwatch, and timer; all things missing from traditional wind ups. Interface is easy to use and discover. The battery last almost forever. Now, if you're asking if it's aesthetically pleasing, that's a different story. But we were talking about design…
The F91W is very hard to beat but I recommend shelling out the extra ten quid for a Casio W86: http://zegarki.worldtrade24.pl/images/Zegarek%20meski%20Casi... F91W owners are always jealous of my nice bright EL backlight!
Yup- a fair criticism of the F91W is the weak backlight.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#474Ortlieb 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 &…
> Swiss Tech Utility Key
I had one of these for a while, but came to much prefer the Leatherman Squirt S4, in large part because the blade on the Utili-Key is extremely sharp and ideally placed to slice fingers if the tool is not used with the most exquisite care. Ask me how I know.
The Squirt won't pass security screening, but I've never had trouble with it in checked baggage. The closest I've come to having an issue was when I forgot to take it off my keyring before reporting for jury duty last year; I was of course relieved of it before being permitted to pass the entry checkpoint, but was also able to recover it when I departed, with the thanks of the city and no panel assignment (again, dammit!), at the end of the day.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#475Back in the 92, this was by far the best TV. Best remote, best everything, and worked seemlessly with a motorised stand, using the same remote.
Beovision MX6000
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#476Google Reader. It actually let me add feeds, read them, and mark them read reliably. Everything after is focused on value-add instead of just fucking working.
I've found Feedly quite good - better in fact than I ever found Google Reader. I'm sure you have already tried it, but if nothing else, I'd be curious to know why you found it wanting.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#477My Macbook Air 13-inch 2015.
Battery lasts a long time. It recharges super quick. It's incredibly lightweight. It's incredibly thin. It's trackpad clicks "for real". No plastic, or shitty finish.
I can't believe they don't make them anymore. It's easily Apple's best hardware hand's down.
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My Logitech G602 mouse. Weighty, not heavy, battery lasts for 8 months. Hands cusps the mouse perfectly and never feels awkward to hold for extended periods of time. Premium feel, no cheap plastics. I love it.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/logitech-g602-wireless-gaming-mo...
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#478HP 32SII scientific calculator. I had one in high school (not sure what happened to it), recently picked one up on ebay and haven't regretted it!
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#479The 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?…
The Sharp designers of my microwave [0] couldn't even design the clock to keep accurate time. The built-in clock is fast. It will gain about 3 minutes per week.
I'm honestly not sure how they managed to screw that up. 32.768kHz crystal was too expensive? Or just too incompetent to keep track of time correctly?
[0] https://www.amazon.de/Sharp-Mikrowelle-Grill-Kompakt-Mikrowe...
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#480The 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
I just got a Feldgrind after breaking two low-end hand grinders in as many years. I laughed out loud with joy when I first started using it - it feels like a tank in your hand and results in an incredibly consistent grind.