Canvas LMS. Coming from blackboard, Canvas is a god-send.
Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
611–620 of 1001 posts
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#612The VW Up! (aka Škoda Citigo aka Seat Mii) It weighs under a ton, is only 3.5m long, and has a 1.0L, 3-cylinder engine that fairly sips gas. It shifts like butter and, considering it's powered by a glorified sewing machine, it has decent acceleration and top-end speed. And, if you spring for the Czech rebadge, you can get the basic model for less than 10k euros. But the real killer is that it has almost as much usabl…
> I forgot to mention that it has exposed metal surfaces in the interior (doors, mainly) that are integrated parts of the car. Not only does it look fantastic, each of those panels is one less plastic piece that will eventually require an expensive replacement when it inevitably gets hit/scratched/exposed to too much sunlight/shakes itself to pieces. > I don't know why more cars don't feature this (one review called…
Bingo! It's the only modern car that I feel I could repair myself if needed. My other car -- a truly shitty Citroen van -- is a rattling shitbox. The interior door panels are faded and cracked, and the glue that held the fabric in place has long ago dissolved. Every panel has worked itself loose and, while the plastic fasteners are easily replaced, they never seat snug again. I actually ripped off the rear interior panel entirely -- leaving the door mechanism exposed -- because the buzzing was driving me insane on long trips.
And that car is only 12-13 years old. It's almost criminal how quickly those plastic interiors degrade. My Citigo is almost 4 and looks brand new, despite ferrying two nuclear-powered kids all over the place every day.
And the safety record for the Citigo/Mii/Up! is fantastic. It's got a 5-star rating, I believe, by NCAP. I still find myself gushing to my wife about how incredible the car is. I see myself as something of an anti-consumerist, but I profess a deep love of this car.
It's a triumph of functional minimalism.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#613Fiskars Axes: http://www.fiskars.eu/products/gardening/axes/splitting-axe-... Barbour Jackets: http://www.barbour.com/eu/categories/mens/waxed-jackets/barb... Camper Shoes: https://www.camper.com/en_FI/men/shoes/peu/camper-peu-17665-... Stihl Chainsaws: http://www.stihl.com/STIHL-power-tools-A-great-range/Chainsa... Genelec Speakers: http://www.genelec.com/8351 Desktops: Mac Pro 1st Generation Laptops: Macbook Pro Ph…
I'm Finn, coming from the land of Fiskars and axes. And I have to disagree with Fiskars. The axes are very good for chopping wood, but that's it. If you are serious backpacker, craftsman, carpenter etc, you wan't to use your axe in different ways too. The biggest "chopping" axe from fiskars is too short for building a fire that would keep you warm for the whole night. All of their "splitting" models have unnecessaril…
I agree. Fiskars' axes are mainly for chopping and tree pruning. But that is also probably one of the most common things to do with axe. Their middle size models are probably the best in my opinion. I wouldn't of course use Fiskars' axe for carving and stuff like that. It doesn't work at all, but for say carving, you need a special purpose axe anyway.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#614I have been recently optimizing some of my wardrobe: Darn Tough socks! Seriously life is too short to have clammy feet. Yes they are expensive but they last forever. Carhartt USA made therma lined hoodies are also awesome. I have had one for 17 years and wore it all the time before hoodies became fashionable. To be honest all of their stuff is great for the price if you can get over looking like a construction worker…
I'd like to put in a plug for Finex cast iron. They're milled smooth on the bottom which I prefer to the finish on the Lodge pan that I have.
Regardless, +1 for cast iron!
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#615Fiskars Axes: http://www.fiskars.eu/products/gardening/axes/splitting-axe-... Barbour Jackets: http://www.barbour.com/eu/categories/mens/waxed-jackets/barb... Camper Shoes: https://www.camper.com/en_FI/men/shoes/peu/camper-peu-17665-... Stihl Chainsaws: http://www.stihl.com/STIHL-power-tools-A-great-range/Chainsa... Genelec Speakers: http://www.genelec.com/8351 Desktops: Mac Pro 1st Generation Laptops: Macbook Pro Ph…
I'm Finn, coming from the land of Fiskars and axes. And I have to disagree with Fiskars. The axes are very good for chopping wood, but that's it. If you are serious backpacker, craftsman, carpenter etc, you wan't to use your axe in different ways too. The biggest "chopping" axe from fiskars is too short for building a fire that would keep you warm for the whole night. All of their "splitting" models have unnecessaril…
So what is a good universal outdoors axe?
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#616Earlier quoted context omitted.
Speaking of axes. I can vouch for Gränsfors bruk ( https://www.gransforsbruk.com/en/ ). I grew up in the same, small village and until recently I didn't know that they were known internationally for their craftwork. They are one of few businesses that still thrive in the region, supposedly because they stuck to producing quality goods instead of like most other businesses, switch to mass-production. The masters (it t…
Best boot on the world for varied, highly intense outdoor work is the Meindl Army Gore Pro Boot. If you take care of them they seem to last forever. Mine have survived over 14 years of infantry exercises and still survive. http://www.meindl.co.uk/products/army-pro
I had Meindl Island boots. I didn't take good care of them. They took a lot of abuse. One thing I would say is their achilles heel is the bottom of the shoe. I did some hard digging and shovelling where I abused the shoes a lot, especially their bottom. At some point, the bottom of the shoe was totally destroyed, and started to rip off. I do know that people do change the bottoms for Meindl shoes. Otherwise there were almost no wear at all. And well, I think I had them for some good 5-10 years anyway, so I do consider that they served well.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#617Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#618I have been recently optimizing some of my wardrobe: Darn Tough socks! Seriously life is too short to have clammy feet. Yes they are expensive but they last forever. Carhartt USA made therma lined hoodies are also awesome. I have had one for 17 years and wore it all the time before hoodies became fashionable. To be honest all of their stuff is great for the price if you can get over looking like a construction worker…
I'd like to put in a plug for Finex cast iron. They're milled smooth on the bottom which I prefer to the finish on the Lodge pan that I have. Regardless, +1 for cast iron!
Finex is for sure superior but they just don't make a lot of sizes (and of course the price).
For example I use a 15" cast iron skillet to cooked spatchcocked chicken. With 15" I have even cooked spatchcocked turkey and duck.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#619My 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. --- My Logitech G602 mouse. Weighty, not heavy, battery lasts for 8 months. Hands cusps the mouse perfectly and never feels awkward…
I completely agree. Having had pretty much one of each of apple"s laptops before and since, it is the best laptop they ever made.
Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?
#620My 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. --- My Logitech G602 mouse. Weighty, not heavy, battery lasts for 8 months. Hands cusps the mouse perfectly and never feels awkward…
I completely agree. Having had pretty much one of each of apple"s laptops before and since, it is the best laptop they ever made.