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Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

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Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#651

Post by Ekaros »

NoboruWataya wrote: post #511

A rice cooker. I was sceptical for a long time, because we can just cook rice in a normal pot? But the result tastes a lot nicer and feels surprisingly more convenient, and keeping rice warm for longer periods is also handy. As a result we eat a lot more rice (and are less tempted to just order in when we're feeling lazy). Also, a Hario V60 + Fellow Stagg EKG Kettle, really upped my coffee game. Though if you include…

Washing the rice is slightly annoying, but process otherwise couldn't be simpler. Get the measuring cup full of rice add water, maybe some bouillon and press button. Some bit later rice kept at temperature.

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#652

Post by no_wizard »

spaceman_2020 wrote: post #154

An air fryer. It’s really a badly marketed product. Its real utility isn’t that it uses less oil, but that it cooks incredibly fast. Essentially an oven on steroids. It’s made cooking so much easier. I usually toss some boneless chicken in with a light coating of soy sauce and cornflour. While the chicken cooks, I prep a basic Asian sauce on the stovetop. The chicken and the sauce are both done within 10-15 minutes.…

Interestingly, the Wirecutter recommends people just get a really good high end toaster oven[0] over an air fryer, since its just a convection mode cook.

[0]: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-air-fryer-to...

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#653

Post by SlackingOff123 »

bonestamp2 wrote: post #546
holy_diver wrote: post #209

A bidet. We got one with heated water and seats and going to the bathroom feels super luxurious now. Not to mention all the toilet paper we save and increased hygiene.

I've always wondered what people do with their wet butt after using the bidet... dry with a towel, smaller amount of toilet paper... what's the norm?

In Italy, where bidets are really common, there's a designated towel for your butt.

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#654

Post by Sohcahtoa82 »

angry_moose wrote: post #641
lucb1e wrote: post #142

Space heater, 20 bucks. In the past I chose to heat the bedroom a little on cold days and otherwise suck it up and dress while shivering (no point burning a ton of gas to heat an entire bedroom). Now, I use 1.5 kW for ~3 minutes (0.01 kWh) to have hot air be blown on me while getting dressed in the morning. Because it changes how warm I feel while going downstairs, I also don't need downstairs to be as warm to get wa…

I posted this separately, but look into a heated mattress pad too. Its life changing for cold climates. Direct heat into your covers makes it so much cozier.

Heh, I'm the opposite. I want a mattress cooler.

I stay up later than my wife and like to go to lay in a cool bed. She likes it warm. So we compromised and got a mattress warmer for her, and I have the heat set to drop by several degrees at like 11 PM.

But then she gets up at like 7 AM (6 AM on workdays), and she'd be freezing, so I have the heat set to turn back up at 6 AM, which means if I wake up, I find myself roasting and can't get back to sleep.

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#655

Post by fsflover »

mindwork wrote: post #640
dougmwne wrote: post #147

Airpod Pro 2 They are basically bionic ears. Headphones, headset, earplugs, hearing protection, hearing aids, extendable ears, and more. Wish they could act as universal translators, but I suppose that's still yet to come.

There was no problem with my Airpods pro gen 1, but I bought new gen 2 version just because I wanted to support Apple for making such a great product. I never leave the house without them. Got it on sale for thanksgiving holidays

Apart from a lot of convenience, Airpods have a serious problem, so I am not sure they are worth supporting: http://www.ibtimes.com/apple-airpods-repair-recycling-imposs....

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#657

Post by steve_adams_86 »

DamnInteresting wrote: post #192

I'm surprised by how many things mentioned here are things that improved my own 2022 (air fryer, Steamdeck, bone-conducting headphones, etc.) A couple of things that I haven't yet seen mentioned: A LifeStraw Home water filter. It removes the slightly metallic taste from my home tap water. Cable management boxes (multiple brands). These allow me to hide away the unsightly power strips, power bricks, hubs, excess cords…

> A LifeStraw Home water filter

I went a little bananas on filtered water a while back and bought a giant Berkey. I love it. My family goes through an entire container each day somehow. We use it for cooking as well as drinking, but it's still a lot of water. I highly recommend it if you ever decide you want an even more thorough, longer-lasting, high-capacity filter.

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#658

Post by iancmceachern »

rPlayer6554 wrote: post #498

A fountain pen! I got a LAMY safari and it's so nice to write with. It's expensive for a pen although cheap for a fountain pen which can get expensive. I was peckish about buying it for 20 bucks but now that I use it I'm eying a $200 LAMY 2000.

Yes! Fellow pen nerd here, love the hobby and writing with a ballpoint now seems archaic.

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#659

Post by garrickvanburen »

orm wrote: post #169

Instant Pot. Can be used as a rice cooker, slow cooker, pressure cooker (mostly known for this last use) Though probably not as good for rice specifically as an actual high-end rice cooker, it greatly increased the range of foods I eat. Makes it easy to make nice one pot meals overnight for multiple days, you can make really good broth soups from chickens etc quickly, or slowly if you prefer. If you like to try tough…

Mine is also an air fryer. :D

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#660

Post by amalcon »

A Japanese-style ryoba hand saw. I'm a hobbyist woodworker, and I didn't believe the hype until I tried one myself. I just have a $30-ish one, and it's like night and day compared to any other hand saw I've used. Having ripping teeth on one side, and crosscut teeth on the other, alone is worth it. Then, you get into how much less force they require and how rarely they bind.
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