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Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?

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Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?

#701

Post by jedimastert »

VLM wrote: post #660

My steel backplate original IBM Model M keyboard in use continuously from when it was new until today. I can't figure out any way to improve it. Logitech trackman wheel from a decade or two ago, perfect to have a desk with 3 or 4 machines on. Must have thousands of hours of FPS and minecraft on it, feels new, feels perfect. The original Radio Shack wire wrapping tool, you could pay up to 100x more for something less…

What would be a good book or article for getting into making electronics with wire wrapping?

Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?

#702

Post by jedimastert »

kevinqi wrote: post #120

Teenage Engineering OP-1, a music synthesizer. Really well built, buttons and knobs feel fantastic, and the display is super fun. The OP-1 in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umatbZ0n4mE

I have coveted the OP-1 since before is came out, but I've also been college poor the entire time. It really hurts my heart.

Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?

#703

Post by QuarterReptile »

artimaeis wrote: post #643
QuarterReptile wrote: post #434

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the pencil front, I recommend checking out kuru toga pencils. They rotate the lead slightly with every cycle of applied pressure and release, so you don't get the lead worn down until you're writing at a shallow angle with a much larger effective cross section of lead. On the fountain pen side, just be aware that if you work in an office environment, you'll have to deal with low quality paper that's incompatible w…

I enjoy the Kuru Toga quite a bit! It's the pencil I'm more inclined to travel with because I wouldn't be quite so heartbroken if I lost or damaged it. And it performs so admirably! Totally understand about the low-quality paper. I'll probably stick to roller-ball pens for the office and save fountain pen shenanigans for home where I can use some nicer paper stock.

Pigment pens seem to also survive the scratchy, bleed-y world of budget office paper, if you want a crisp line at the cost of higher writing friction.

Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?

#704

Post by ryen »

dcw303 wrote: post #209

The 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…

My only complaint is the light is too faint. I need to hold it about 6 inches from my eye to see the whole display at once in the dark, and my eyes are still pretty good.

Also, if the light button had a timed-release of around 4 seconds that would be a big usability improvement.

Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?

#705

Post by Tloewald »

i_don_t_know wrote: post #317

The 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.

I prefer microwaves with a 1 minute and a 10s button (just push the correct number of times). Knobs aren't as precise for things like heating milk for cocoa.

Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?

#706

Post by kar-ma »

The Muji wall-mounted CD player.

The simplicity in design and the shift in perspective that it brought has been deeply impactful. I study in a design school, and the number of times I have seen it appear on students' collages, inspiration/mood boards, etc is way too high.

P.S. Makes me wonder if that can be used as a metric for how influential a design is. Like how credibility of a research paper is based on number of times it has been cited. If there's a way to gather number of times a product has appeared on inspiration/mood board of other products, to determine its influence.

Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?

#707

Post by ak217 »

rorykoehler wrote: post #108
pgreenwood wrote: post #87

Almost every bicycle. Our noblest invention.

From mass market brand road bikes I'm quite partial to Giant. I just bought a Defy Advanced 2. Truly an excellently designed and engineered machine. From custom builders my bros Black Sheep Bikes Road Rage Downhill custom was and is the best bicycle I've ever had the pleasure of riding. Link for the curious: http://www.spoke.ie/2011/10/red-bull-road-rage-janos-kohler-...

I'd say the real key to bicycle ergonomics is the iterative work that Shimano and its competitors have put into the groupsets. Most people don't realize the amount of ergonomic improvement that hyperglide cassettes/chains, better indexed shifters, and better brakes have brought to their bicycles.

Re: Ask HN: What're the best-designed things you've ever used?

#709

Post by reitanqild »

vlehto wrote: post #589
bungle wrote: post #504

Fiskars 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…

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.

Well, never had a problem with the ones in our family. And IMO the fact that unlike everyother axe I know it just won't break and leave you without an axe in the middle has to count for something too.

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