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Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

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721–730 of 853 posts

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#721

Earlier quoted context omitted.

May I ask what brand and model? I'm left handed and a symmetric mouse it pretty much the best I can hope for in terms of a mouse.

Mine is from a company called Perixx. It’s pretty cheap and works well.

Thanks, that's amazing, I can even get it in Denmark at the regular price.

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#722
post #619

(not all are computer peripherals, but other comments seem wider than initial criteria) * whiteboard placed on a painting easel next to my desk (when I don't use whiteboard, I can use the easel it to paint acrylic) - about 90x120 cm. I put my tasks for work, but also pick exercises with checkbox to do during the day. * AKAI mpk mini - when tired of work, can jump over to Ableton like software and relax * MX Master 3S…

Just picked up a MX Master 3S recently. Big thing I love is that you can use it on up to 3 devices, so I can have it on my MacBook for work and then click to setting 2 and switch to the usb dongle on my gaming PC - no need for extra mice/cords!

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#723
A custom desk surface with a pocket cut into it to hold a glass mousepad (Skypad 3.0), so the top of the mousepad is flush with the desk surface. This means items on the desk such as the keyboard can be repositioned freely without hitting the side of the mousepad.

The desk surface is a single sheet of 4'x2' plywood, with solid wood edging strips glued to it. The pocket was cut with a hand router, positioned using wooden fences clamped to the plywood. The surface finish of the inside of the pocket is kind of rough, but it's not visible through the mousepad. The whole thing is varnished, and screwed to a steel desk frame I got for free from a local school that was disposing of old furniture.

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#724
post #364
post #75

I have a heating pad under my keyboard which keeps my hands warm in the winter. Was like $20 on amazon, and I can't even begin to describe how amazing it is, since I was really tired of always having a mug of hot water / tea / coffee to hold and didn't want to keep the heat on my house super high when I could just wear a sweatshirt and be fine except my fingers.

I've started wearing arthritis compression gloves when my hands are cold while using my PC. Colleague suggested the idea and it's been great.

Same here! I have no arthritis of any kind, but these are very thin gloves that do not get in the way when typing (unlike most other gloves) and still make a huge difference wrt cold hands. Got two additional pairs for my parents; they love them as much as I do.

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#726
post #619

(not all are computer peripherals, but other comments seem wider than initial criteria) * whiteboard placed on a painting easel next to my desk (when I don't use whiteboard, I can use the easel it to paint acrylic) - about 90x120 cm. I put my tasks for work, but also pick exercises with checkbox to do during the day. * AKAI mpk mini - when tired of work, can jump over to Ableton like software and relax * MX Master 3S…

wait I thought that blue light at night was bad for your sleep? Are you using it as some sort of sleep suppressant?

Correct, our eyes have cells that respond to certain wavelengths ("blue light") and send signals through nerves to the brain, but those nerves aren't attached to the visual cortex, they are attached elsewhere. And that's why "blue light" inhibits sleep. ...I wish I could provide a citation, these details are something I just heard late last week...

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#727
post #193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sadly with today's auto-detecting OSes I've more than once found my audio output setting itself to speakers, or worse, to my monitor (which doesn't and has never had speakers, but that doesn't seem to matter).

This. Never had any issue with my wireless headphones, but Teams insists on picking random outputs and inputs even from one call to the next. The only logic I've found is that it prefers devices that handle both input and output. So, it works OK with my combined headphones + mic, but if I want to use my external dedicated mic + headphones without mic, I have to fiddle with the settings whenever I join a new call.

We have webex and Teams at work. Neither one of them are great but unless I'm missing something Teams lacked a precheck feature where I can test my Mic before actually joining the meeting which is easily the main reason I despise it. Teams also occasionally just refuses to work with part of my audio setup until I rejoin so it also the one that I need the precheck for most.

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#728
post #691

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Headsets with a mic arm that auto-mutes in hardware also have the benefit that you can go to the bathroom, use the kitchen, etc. on mute, but still respond quickly if someone addresses you.

You'll want to be very confident that it actually mutes in hardware. I thought my old headset (Logitech G930) did, until I found out the hard way that it was in fact just sending a software command to mute the mic at the system level, and that if the headset was turned on while plugged in to external power it would not properly communicate any inputs to the host system. Audio still worked perfectly, but volume contro…

I live by the principle where I just won't say anything incriminating or extremely embarrassing if there is a mic or phone that could possibly be active. Little embarrassing stuff is fine, but for everything else, I assume the mic is hot even if I just muted it and I can see the mute indicator.

In addition to protecting against technical failures like you describe, I also don't get in the habit of saying stuff that one day I could accidentally say on a blatantly hot mic or in front of someone else.

The only mute button I really trust is the one inside my head.

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#729
post #219

I have a mouse cable bungee. Particularly useful for twitch based FPS shooters such as Counter Strike, but overall ensures never to get the cable in your way. PS: You don't use wireless for competitive shooters. LAN Cable, cable mouse, etc. See: https://www.amazon.com/Glorious-PC-Gaming-Race-Bungee/dp/B07...

Several pros today use wireless mice. I think your notions of wireless is a bit outdated :)

In CS:GO tournaments basically everyone uses wireless now. Logitech G PRO X Superlight is amazing. Never used a lighter mouse and will never go back to wired.

https://liquipedia.net/counterstrike/List_of_player_mouse_se...

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#730
post #480

I have a small heater sitting under the desk. Its power line connects to a WiFi smart plug. I can turn the heater on and off on my phone, without me going under the desk to turn it on or off.

I have the same thing. However, my office is in my garage and it's quite cold in the winter. I have my smart plug set to start it up at 4:00 AM to warm it up for me.
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