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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?

#751

Post by volkadav »

patmcguire wrote: post #254

Google 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 hear you. For what it's worth, if you're ok with a self-hosted alternative, tt-rss is alright (takes some fiddling to set up but it isn't awful, and pretty much just works after that). The web UI is very reminiscent of greader, but these days I mostly use one of the android clients people have used to talk to it.

tt-rss: https://tt-rss.org/gitlab/fox/tt-rss/wikis/home ttrss-reader: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.ttrssreade...

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

#752

Post by MrTonyD »

I really miss simple old thermostats. For a few years, they used a simple combination of two manual controls - one for temperature and a couple more for start and end times for maintaining that temperature. Made it easy to turn off at night and while I was at work.

No worries about power outages. No worries about WiFi. No need to keep the user guide around. No need to worry about whether guests would be able to figure it out. No batteries to run down. No programming/re-programming hell. No dependency on updates being bug free. I can't believe how horrible thermostats have become - I think most people have forgotten how easy and effective they used to be.

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

#753

Post by miguelrochefort »

- Kinesis Advantage

- Darn Tough socks

- Microsoft Surface Pro 4

- Instant Pot

- ChefSteps Joule

- Hydro Flask

- Tom Bihn 25

- GORUCK GR1

- ThermoWorks ThermaPen Mk4

- humangear capCAP

- Leatherman Wave

- Leatherman Squirt PS4

- Victorinox Bantam Alox

- Google Chromecast

- Fisher Space Pen

- Herman Miller Aeron

- Buff Merino Wool

- Lace Anchors

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

#754

Post by seanmcdirmid »

mattkevan wrote: post #367

MUJI 0.5mm gel ink pens [0] - I've used these pens for so long that my handwriting goes haywire when using a different make. Perfect balance of smoothness and scratchiness - with fast drying ink, which as a lefty is vital. Harmon Kardon Soundsticks II – had mine for over a decade and they still sound and look great. Gaggia Colour espresso machine – looks great, built like a tank, simple to repair, and still produces…

> MUJI 0.5mm gel ink pens

I'm not a gel ink pen fan myself, but I'm a big fan of the hex oil ballpoints, I'm using one right now actually. Creamy smooth writing.

MUJI has other awesome things: their spoons are so perfectly weighted (e.g. http://www.muji.us/store/table-spoon.html), the linens are soft, as are their towels...I just moved to LA and I'm sad there isn't a MUJI down the street (just Hollywood and Ventura beach).

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

#756

Post by Kluny »

mjlee wrote: post #265
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…

Everybody I know in the military owns a few of these, normally tied to bits of gear. They're robust enough to rely on and when they do get destroyed they're cheap enough to replace. An n+1 configuration is pretty affordable.

I had one glued to the brake fluid canister on a motorcycle for a few years :)

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

#757

Post by MrTonyD »

artimaeis wrote: post #668
mdip wrote: post #374

It took me about a second to think of Dixon Ticonderoga pencils. These are the perfect nexus of good and cheap. These things have the critical features one looks for in a writing instrument, my favorite of which is that I can put it in my electric pencil sharpener and the lead never snaps just prior to the point at which it becomes sharp. And these guys finally figured out something useful to do with that pink, rubbe…

The Ticonderoga is a wonderful workhorse of wood cased pencils. As you've pointed out their lead is sturdy and their price is almost unbeatable for the performance. Possibly the only downside is they're no longer made in the USA and I feel like their overall quality has suffered since the move to China and Mexico. If you're willing to explore pricier options there are so many excellent wood case pencils to be had! Th…

I've struggled with sharpening pencils. I enjoy a good pencil - but I've never found a sharpener that works consistently. Any advice?

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

#758

Post by Kluny »

chime wrote: post #322
george_ciobanu wrote: post #277

A dishwasher that only had one button: start. A dry cleaning service where they just told me to come back next day after 5p and never asked me how I want my shirts, what kind of treatment etc. For contrast most places ask several questions that I never know the answer to. The best UI is no UI.

Unless the dishwasher can differentiate between baby bottles, fine china, and greasy steel pans, it's going to need more than one button.

Fine china and greasy steel pans both get washed by hand at my house. Neither are used often enough for this to be a problem. Only "normal" stuff goes in the dishwasher, so it only needs a "normal" button.

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

#759

Post by PTRFRLL »

whitepoplar wrote: post #726

Textmate 2 - It's such a well-engineered piece of software, and it's gorgeous. Bialetti Brikka - Such an elegant design, and it makes delicious coffee, Italian-style. Nespresso - If Apple made espresso machines. The espresso tastes great and it's easy to clean. Patagonia MLC 45L - My pet peeve with luggage is that the good stuff tends to be heavy. Not this! It's big enough for extended travel, has backpack straps if…

Has Schwab upgraded their web security recently? Last time I looked at them, they had a 8 character upper limit on their password field that they then lower-cased.

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

#760

Post by s0rce »

Tcepsa wrote: post #614
agentgt wrote: post #591

I 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!

Cool! I haven't seen a modern cast iron pan that I've liked as much as my ancient Wagner Ware pan, the smooth interior surface is so much better than the bumpy as cast surface on the sand cast models that aren't finished. Not sure I would pay the asking price for these Finex ones, you can still get old ones at flea markets, thrift stores and ebay if you look around.
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