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

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

#81

Post by Veen » Mon, Feb 20, 2017, 5:22 AM UTC

sprobertson wrote: post #19

The mid-2014 MacBook Pro. I fear that one day I will have to upgrade to a poorly reviewed newer model, or change my system entirely.

Unless you really need a lot of processing power or ram, the backlash against the new MacBooks is overblown. I was hesitant to get one, but I've been very happy with it. The screen is incredible,the keyboard is excellent, and it's by no means a slow computer for most tasks. The touchbar is a wash as far as I'm concerned, it doesn't add much, but it doesn't hurt much either.

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

#82

Post by exabrial » Mon, Feb 20, 2017, 5:23 AM UTC

My Alclair Audio custom molded IEMs. You literally haven't heard music until you have a custom pair of IEMs. I'm blown away what I hear in music that I couldn't hear before.

*Also protects my hearing from loud drummers

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

#83

Post by saryant » Mon, Feb 20, 2017, 5:24 AM UTC

FreakyT wrote: post #27

Another odd one, but my Honda Fit 2nd Generation. So many things about that car are so well thought-out, and even more expensive/luxurious cars miss things that the Fit designers included. Some examples: - Cup holder on the dashboard to the left of the steering wheel. As a left-handed person, this is amazing. - Window power remains on after turning off the car as long as doors haven't been opened, allowing you to clo…

I have a 2011 Fit Sport. Great little car.

Doesn't hurt that it's dirt cheap to maintain and insure. I have maxed-out liability limits on my policy and only pay $35 a month.

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

#84

Post by jimmies » Mon, Feb 20, 2017, 5:24 AM UTC

Software: Winamp. It is so simple and stupid and it works really well.

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

#85

Post by mrcsparker » Mon, Feb 20, 2017, 5:26 AM UTC

My Steelcase Gesture - it is the first chair that I can ignore. It feels so natural.

Oculus Rift - for the first generation, it is surprisingly comfortable.

Oculus Touch - I can see my hands and it feels natural.

Lexus es350 - great car for sitting in Houston traffic. I wish that I could pull back the steering wheel a bit more so that I could stretch out my legs, bit it is still really comfortable.

Ibanez Jem - my luthier makes fun of this guitar, but it is a dream to play. Flat neck, large fretboard. It sounds amazing.

Nest - just works. Took 5 minutes to install and it just worked

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

#86

Post by planteen » Mon, Feb 20, 2017, 5:26 AM UTC

The game of Tetris.

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

#87

Post by pgreenwood » Mon, Feb 20, 2017, 5:27 AM UTC

Almost every bicycle. Our noblest invention.

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

#88

Post by beachstartup » Mon, Feb 20, 2017, 5:28 AM UTC

i336_ wrote: post #60

jimmies wrote: post #8

Aesthetically pleasing: - The Palm Pre (1st edition). It is an absolutely amazing, brilliant piece of hardware (especially back in 2009) that fits just right in my hand like a pebble. The curved screen is brilliant to the eyes and to the touch. It also has an interface that is not cluttered and busy like shit in other mainstream OSes then, and now. But I mainly like things that are designed for ease of maintenance: -…

I'm not quite sure how to feel about my T43 now. I was given it by a friend a while ago as I can't get my hands on anything else right now, and... I'm starting to wonder if I'll be hugely disappointed when I can get something newer. I must admit that it doesn't Chrome too well though. It copes but it swaps a LOT and I can literally see garbage-collection happening - typing or scrolling locks up for 300ms every ~10 se…

put an ssd in it.

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

#89

Post by nodesocket » Mon, Feb 20, 2017, 5:28 AM UTC

My Altec Lansing ACS48 computer speakers. I paid $299 for them in 1999 and to this day they still work flawlessly and beat most every other computer speaker. Audiophiles swear by them, and still buy them in bulk when they can find them.

Here's the Amazon reviews: https://www.amazon.com/Altec-Lansing-ACS48-Computer-Speakers...

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

#90

Post by chickenfries » Mon, Feb 20, 2017, 5:29 AM UTC

klenwell wrote: post #68

I'm impressed with the new design of water coolers. It's been a while since I've been in an office with a real water cooler as opposed to a Keurig-like device connected directly to the waterline. But at my new office, we have a good old-fashioned water cooler. Except that it's a newfangled water cooler with a redesigned interface between cooler and water jug. Now, instead of peeling a wax lid off the top of the jug a…

I've never used one that didn't have one of those connectors. What you're describing as the old way sounds like barbarism. How did anyone put up with that?