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Ask HN: What are some example of low tech improving your life?

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Re: Ask HN: What are some example of low tech improving your life?

#81

Post by carapace »

OrangeMango wrote: post #77
axaxs wrote: post #39

I have a few, which have happened one at a time over the years. Mostly between tired of cheap junk breaking, tired of plastic, or tired of staring into a screen, so I'll share a few. I wear a watch. Sometimes solar, but usually automatic. It looks nice, and lets me avoid getting trapped into staring at my phone in public. When I want to send a long communication, I use a fountain pen and write it on paper and mail it…

> I use a fountain pen As an experiment in waste reduction and to see if it could end up less expensive as well, I started to use a fountain pen instead of my favorite Pilot Uni-Ball Deluxe pens. I paid $45 for a pen, converter and 50mL of ink. At this point, I have definitely reduced waste but I'm not sure that it will end up being less expensive. The pen will need to last for ~4 years of daily writing to succeed an…

FWIW, I got a decent fountain pen at Daiso for $5.

(Shout out for Uni-Ball Deluxe!)

Re: Ask HN: What are some example of low tech improving your life?

#82

Post by fierarul »

When my Apple Watch battery broke I bought, with the little money I received from selling it for spare parts, a cheap CASIO G-Shock.

This low-tech CASIO does all I needed from my smart watch: shows time and date and gives me a timer for cooking.

I never have to charge it or take it off and I can even shower with it.

Added advantage is that it doesn't constantly radiate on the WiFi / Bluetooth spectrum.

Re: Ask HN: What are some example of low tech improving your life?

#83

Post by OrangeMango »

unhashable wrote: post #76
subpixel wrote: post #19

More like less-tech but my phone is on permanent-silent mode. I miss calls, but see exactly who called and can return the call or text as needed.

Same. The iPhone is slowly getting there. Latest updates make robo-calling less of a thing. Wish list: allow perm do not disturb, enable whitelisting for allowed callers, allow total removal of phone app.

> allow total removal of phone app

Apple still produces the iPod touch, and it runs iOS 13!

Re: Ask HN: What are some example of low tech improving your life?

#84

Post by zelon88 »

I bought a 2 stroke gasoline engine kit for a bicycle last year for about $80 and it was the best money I spent in a long time. The thing is a POS, it hurts to ride long distances, it drops parts all over the road, breaks down all the time, and the original engine wore out after 2,500 miles or so. I have a larger motorcycle but still, for $80, three moving parts, and a couple hours work there is nothing more fun than this thing. I've got some motor parts coming in the mail to get it ready for spring.

I love lawn tractors too. Done up right they can be just as much fun as a typical 4 wheeler but for a fraction of the price. There's just something about detonating dollar bills that put a smile on my face.

Re: Ask HN: What are some example of low tech improving your life?

#85

Post by OrangeMango »

carapace wrote: post #81
OrangeMango wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I use a fountain pen As an experiment in waste reduction and to see if it could end up less expensive as well, I started to use a fountain pen instead of my favorite Pilot Uni-Ball Deluxe pens. I paid $45 for a pen, converter and 50mL of ink. At this point, I have definitely reduced waste but I'm not sure that it will end up being less expensive. The pen will need to last for ~4 years of daily writing to succeed an…

FWIW, I got a decent fountain pen at Daiso for $5. (Shout out for Uni-Ball Deluxe!)

Does it have a refillable reservoir? If so, that's a great bargain if you like the way it writes!

Part of what spurred me to try this experiment is the feeling that the quality of the Uni-Ball lineup has been dropping, including the Deluxe. I still have some 10+ year old Uni-Balls (matte black plastic, not sure the real model name) that are better writers than recently purchased Deluxe modules. A true shame :(

Re: Ask HN: What are some example of low tech improving your life?

#86

Post by rchaud »

rciorba wrote: post #31
rchaud wrote: post #26

It's not as low-tech as some of the examples here, but I'll say that an e-reader with Pocket sync functionality has dramatically improved my life. Reading long form articles on an offline device with no incoming notifications, no games, no podcasts etc has been a great boon to my ability to focus and really dig into what I'm reading. Plus these days, getting any kind of screen-off time is valuable.

Oh my! I've wanted this for a while now. Which reader do you use?

Kobo Mini e-reader from 2013. It had been sitting in a drawer unused for years until one day I turned it on, and an updated installed over wifi with the Pocket sync option.

Re: Ask HN: What are some example of low tech improving your life?

#87

Post by AdmiralAsshat »

JackFr wrote: post #63
axaxs wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's funny I just posted about the same thing. If you're interested, check out vintage Elma grinders on ebay. I have one we restored and it looks nice. If something smaller, Kalita makes nice ones too. Somehow I now have 3 total. It's not as fast or simple as electric, of course, but there is some satisfaction to its simplicity.

I have them grind it for me at the store. It's definitely improved my quality of life. I prefer drip to press, but my wife is the other way around, so I deal with it.

The problem with grinding them at the store is you vastly decrease the lifespan of the beans in terms of quality. Whole bean coffee, properly stored, can keep in the pantry for months. Once the coffee is ground, it starts losing its aromatic qualities within hours (even if you are storing it in an airtight, opaque container). It won't go stale or rancid that quickly, but there will be a noticeable drop in quality. So I really wouldn't recommend pre-grinding unless you go through the bag within a week.

Re: Ask HN: What are some example of low tech improving your life?

#88

Post by axaxs »

OrangeMango wrote: post #77
axaxs wrote: post #39

I have a few, which have happened one at a time over the years. Mostly between tired of cheap junk breaking, tired of plastic, or tired of staring into a screen, so I'll share a few. I wear a watch. Sometimes solar, but usually automatic. It looks nice, and lets me avoid getting trapped into staring at my phone in public. When I want to send a long communication, I use a fountain pen and write it on paper and mail it…

> I use a fountain pen As an experiment in waste reduction and to see if it could end up less expensive as well, I started to use a fountain pen instead of my favorite Pilot Uni-Ball Deluxe pens. I paid $45 for a pen, converter and 50mL of ink. At this point, I have definitely reduced waste but I'm not sure that it will end up being less expensive. The pen will need to last for ~4 years of daily writing to succeed an…

In fairness, I've only dipped my toes in with a few Jinhaos. They are pretty cheap. They aren't as nice writing as the really nice ones, but serviceable. They come with refillable reservoirs, and take international standard cartridges if you want.

Re: Ask HN: What are some example of low tech improving your life?

#89

Post by agitator »

DyslexicAtheist wrote: post #29

I hiked across the Alps, alone, on foot and camping in the wild for 3 months. I had no phone with me (no GPS) and just paper maps, and a pen to keep notes on paper. It was the best time I ever had my whole life. I thought I might get lonely but being in the flow of walking every day actually created some kind of an internal dialogue in my head which never made me feel lonely. I met others who were on a similar trail…

I did a 10 day trek in Patagonia last year. Best experience of my life.

I totally agree. Not having any any tech with me, allowed me to live in the moment. I remember every part vividly, and have some of the best memories spending time with others on the trail, cooking breakfast, setting up and tearing down camp, and enduring crazy weather. Just simple things that we take for granted everyday, just felt rewarding and great to do. It was a crazy realization that you don't need all of this stuff we filled our lives with. You really can get by just fine with less.

I can't wait for the next opportunity I have to just get away from all the tech noise.

Re: Ask HN: What are some example of low tech improving your life?

#90

Post by agitator »

AdmiralAsshat wrote: post #37

I guess a French Press would be an example of "low tech" I've embraced to make an awesome cup of coffee every morning. But being a perfectionist tech geek, I had to ruin it by investing in an expensive Barzata conical burr grinder, so I guess it's not low tech anymore. Does it still count if I switch to a manual burr hand-grinder? :P

I use a hand grinder, and a moka pot. My favorite type of coffee. Super simple and reliable.
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