Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022 • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#801

Post by SheepSlapper » Fri, Jan 06, 2023, 10:27 PM UTC

Kadin wrote: post #711

I paid a guy a bit under $200 to pull Ethernet cables from my basement up to the attic of my house. Now I can keep heat-generating stuff like my storage server and the cable modem (surprisingly heat-intensive) in the basement, have a WiFi AP in the attic for great coverage in the yard, and I can easily drop lines down into rooms on the 2nd floor from above by just drilling a small hole in the top of a wall and feedin…

I built my house 4 years ago (with liberal use of subcontractors), and one of the things I knew I'd want is ethernet everywhere. So I ran the wire, bought a big patch panel, and now every room in my house has 2-4 ports for whatever I might want.

As a bonus, if I (or the next guy) wanted to have a landline phone, it's in the same closet and it can be patched to anywhere in the house by swapping a single wire.

Given the opportunity, even after the house is complete, it's a very useful thing to do.

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#802

Post by askvictor » Fri, Jan 06, 2023, 10:27 PM UTC

eternityforest wrote: post #141

Google Assistant. I had a smart clock for years but only now got the full benefit now that I've switched to Keep and Calendar for so many things rather than using various notes apps. My Kobo Libra 2 reader has been great. Although sometimes I wish I'd bought a Kindle or waited for the Scribe, because Kobo books often cost more than Kindle books, and it seems like Kindle has better sideloading support now. Wall mount…

Kobo is great as you can connect it to your local library and borrow books from there.

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#803

Post by scottmcdot » Fri, Jan 06, 2023, 10:27 PM UTC

Stainless Steel Toothpaste Tube Squeezer. My plastic one broke and this looks nicer as well as more durable.

Perma image: https://imgur.com/a/qVNMcQs

eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/125026463849

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#804

Post by thehours » Fri, Jan 06, 2023, 10:27 PM UTC

dougmwne wrote: post #147

Airpod Pro 2 They are basically bionic ears. Headphones, headset, earplugs, hearing protection, hearing aids, extendable ears, and more. Wish they could act as universal translators, but I suppose that's still yet to come.

Also surprisingly comfortable to wear while laying on a pillow, at least compared to anything I've tried so far. White noise + noise cancellation makes for pleasant naps.

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#805

Post by theshrike79 » Fri, Jan 06, 2023, 10:29 PM UTC

bmitc wrote: post #316

dougmwne wrote: post #147

Airpod Pro 2 They are basically bionic ears. Headphones, headset, earplugs, hearing protection, hearing aids, extendable ears, and more. Wish they could act as universal translators, but I suppose that's still yet to come.

Do they actually provide hearing protection? Hearing protection requires a pretty tight seal, which I wasn't aware of any headphones providing aside from in-ear monitors.

Anecdotally yes.

I've used them in situations where the "ambient" music is ear-splittingly loud (Apple Watch saying GTFO or you're gonna go deaf). Aipods Pro 2 in and I can still hear what people are talking, but the loud noises are brought down considerably.

AW decibel check goes from 90 -> high 60/low 70 with ANC on.

Not as good as actual proper earplugs, especially the ones that look like pine trees, but I carry my Airpods with me everywhere - earplugs I don't. The Airpods go to the Airpods pocket in my jeans, I do have earplugs in my bag, but it's not with me at all times. My pants are =)

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#806

Post by majikandy » Fri, Jan 06, 2023, 10:30 PM UTC

teekert wrote: post #196

spaceman_2020 wrote: post #154

An air fryer. It’s really a badly marketed product. Its real utility isn’t that it uses less oil, but that it cooks incredibly fast. Essentially an oven on steroids. It’s made cooking so much easier. I usually toss some boneless chicken in with a light coating of soy sauce and cornflour. While the chicken cooks, I prep a basic Asian sauce on the stovetop. The chicken and the sauce are both done within 10-15 minutes.…

Yeah this is it, right? People throw fries in airfyrers that just soaked up fat before put in their packaging thinking it's healthy, and it just takes 3x the amount of time to "deep fry" some french fries. But that is really not it's strong point indeed! It's not an alternative to a deep fryer (but that is primarily the way I see it used), it a faster oven.

No need to pretend it’s healthier. Some things will be, some things won’t be. Definitely doesn’t take 3x in a home setting. If anything 3x faster start to finish in my experience.

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#807

Post by brailsafe » Fri, Jan 06, 2023, 10:32 PM UTC

Baratza Encore burr grinder! I might upgrade soon, but it's served me incredibly well for a year.

Also got a Craigslist road bike from the 80s for ~$250 cad (less than $200 USD). It's needed a few repairs but has absolutely been worth it and impactful to the year.

Also a good compact air sleeping pad for backpacking. Haven't used it as much as I'd have liked, but its made a few moments much more pleasant.

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#808

Post by majikandy » Fri, Jan 06, 2023, 10:33 PM UTC

testfoobar wrote: post #244

spaceman_2020 wrote: post #154

An air fryer. It’s really a badly marketed product. Its real utility isn’t that it uses less oil, but that it cooks incredibly fast. Essentially an oven on steroids. It’s made cooking so much easier. I usually toss some boneless chicken in with a light coating of soy sauce and cornflour. While the chicken cooks, I prep a basic Asian sauce on the stovetop. The chicken and the sauce are both done within 10-15 minutes.…

Does the fan get all oily & grimy? Is it hard to keep clean? I like being able to wash greasy kitchen items in lots of hot water and detergent. I can't imagine it is possible to immerse the business end of an air fryer in water?

The fan, not that much. Out of sight out of mind :)

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#809

Post by SeanLuke » Fri, Jan 06, 2023, 10:33 PM UTC

Wasn't purchased in 2022 but I was just now talking to my wife about how great a purchase this had proven over the years. A Black Condor T&T Pouch. I tossed the map insert in the middle, the drawstrings inside, and the Molle attachment loops in the back, and it has served as a really fantastic organizer for pens, mechanical pencils, knives, erasers, Macbook dongles, precision screwdrivers, spudgers, and so on. Tough as nails. $30, available in lots of places.

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#810

Post by henryaj » Fri, Jan 06, 2023, 10:34 PM UTC

askvictor wrote: post #793

bemmu wrote: post #138

Ordering frozen croissants online. Before going to bed you leave one in the oven. Wake up, turn oven on, hit the shower. When you come out, it's ready to eat = cafe experience at home, coffee and a croissant while checking the news.

Are these already baked then frozen, or raw pastry? I used to work in a cafe where we'd bake croissants from frozen (raw pastry) and they were pretty great.

Raw pastry