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?

#841

Post by artimaeis » Mon, Feb 20, 2017, 10:04 PM UTC

MrTonyD wrote: post #757

artimaeis wrote: post #668

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

I'm going to second hxta98596's recommendation and recommend a Kum Masterpiece sharpener. Two blades lets you get just the right point shape and the ability replace the blades over time helps maintain consistent sharpening performance.

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

#842

Post by artimaeis » Mon, Feb 20, 2017, 10:09 PM UTC

hxta98596 wrote: post #749

artimaeis wrote: post #668

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

This person knows their pencils. I agree. Second the Palomino recommendation. It's all relative but I wouldn't call the Blackwing 602 "ludicrously expensive"...they cost about $1.50 per pencil. Though maybe you are thinking of the vintage Blackwing pencils. Blackwing used to be made by a different company (Eberhard) decades ago. These older vintage Blackwing pencils if you can find one cost like $50 today. Still the…

Thanks! I'm a pretty big fan of stationary and writing as a hobby so I try to keep up with what's good.

You're right, calling the price of the Blackwing 602 ludicrous was a bit of a stretch. But considering you can get 144 count of Dixon Ticonderoga for the same price as 12 Blackwings it's pretty difficult for a lot of people to justify.

I did not know about the Eberhard Blackwings. I'll have to look further into that to see if I can get one as a collection piece!

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

#843

Post by InitialLastName » Mon, Feb 20, 2017, 10:11 PM UTC

cellularmitosis wrote: post #803

mitchellst wrote: post #688

The Trek 500. It's a bicycle. It's a steel bicycle, which is out of favor these days, but Trek still makes a few each year. And they haven't really changed the design since it was introduced in the 80's. Why? Because it's the perfect bicycle. At least, if you're doing a very particular thing. I rode one from the Oregon Coast to Long Island. It was an unsupported tour, so I had about 50 pounds of gear strapped to it t…

There is a counterintuitive slump in quality of experience along the progression of bicycle frame materials technology. One would expect each point along the progression to be completely superior than the last: steel, aluminum, carbon fiber. I had to learn the hard way that isn't the case. Steel is flexible (comfortable ride) but heavy. Aluminum came along and offered lighter frames, but the frames had to be made muc…

I'd say steel and aluminum come out about even in terms of their value for bicycles at the lower budget end

Steel: - Pro: More repairable (bend it right back!) - Pro: More comfortable ride - Con: Heavier - Con: prone to rust if the finish gets marred

Aluminum: - Pro: No corrosion, even when the paint is gone. - Pro: Lighter - Con: Not repairable - Con: less comfortable

All this to say, I agree with you, but there are more considerations than weight and ride comfort. My beater bike (ride around and lock up in the city, through salt and snow and any random crap) is aluminum and cheap. My commute bike is steel and more expensive, but takes a bit more care.

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

#844

Post by cr0sh » Mon, Feb 20, 2017, 10:16 PM UTC

i_don_t_know wrote: post #317

The ancient microwave in my first apartment. It had two knobs: one for time, one for power. It's immediately obvious how to cook something for how long, how to add more time, etc. All other microwaves that I've used I had to have someone explain to me what buttons to press in what order to do even the simplest things. And I've never seen anyone use all of those fancy buttons.

Get a commercial microwave oven. I did this - you won't regret it. I got a Sharp Electronics R-21LCF 1000W oven. Yes, it costs close to $300 USD. A similar consumer over will only cost half that. But these things are near workhorses, designed to run near constantly in a foodservice environment (restaurants and the like).

My wife and I decided to do this after experiencing yet another consumer over breaking after only having it a couple of years. We decided to go with the Sharp model, because it (along with Amana) is what you see in most restaurants. We figured to give it a shot, and see how we liked it, and how long it would last.

We've only had it a couple of years, but so far we love it. It only has one knob, only runs on "HIGH" full power, and only allows for a few minutes of cooking at a time. But so far, we haven't had a problem cooking anything in it. You have to adjust how you used to do things (if you're used to power levels - especially "defrost") - but overall, it isn't that big of a deal. Just stick the food in, turn the knob, come back when it "dings".

Doesn't get any simpler.

Now if only I could figure out how to get a TurboChef cheaply...

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

#845

Post by lobster_johnson » Mon, Feb 20, 2017, 10:18 PM UTC

mrcsparker wrote: post #85

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 lu…

The Steelcase Leap v2 is also fantastic (the differences are not major, I believe, and it was The Wirecutter's previous top choice [1]), and can be found fairly cheaply on Craigslist. I bought a refurbished one for $250 recently.

Compared to most high-end chairs like the Herman Miller Aeron, Steelcase's chairs are very soft and body-hugging.

That said, if money were no object and looks were king, I would go for an Interstuhl Every [2] or the FK84 by Fabricius and Kastholm for Kill [3].

[1] http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-office-chair/

[2] https://officefurniturescene.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/0...

[3] http://www.modernity.se/office-chair-designed-by-preben-fabr...

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

#846

Post by RachelF » Mon, Feb 20, 2017, 10:20 PM UTC

dri_ft wrote: post #401

mdip wrote: post #362

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Completely agree! The funny thing is the first thing I thought of was an old microwave I owned with a similar setup mainly because the microwave I own, today, is so awful [0]. I have a GE combination convection oven/microwave and it was clearly designed by someone who had their first experience with LSD that day. Every function requires a different, magic, set of key combinations to make it work. Want to set a timer?…

Holy christ. Horrifying. I can't understand how microwaves are all so bad. Where are the good ones? Isn't it less work to make a simpler (better) interface than the baroque ones we end up with?

Like many products, microwaves are designed to sell, not to be used.

The consumer in the store thinks that better product has more buttons and features, not thinking how they would be used.

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

#847

Post by artimaeis » Mon, Feb 20, 2017, 10:28 PM UTC

falcolas wrote: post #686

artimaeis wrote: post #78

Seiko 5 automatic watch - Simple, timeless, affordable. It's just a great watch and it always will be. rOtring 600 mechanical pencil - the feel of this pencil is unlike any other writing implement I've found. It's a legend. My new goal is to find a fountain pen that I can enjoy as much as I enjoy this. Though I fear that will be a notably more expensive purchase. Yamaha Custom Series Bb trumpet - before becoming a de…

Not to take away from the other fountain pen recommendations - but I always suggest people try out the Pilot Varsity. It's an inexpensive and disposable fountain pen with an incredible nib; good enough (and cheap enough) that there are a lot of videos out there about how to refill them.

Thanks for the recommendation! I'll see if I can find one and try it out.

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

#848

Post by harry8 » Mon, Feb 20, 2017, 10:34 PM UTC

nunez wrote: post #26

Apple MacBooks are the best laptops that I have ever used. Nothing comes close to them. Even my Surface. It's a great device (by far the best Windows laptop/convertible available), but it misses on some details (light bleed on the edges, kickstand doesn't align all the way)

Until you need to replace literally anything in them. When their design suddenly looks massively hopeless compared to a thinkpad.

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

#849

Post by nicwolff » Mon, Feb 20, 2017, 10:34 PM UTC

i_don_t_know wrote: post #317

The ancient microwave in my first apartment. It had two knobs: one for time, one for power. It's immediately obvious how to cook something for how long, how to add more time, etc. All other microwaves that I've used I had to have someone explain to me what buttons to press in what order to do even the simplest things. And I've never seen anyone use all of those fancy buttons.

Even simpler: Panasonic and Amana each sell a commercial microwave oven that has one knob – and that's it. Turn the knob to the time you want to cook, and it starts cooking – on "high", its only power setting. Open the door, and it stops and cancels the timer.

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

#850

Post by whitepoplar » Mon, Feb 20, 2017, 10:38 PM UTC

sparkling wrote: post #834

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…

Sorry for being weird, but what Blundstone boot model exactly are you refering to? This one? http://www.blundstone.com/shop/black-mens-or-womens-premium-...

No, not being weird at all! :)

This video does a good job showing the differences: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM68SNtODqs

If you do decide to get a pair, note that they need some time to break in; mine were uncomfortable at first!