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

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

#891

Post by latchkey » Sat, Jan 07, 2023, 2:17 AM UTC

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.…

I have a small house/kitchen. I got rid of the entire oven. Replaced it with a two burner counter top and an instant pot that does 7 things (including air fryer). Certainly it limits cooking a bit and requires some creativity, but at the end of the day, couldn't be happier with all the extra space.

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

#892

Post by propogandist » Sat, Jan 07, 2023, 2:19 AM UTC

ezekg wrote: post #204

The Carpio 2.0 by DeltaHub ( https://us.deltahub.io/products/carpio-2 ). It's a wrist rest, but not like you probably think. I would get severe hand pain being at the PC all day, but this little contraption completely relieved that pain. It took a couple weeks to get used to, and now I use it while working and gaming. One of the best purchases I've made in a long time.

These guys have an option to add a tip in their checkout flow. Has this sort of nonsense become the new norm?

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

#893

Post by philwelch » Sat, Jan 07, 2023, 2:29 AM UTC

karaterobot wrote: post #820

I guess I'm a bit late for this thread, but this just occurred to me because I had to pick up a package: I got a little sign with the UPS, Fedex, and Amazon logos on it that says "deliver packages here". I put it on my porch, so that the guy drops the package where I can see it through the window. I think it cost $10. Before buying that sign, here are places where I've found packages: * My yard, helpfully hidden behi…

Old houses used to have passthrough doors built into them for things like ice, milk, and coal to be delivered. I'm really surprised this feature hasn't made a comeback for package delivery.

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

#894

Post by propogandist » Sat, Jan 07, 2023, 2:32 AM UTC

iLoveOncall wrote: post #129

littledev wrote: post #119

The Zendure Passport III worldwide travel adapters changed my reality in 2022 (~$70). It sounds boring, but man. I've had many worldwide plug adapters in my day, and many chargers. But the Zendure has a 65W USB-C fast charger in it, plus 3 more USB-C and a single USB-A. When I travel (and that includes "traveling to the coworking place"), I used to bring: * A plug adapter * My big ol' laptop charger brick and cord *…

This couldn't read more like a paid ad.

it's only a matter of time before all these threads and those on reddit are ridden with ChatGPT based posts pushing products (and more). It's now possible to write up convincing sounding content and copy with a product placement woven in with little to no effort.

Then the poster just needs a couple of aged accounts to publish the posts, and a handful of botnets to inflate vote counts to boost visibility. It can be extra convincing with some shill bot accounts that post (controversial) replies which spark more organic interactions. These comments may then trigger ranking algos to further boost visibility, to drive more platform engagement.

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

#895

Post by obrajesse » Sat, Jan 07, 2023, 2:37 AM UTC

mirchiseth wrote: post #749

Where is the AI that can parse thru 1000+ comments and make a summary post of all the products people love on this thread.

Pay someone on fiverr?

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

#896

Post by sfmike » Sat, Jan 07, 2023, 2:37 AM UTC

AlchemistCamp wrote: post #828

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.…

What's a "basic Asian sauce"? I'm not trying to be critical, but am genuinely curious as someone who's lived more than half the years since 1997 in Taiwan without hearing that term before.

As someone else living in taiwan a long time, You wouldnt hear asian sauce in asia its just sauce haha 東亞醬 doesn't exist. We dont say american ketchup. But in usa numerous friends say make a quick asian sauce to dip the protein which as comments below explain is a concoction of personal tastes.

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

#897

Post by sfmike » Sat, Jan 07, 2023, 2:39 AM UTC

spapas82 wrote: post #220

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.…

I was thinking if buying an air fryer however cleaning seems like a nightmare. Can you please share some insights on how easy (or hard) it is?

Have a power xl and cleaning is just tossing away the parchment paper after

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

#898

Post by cableshaft » Sat, Jan 07, 2023, 2:49 AM UTC

samsolomon wrote: post #407

This is a weird one—Fiskars 4-Claw Weeder https://www.homedepot.com/p/Fiskars-34-in-Aluminum-Handle-an... Our dogs are frequently out in the yard, so other than spring pre-emergent I try to avoid herbicides. I bought it after a hand weeder broke pulling up crabgrass. This thing has oddly been one of the most satisfying purchases I've made in years. You put it in the ground, step on it and the thing easily pulls out w…

Our backyard definitely needs this, and I also hesitate to use herbicides because of pets (and insects and whatnot). Had no idea this existed. I'll definitely get one, thanks!

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

#899

Post by askvictor » Sat, Jan 07, 2023, 2:50 AM UTC

rqtwteye wrote: post #577

Bread machine. Making bread with a mixer is fun but takes a lot of time. With the bread machine there really is no reason to buy preservative and sugar laden bread from the store.

The no-knead (or low knead) recipes from J Kenji Lopez Alt are incredibly simple and incredibly good. You need to plan, but the actual active time spent is a couple of minutes. Works great if you're working from home.

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

#900

Post by propogandist » Sat, Jan 07, 2023, 2:54 AM UTC

DamnInteresting wrote: post #192

I'm surprised by how many things mentioned here are things that improved my own 2022 (air fryer, Steamdeck, bone-conducting headphones, etc.) A couple of things that I haven't yet seen mentioned: A LifeStraw Home water filter. It removes the slightly metallic taste from my home tap water. Cable management boxes (multiple brands). These allow me to hide away the unsightly power strips, power bricks, hubs, excess cords…

> it removes the slightly metallic taste from my home tap water.

you should look into a reverse osmosis unit which has multiple stages of filtering. I recommend Watts [1], easy to self-install under the kitchen sink. The company has been around for sometime and is even publicly traded.

[1] https://www.premierh2o.com/pages/ro-system-comparison