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

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

#91

Post by theduemmer »

McMaster-Carr has the best shopping website I've ever seen. The UI is beautifully intuitive; even if I don't know exactly what I need, odds are I can easily find something that will work and they can have it at my doorstep in under 24 hours, no matter how obscure. Even if I don't plan on buying anything, it can be helpful to click through the site just to see what is available. Because most categories of parts have surprisingly well written descriptions and breakdowns, the sire can actually be a good engineering resource.

I've bought from them many times before and have yet to be disappointed with what I got. It is definitely expensive compared to other suppliers or Amazon, etc. But you pay for the convenience.

I hear they aren't very good outside the US though, which is a shame.

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

#92

Post by TheRealSteel »

quiffledwerg wrote: post #68

The best thing I ever used was iPod shuffle mini. It was the perfect design, nothing could be added nor taken away to make it better. But apple being Apple they redesigned it to be crap then discontinued it. On the topic of designing great things and Apple …. Can I say that I hate Apples “minimalism above all else” approach to design. For example I want computers with lots of ports - what’s the point in buying a mini…

Never used a Shuffle, but the original iPod Nano was absolutely beautiful. Just a bit too easily scratched and maybe too small.

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

#93

Post by kunle »

Pic's creamy peanut butter: https://picspb.com/products/creamy-pb

I don't even care for peanut butter and this just hits. Super smooth, not too sweet - i eat it by the spoonful. I literally did not think there was any difference between different peanut butter brands until I had Pic's.

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

#94

Post by phdelightful »

MildlySerious wrote: post #9

In terms of physical things, my Audio Technica ATH-M50x headphones. I have been quite literally wearing them all day, every day for the past three years and got no complaints.

I got the predecessor of these (ATH-M50) in high school and I still use them 15 years later. Have a bit of peeling where the headband touches my head, but working perfectly otherwise.

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

#95

Post by Diesel555 »

idontwantthis wrote: post #85
wh313 wrote: post #61

My Aeropress coffee maker. It feels more convenient than a french press, and much cheaper than an espresso machine. https://aeropress.com/ Also a bidet. Americans really need to start using it more.

Been using an aero press for years, but the seal wears out. Need to press very carefully or the air goes out the top instead of the bottom.

I almost listed this as mine. The design is still really good for the cost. Ease of use / cleaning / disposing of grounds is a smart design. I accept that the seal will wear, I actually think not over-engineering the seal and making it triple the price adds to the design.

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

#96

Post by LeoPanthera »

The original iPod, the very first one with the wheel that actually turned.

I don't think I've ever known a product I loved more. I got so much pleasure from it that it made me want to learn more about product design.

I thought the later static touch-wheel wasn't as good, and firewire was such a great way to load it with music, fast charging and super fast data transfer.

I've never been as happy with anything "cloud based" - something is always broken somewhere.

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

#97

Post by jhardy54 »

cc101 wrote: post #10

US Forest Service picnic table. 3 kinds of simple flat cement castings. Held together by their own weight. Easily carried and assembled by two men. Cheap. Almost indestructible.

Do you have a photo / link? My searches haven’t turned up anything.

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

#98

Post by TheRealSteel »

quiffledwerg wrote: post #87
LeoPanthera wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which one?

The early shuffle mini.

There's no such thing, the Shuffle and Mini were separate models.

The Shuffle was the size of a USB drive, used solid state storage, and had no screen, the Mini was the one with the first touch Click Wheel and metallic colour choices, and used a 4GB spinning hard drive.

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

#99

Post by jbay808 »

theduemmer wrote: post #91

McMaster-Carr has the best shopping website I've ever seen. The UI is beautifully intuitive; even if I don't know exactly what I need, odds are I can easily find something that will work and they can have it at my doorstep in under 24 hours, no matter how obscure. Even if I don't plan on buying anything, it can be helpful to click through the site just to see what is available. Because most categories of parts have s…

I'd love it if they added a price filter option! If I want a clear plastic tube I don't always know whether I'll get a cheaper price with acrylic, UV-resistant acrylic, static dissipative acrylic, ultra-strength polycarbonate, high-temperature polycarbonate, etc... It can take a lot of clicking to find the cheapest option!

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

#100

Post by TulliusCicero »

wly_cdgr wrote: post #11

You said things, so I am excluding software (like the original version of the Square web app) JVC Flats GBA SP (the pocket clamshell one) Retro microwave with the original-ipod style single knob controls More generically, forks Grand Prize Winner: wood Staunton chess set - beautiful, durable, affordable, practical. The piece design is exquisitely balanced between representation and abstraction

GBA SP would be great except for the lack of headphone jack. What a bizarre omission.
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