How Ikea's Billy bookcase took over the world • Hacker News Board

Re: How Ikea's Billy bookcase took over the world

#241

Post by rahimnathwani » Tue, Feb 28, 2017, 12:57 AM UTC

ciupicri wrote: post #240

aedron wrote: post #174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am happy to not have to store books in physical form. They are heavy, take up loads and loads of space, and do not keep well. And that's not even getting into how impractical they are to actually read (or search) compared with e-books. And still, something is missing in the home. A book collection might be the most personal touch a person can have in the home. Some of it is vanity, you want to show people what you…

How can physical books be impractical to actually read compared to e-books when text looks so much better on paper than on screen?

- require an external light source - forget the current page when closed - no search feature - highlights require an additional implement and are hard to erase

Re: How Ikea's Billy bookcase took over the world

#242

Post by 234dd57d2c8dba » Tue, Feb 28, 2017, 2:58 AM UTC

Nice native advert.

Re: How Ikea's Billy bookcase took over the world

#243

Post by hvidgaard » Tue, Feb 28, 2017, 7:30 AM UTC

data_hope wrote: post #196

hvidgaard wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't buy a sofa from Ikea, except perhaps the Klippan. The rest aren't really good IMO. But neither are any of the other budget offerings from other stores. Unless you buy a super expensive designer sofa, you will get the flimsy feeling sofa. And if you look at the option, you can have 1 good quality sofa, or 5-10 cheap ones - it's not hard to see why people opt for the cheap model. And this story continues wit…

I'd like to add, that with IKEA you know what you can expect in terms of quality, sturdiness and usability. You know it's not the best, but you also know that it'll survive a few years and maybe moving once. With other brands, your expectation has a broader variance. * the discount furniture competitor also uses cheap material, but you cannot be sure that you can even assemble the furniture (lousy packaging and screw…

The resale value has surprised me every single time I want to get rid of some Ikea furniture. It's always sellable, and it is for a decent price.

Re: How Ikea's Billy bookcase took over the world

#244

Post by headmelted » Tue, Feb 28, 2017, 8:09 AM UTC

lostapathy wrote: post #194

headmelted wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's fairly well known that Warren Buffet still lives in the house he bought in the fifties before he got ultra wealthy, but I was watching a documentary a couple of weeks back where he was explaining that his choice of breakfast at the McDonald's drive-thru window is dictated by the market closing price the day before. That's hardcore... and a little eccentric probably. Found it: http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/bec…

Living in the same house is a popular fact, but it might be a little dishonest. It's a big house, with a lot of space around it, and it's obviously been kept up to date with somebody who has money. It's not at all like the 50 year old house my grandparents have.

I'm not sure how dishonest it is, as I can't imagine he stays put in the house for PR value.

Beyond that, I wouldn't assume that he's had an incredibly out-of-the-ordinary level of work done on the house. It's time-consuming, disruptive and messy.

Adjusting for his budget, I can only imagine this would all be made worse if the upgrades include holodecks, teleporters and a subterranean command center.

Re: How Ikea's Billy bookcase took over the world

#245

Post by johncoltrane » Tue, Feb 28, 2017, 9:24 AM UTC

cestith wrote: post #233

johncoltrane wrote: post #211

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He was referring to this one (color unspecified): http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00263850/ There's nothing notable with that bookshelf except the price. That model has simply been the most basic/cheap bookcase at IKEA (and elsewhere) for decades, a must have for young adults moving out of their parents'. I still have two after many years. Incidentally, I'm getting that very same KALLAX you linked to in a…

I've always thought that "Billy" unqualified meant that one.

Same for me, my friend, and almost everybody I know. That thing is a true standard.

Re: How Ikea's Billy bookcase took over the world

#246

Post by jnunoferreira » Wed, Mar 01, 2017, 3:25 PM UTC

KingMob wrote: post #236

chris_7 wrote: post #231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The designs from Crate and Barrel usually aren't as good as those Ikea, even if the quality is up to snuff. CB2 is usually okay, as long as they haven't decided to make the piece you want only available in bright orange or something. They do that sometimes. There is definitely a gulf between Ikea (bad quality, good design, $) and DWR-tier places (good quality, good design, $$$$). Muji maybe, if they happen to make so…

I love the irony of naming yourself "Design Within Reach", while still being out of reach for most people who aren't professionals. As the owner of several Muji items (trash cans, silverware holders, rolling storage unit, coasters, dish rack), I have to say while they look nice, they're rarely as well thought-out as Ikea. The trash cans don't seal, and the dish rack can't actually hold plates upright in position.

I can't praise enough the quality and functionality of Joseph Joseph items. It seems like everything I own from them meets the advertised functionality and then some. And while expensive, the prices are fair. Great plastics and finishing.

They don't do furniture, though.