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Ask HN: Most life changing things that you bought?

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Re: Ask HN: Most life changing things that you bought?

#131

Post by mixmixmix »

PascLeRasc wrote: post #126
mixmixmix wrote: post #26

AirPods Pro The original ones were awesome, but these ones are even better. Absolute game changer.

I'm really interested in getting a pair. If you don't mind, I have a few questions: 1 - If you put regular non-Apple earbuds in your ears and talk, does your voice sound different and off-putting? 2 - Do the Airpods Pro do this, and how are they for phone calls in general? I'd really like to have them for phone calls and Zoom meetings, but regular earbuds make it hard for me to talk without being super conscious of h…

Initially, I was self conscious when I walked around with them and talked to people, but now I have no problems wearing AirPods Pro all day and talking to people with them on (Via Transparency Mode)

They work great for phone calls, music listening, noise cancellation is great, too.

Maybe not as good as Sony, but as an overall product, I love them and would buy them again in a heartbeat.

Re: Ask HN: Most life changing things that you bought?

#134

Post by greatNespresso »

For smokers, the easy way to stop smoking by Allen Carr. Read it, quit smoking two days later, and I have been enjoying fresh air, greater taste and an overall feeling of "hell yeah I did it" for almost a year now. My wife also quit one month later thanks to the book. First time an author actually delivers on its premise.

Re: Ask HN: Most life changing things that you bought?

#135

Post by DavideNL »

PascLeRasc wrote: post #125
jablongo wrote: post #85

Apple Watch - Allows me to view my blood glucose at any time. Dexcom CGM - This is the best way to constantly measure your blood glucose, though it is a bit expensive. Rileylink - This is an open source hardware device which intercepts BLE packets from my continuous glucose monitor and sends reverse engineered 433mhz communications to my insulin pump. This has a companion app (Loop) which tells me projected blood glu…

That's so cool. I'd love to read a longer post about the Rileylink and how you use it if you're interested in writing one.

Not sure if you know of this already but FYI: https://loopkit.github.io/loopdocs/build/step1/

Re: Ask HN: Most life changing things that you bought?

#137

Post by excitednumber »

I love stuff like this so here are my contributions:

1 - the economist audio edition. I always found it incredibly exhausting and impossible to keep up on current events in a moderately objective way (nothing is perfect). The economist audio edition ate up all my podcast time but allowed me to feel well informed across various topics. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys following geo-politics, economics and other topics. They allow download to mp3 and stream via an app (I use musicolet on Android).

2 - RM Williams Chelsea boots. These are perfect chelsea boots for those who are in the market. I will buy many more pairs in my lifetime. Comfortable from day 1.

3 - a reusable water bottle that brings you Joy for the office or work setting. Drink water!!

Re: Ask HN: Most life changing things that you bought?

#138

Post by ksaj »

cell9840179419 wrote: post #97
vsskanth wrote: post #31

I moved to the US from a developing nation. For the first 5 years I was not aware of the dishwasher in my apartment (was using it to store utensils). I was familiar with washer dryers though. One day one of my friends told me what it actually does and taught me how to use it. Mind. Blown.

I hear you. I knew it is a dishwasher, as I could clearly read it. But I didn't care 5 years to figure how to use it. It is also that they cannot clean after every type of cooking..

> every type of cooking..

That's a euphemism for bad cooking, isn't it?

Kidding. We have a dish washer, but actually use it as storage space for things that need to be kept cool. You're supposed to rinse things before putting them into the dish washer. We just figured, if you have to do that, you're already half-way to the drying rack. And it's always cooler than any cupboard space that we have. Even in the summer.

Re: Ask HN: Most life changing things that you bought?

#139

Post by tedmiston »

ggregoire wrote: post #115
amoitnga wrote: post #109

Chair. Never understood why somebody would pay for a chair more than 50-60 bucks. Something you can get in staples/wallmart anywhere... My friend bought Herman Miller for ~$1000 and I called him a donkey. Then started a job where we had these chairs in the office. Noticed it. Even back when I was broke, rented a room and didn't want to buy anything that would be potentially a problem to move, I still decided to buy i…

> Herman Miller I always see that brand mentioned in the comments but they have a lot of different models. Which one do you recommend?

It's worth going to a Herman Miller dealer to try the range of models. Some of them fit different body sizes, especially varying heights and widths much better. I didn't like the way the Aeron felt on my shoulder blades, it's very wide, so I got the Embody which is also quite popular, and much more narrow. The Embody is more expensive but worth it in my opinion. Also remember that both come with an incredible warranty.

The only models I wouldn't spend much time looking at are their conference room chairs -- the ones not designed to be sat in comfortably for a full day.

More info on Aeron vs Embody - https://www.btod.com/blog/herman-miller-aeron-vs-embody/

Re: Ask HN: Most life changing things that you bought?

#140

Post by tedmiston »

ksaj wrote: post #138
cell9840179419 wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hear you. I knew it is a dishwasher, as I could clearly read it. But I didn't care 5 years to figure how to use it. It is also that they cannot clean after every type of cooking..

> every type of cooking.. That's a euphemism for bad cooking, isn't it? Kidding. We have a dish washer, but actually use it as storage space for things that need to be kept cool. You're supposed to rinse things before putting them into the dish washer. We just figured, if you have to do that, you're already half-way to the drying rack. And it's always cooler than any cupboard space that we have. Even in the summer.

> You're supposed to rinse things before putting them into the dish washer.

I think this is a popular misconception from many people's experience with bad dishwasher soaps. With high quality detergent and rinse solution I never pre-wash dishes and they virtually always come out clean. I use the Cascade Complete brand which is definitely on the more expensive side, maybe the most expensive, but it's still very cheap accounting for the amount of time in your life it saves from never hand-washing dishes. I also use their rinse aid which makes a big difference too.

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