Ask HN: Favorite purchases of last two years?

#1

Post by wyldfire » Thu, May 20, 2021, 11:27 AM UTC

I've abandoned all faith in reviews online. But the HN crew can give good advice and are extremely unlikely to shill garbage. Consumer Reports is great for finding which manufacturer/model to buy. But what product or service did you buy that you found really useful/entertaining?

I'll start: I caved and bought a robovac. Wow, unlike many techno-gadgets, this one really delivers. Real utility, not just taking up space. Low maintenance, runs while I sleep, and the floor is just cleaner.

Re: Ask HN: Favorite purchases of last two years?

#2

Post by thorin » Thu, May 20, 2021, 11:43 AM UTC

1. 2nd hand kayaks, cheap and great fun, good to recycle the used plastic!

2. Road bike, best exercise and stress relief process and I've got to know my local area up to a radius of 50 miles

3. Upcoming - new guitar to go with the bass guitar a few years back.

Amazing cost/return on these items!

Re: Ask HN: Favorite purchases of last two years?

#3

Post by jf22 » Thu, May 20, 2021, 12:19 PM UTC

A large rubber mallet and a giant wrench.

As a homeowner so many things have to be convinced to move with physical force.

Re: Ask HN: Favorite purchases of last two years?

#4

Post by cblconfederate » Thu, May 20, 2021, 12:32 PM UTC

oculus quest 2

which robovac u got ?

Re: Ask HN: Favorite purchases of last two years?

#5

Post by mtmail » Thu, May 20, 2021, 12:44 PM UTC

https://www.lupine.de/products/bike-lights which is the most luxury brand for bicycle lights. Got a model which is street legal but with a push of a (bluetooth) button on the handlebar I can ride at pitch dark through a forest. Funny enough at the highest setting the forest becomes so light it feels less adventurous so opt for the medium setting.

Re: Ask HN: Favorite purchases of last two years?

#6

Post by giantg2 » Thu, May 20, 2021, 1:05 PM UTC

jf22 wrote: post #3

A large rubber mallet and a giant wrench. As a homeowner so many things have to be convinced to move with physical force.

The rubber mallet makes a great paperweight at work. When people ask what it's for just say "PRD issue whack-a-mole".

Re: Ask HN: Favorite purchases of last two years?

#7

Post by giantg2 » Thu, May 20, 2021, 1:10 PM UTC

Maybe my FCC license and boafeng. I dont use it much now since it was mostly something for me to do on my commute.

Possibly the malts I buy for making my own beer. I would say the MM3 grain mill, but that was actually free. I just had to build a bracket and hopper for it. That thing flys through malt, which is good because I have about 60 lbs to go through.

Possibly the bass guitar and Rocksmith. I don't get much time to use it though.

Re: Ask HN: Favorite purchases of last two years?

#8

Post by wdfx » Thu, May 20, 2021, 1:42 PM UTC

Third person here to mention guitars... Takamine TB-10

Re: Ask HN: Favorite purchases of last two years?

#9

Post by drywater2 » Thu, May 20, 2021, 1:43 PM UTC

I recently bought a Keychron K3 gateron brown keyboard. I'm really enjoying it because it's a low profile mechanical keyboard. Highly recommend it.

Re: Ask HN: Favorite purchases of last two years?

#10

Post by fortran77 » Thu, May 20, 2021, 1:45 PM UTC

giantg2 wrote: post #7

Maybe my FCC license and boafeng. I dont use it much now since it was mostly something for me to do on my commute. Possibly the malts I buy for making my own beer. I would say the MM3 grain mill, but that was actually free. I just had to build a bracket and hopper for it. That thing flys through malt, which is good because I have about 60 lbs to go through. Possibly the bass guitar and Rocksmith. I don't get much tim…

You can now purchase your FCC amateur license? Back in my day, I had to go to an FCC field office and take a test. Times have changed.