511–520 of 1001 posts
I went with Roomba over other brands as it seemed the best intersection of quality/reliability, noise and privacy.
Pair of 32" 4k screens. As someone who programs a lot, it's worth it (and not that expensive, you don't need high refresh rate or anything). Being able to use spatial memory to navigate between most of the working set of windows, being able to show a lot of text on one screen, etc. Only downside is that it's surprisingly hard to drive two 4k screens, laptops are likely not going to be happy (or have low refresh rates…
Out of curiosity how do you position your screens? I used to rock dual Thunderbolt displays, but my always felt awkward either turning to the left or turning to the right. Now I now just use monitor, because I like having whatever I'm working on directly in front of me.
reMarkable 2. I was looking for a sketching and note taking tool and got a decent eBook reader as a bonus. The UX is very nice and distraction-free. It works surprisingly well for drawing as well. My only complaint is the lack of Linux support for the app that allows mirroring the screen to a computer. Would be really cool for sketching stuff during online meetings.
This drill. Got it at Christmas, used it lots and still haven't charged the battery. https://www.screwfix.com/p/milwaukee-m18-cblpd-402c-18v-4-0a...
m18 tools I own: 1/2 impact wrench, impact driver 1/4" hex, 7-1/4 circular saw, 5" throat portaband, 4-1/2" angle grinder, Oscillator, jigsaw, Weedwacker/pole chainsaw, small vacuum, 1-9/16 SDS drill. I also have an m12 screwdriver and m12 3/8 ratchet. Milwaukee is really killing it in this market. There are so many tools for the same batteries, and in almost all cases they are not just good cordless tools, but good…
When buying battery operated tools you need to decide in advance are you buying a single tool, or a battery system. If just a tool any mid-range drill/impact works (face it, that is what everyone is buying who isn't buying a system). If there is any chance you will buy any other tool it is either DeWalt flexvolt or Milwaukee m18 because both have a large catalog of tools that fit your one battery which is convenient because it means you will always have a battery charge to finish the task.
Plants. I didn't have many before covid/wfh, but they really make the place more liveable/ejoyable by just being there and this became increasingly important as i spent so much more time at home
Cold climate mini-split heat pumps * I live in northern New England and used to heat exclusively with wood in the winter time. Very cozy, but hard to maintain a consistent temp throughout the house. The new cold-climate models can operate at 100% capacity down to an ambient temp of -13F outdoors. One in each bedroom, the living area, and home office makes it easy to dial in the optimal temp for the space. No more loa…
So the heat pumps can also do cooling during the summer? What was the ballpark range for three of those, installed?
Work fantastic in the summer, quiet, work really fast, and pull humidity out as well. In the winter they are great because they allow each room to be its own temp, key for pandemic months where my wife, son, and I all like specific temps.
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Second cast iron. We use ours daily - and it's a handmedown from my grandmother who also used daily for 20+ years. Once seasoned properly, it is non-stick, cleans easy. We just be sure to put a little oil on it after each use. Really the only skillet you need.
Youll probably want stainless steel or enamled cast iron for anything with fond. Anytime you are cooking something acidic, tomatoes, vinegar, wine. I try not to deglaze meat brownings into sauce in cast iron. A stainless steel dutch oven is a great universal pan as well. For a "first pan" I'd probably suggest tri ply stainless over cast iron. The main thing I like about cast iron more is the pan temperature not dropp…
It has made design/discovery meetings waaay better.
Unlikely to get upvoted here but a used Porsche Panamera with an extended bumper-to-bumper manufacturer warranty. As Doug Demuro says it's cheap, really cheap. There's not a single brand new car costing, say, 75 K EUR or less that I'd have rather than that because the quality simply ain't there. The ride comfort, soundsystem, sound insulation, interior quality, how it drives superbly (and can yet be used for some spi…