Overkill objects for everyday life • Hacker News Board

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#71

Post by msla » Sun, May 30, 2021, 5:22 PM UTC

A sentence I never thought I'd say: Gee, that ejector seat doesn't look very comfortable.

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it feels fine even if you sit in it long periods of time. However, I'm sure that it only comes in one size, that size being the right size to pilot a plane with an ejector seat. Anyone too big or small wasn't considered in its design because they'd never make it into the relevant flight program to begin with.

My point is, consumer objects have to be designed a bit more inclusively than that, to be able to sell to a wider range of buyers. That big Hobart mixer is in the same boat: It's designed for people who wouldn't have gotten that bakery job if they couldn't work with a large, heavy piece of kitchen equipment.

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#72

Post by germinalphrase » Sun, May 30, 2021, 5:23 PM UTC

vdnkh wrote: post #57

swader999 wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah this is true. With a K-bar though you might leave your axe behind depending on your trip.

It’s double edged so maybe not. I think if I needed to split wood I’d want a hatchet. With the hiking I like to do, I hike all day, boil water for food with a canister stove, and pass out. So I optimize for weight - less weight = more miles (and is much more comfortable).

Which is - obviously - very different than backcountry winter camping in which you’re already pulling a sled behind skis. Bring that axe, fresh food and bottle of wine.

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#73

Post by germinalphrase » Sun, May 30, 2021, 5:24 PM UTC

bitexploder wrote: post #52

wyager wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use a knife all the time while hiking - good luck cutting a salami with scissors. That said, the ka-bar is not worth the weight. I really like my benchmade hidden canyon.

I’ve always got by with a simple folding spyderco knife. Small. Lasts forever. Does 90% of jobs when backpacking or around the house, etc. a ka-bar is a fine car camping knife though. Meant to take abuse and be a multi purpose heavy duty tool. We mostly overland and car camp these days. Different tools for different purposes and all that.

Dragonfly and you’re done for 95 percent of tasks.

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#74

Post by smbv » Sun, May 30, 2021, 5:25 PM UTC

an_opabinia wrote: post #67

ListeningPie wrote: post #50

The recommendation for a commercial panel which avoids built smart TV functions is one I'm taking seriously. We have an Apple TV connected and use nothing else. Does anyone have experience or recommendations? Here is a link to NEC's commercial displays https://www.sharpnecdisplays.us/products/displays#2

I don't know. If you don't connect the TV to the Internet, really, what is it going to do.

Perhaps it'll hop onto someone else's WiFi.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/05/amazon-devices-will-...

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#75

Post by easton » Sun, May 30, 2021, 5:29 PM UTC

ListeningPie wrote: post #50

The recommendation for a commercial panel which avoids built smart TV functions is one I'm taking seriously. We have an Apple TV connected and use nothing else. Does anyone have experience or recommendations? Here is a link to NEC's commercial displays https://www.sharpnecdisplays.us/products/displays#2

Find the hospitality version of whatever you want from CDW (Samsung and LG do a lot of them, idk about Sony). They are designed for hotels and hospitals, and have the same picture quality but no smart stuff.

An example from Samsung: https://www.cdw.com/product/samsung-678u-series-55-4k-uhd-le...

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#76

Post by iab » Sun, May 30, 2021, 5:30 PM UTC

msla wrote: post #71

A sentence I never thought I'd say: Gee, that ejector seat doesn't look very comfortable. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it feels fine even if you sit in it long periods of time. However, I'm sure that it only comes in one size, that size being the right size to pilot a plane with an ejector seat. Anyone too big or small wasn't considered in its design because they'd never make it into the relevant flight program to begin wi…

Positively uncomfortable for long periods. Having sat in a number of MB seats in aircraft museums for short intervals, this is exactly the wrong seat to choose for comfort. They are quite adjustable though, interesting provenance:

https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/ed/15/08/beyond-average

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#77

Post by zokier » Sun, May 30, 2021, 5:30 PM UTC

enchiridion wrote: post #55

dkdbejwi383 wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Military grade = the cheapest product that meets the spec.

That's always the line. The left out part is how rigorous the spec is.

Well, at least there is a spec, unlike many consumer goods that are just cheapest product no spec.

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#78

Post by GloriousKoji » Sun, May 30, 2021, 5:32 PM UTC

klyrs wrote: post #47

sargun wrote: post #2

One of my first forays into this was a proper blowtorch vs a normal kitchen torch. My recipes requires adjusting, but once I fixed them up, they were great.

I briefly lived in a studio apartment. The kitchen was spacious and had tile flooring, so that's where the bandsaw went. I didn't cut food with it, but food packets were fair game. Though -- I'd argue that using a bandsaw for blisterpacks isn't overkill; it's the safest way to get them open.

I have a pair of cheap (harbor freight) tin snips I keep in the kitchen drawer for opening blister packs.

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#79

Post by yt-sdb » Sun, May 30, 2021, 5:34 PM UTC

I do this with clothes. You can buy a good pair of hiking shoes or a lightweight waterproof jacket for the same price as design-oriented goods. Why pay Nike for a logo when I can pay Salomon for durability and tread? Same thing with luggage: I buy cycling oriented backpacks and duffle bags because they’re strong and waterproof.

Re: Overkill objects for everyday life

#80

Post by FpUser » Sun, May 30, 2021, 5:35 PM UTC

>"Dough maker... It was built in Ohio when we used to make things in the US"

Whenever I see a chance to buy old industrial grade stuff I use it. Nearly everything they used to do lasts forever. If you want to find the same quality now it either not available or you pay through the nose. Granted for many things we probably do not care all that much if they last 3 years or 30.