Luna Display for wirelessly extending screen to ipad and teleprompter.
Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
31–40 of 853 posts
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#32I don't really use it - yet - but I have been quite interested in the concept of pedals. Some people use them to mute/unmute calls, turn caps lock on and off and even to switch between Vim modes, which is quite nice.
For me, I hope it would also help me quiet my legs a little bit and keep me in an upright posture, avoiding me crossing my legs for instance.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#33Earlier quoted context omitted.
What is the contrast/brightness like with these? I've always wanted one for working with two screens on the go but the ones I've seen in public never seemed to get bright enough. In a cafe or other bright environment they seem to reflect everything around them similar to the way my MacBook screen does which makes it hard to see anything. I'm speaking only from limited time seeing them from afar though--I've not actua…
It's bad. I have a ASUS MB16AHP (claiming a brightness of 220cd/㎡, contrast ratio 700:1) and yeah, in a brightly lit room viewing can be difficult. It's ok under normal office lighting but you'll be out of luck if you have sunlight flooding in. I've been searching for a brighter option but most (all?) the current offerings seem to be based on the same or similar internals. Still, it's a useful device while traveling…
I have one like yours and it's usually enough - if you are willing to switch your IDE to light mode.
Yeah, I'm a monster who does Solarized Light.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#34I use a small USB switcher box to let me control my personal machine and my work machine at the same desk. I also use a keyboard that lets me flip a switch to change between Mac/Windows layouts. It has been very helpful to let me cleanly separate work from leisure, without having to give up the ergonomics of my desk setup. The friction to switch is low enough that I don't feel tempted to keep work related stuff on my…
Any advice on the USB switcher? I've had a hard time finding one that was of high enough quality to be a daily driver. I need USB3 for my webcam as well
This is the one I use:
UGREEN USB 3.0 Switch Selector 2... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6GD9JO?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_shar...
I used a cheaper one before that but it was garbage - kept dropping inputs for a few seconds here and there.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#35I wouldn't have thought they were lesser-known, but I've been surprised how many people don't know about today's cheap portable external monitors. They're essentially laptop panels with a USB-C+HDMI board. $100-$150-ish and easily found in 15.6" and 13-14", 1080p or 2K. All the ones I've tried have 2 USB-C ports, mini-HDMI, and speakers. This all depends on what USB-C ports your machine actually has and the right USB…
What is the contrast/brightness like with these? I've always wanted one for working with two screens on the go but the ones I've seen in public never seemed to get bright enough. In a cafe or other bright environment they seem to reflect everything around them similar to the way my MacBook screen does which makes it hard to see anything. I'm speaking only from limited time seeing them from afar though--I've not actua…
You might be interested in a "field monitor" over in the photography department, though they are often small.
I have a 2200 nit (not a typo) piece of kit: Feelworld P7, very sturdy aluminum body, either camcorder batteries (multiple sleds) or 7-24V, 1920x1200 7" screen, HDMI in & out. Works well. I've seen larger displays.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#36I don't really use it - yet - but I have been quite interested in the concept of pedals. Some people use them to mute/unmute calls, turn caps lock on and off and even to switch between Vim modes, which is quite nice. For me, I hope it would also help me quiet my legs a little bit and keep me in an upright posture, avoiding me crossing my legs for instance.
When I had a normal chair I had a 3 pedal set under my desk. It was awesome.
Especially handy in gaming to have keys mapped to thinks like Heal
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#37I use a 3d mouse when I do CAD work... Its pretty nice, but takes a bit to get used to.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#38After working for almost 3 years with a barebones work-from-home setup (standup desk + laptop), I finally invested recently in some equipment to improve upon my crappy laptop camera and a room with little natural light. The difference in my video call quality is night and day. This is what I got:
- A key light (Godox ES45) to throw a bunch of bright, natural white light at my face. Attached to the desk and positioned tilted above my head so that it doesn't blind me. I don't notice it when it's on.
- A mic (Razer Seiren Mini) on a boom arm attached to the desk, positioned above my face, just out of the camera's sight. Nice, clean sound. Would sound even better if I were speaking directly into it, but I don't like having the mic visible.
- Repurposed an old mirrorless camera (Sony RX100 III) into a webcam for that sweet HD quality. Way better than any of the webcams out there. Needed to buy a cam link 4K card and connect it via a MicroHDMI HDMI cable. Required a dummy battery kit to connect to AC and some setting tweaking, but it works beautifully. Connected the camera to the key light stand with a clamp mount.Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#39Lighted USB volume knob - they're inexpensive, the large aluminum knob is on a sturdy base, can be pressed down for mute. ReMarkable2 e-ink tablet -- okay, it's a standalone device, but interfaces to the computer in cool ways (like screen sharing), and it's changed my life as far as note-taking goes
Just wondering, do you have good handwriting? I love the idea of hand written notes, but while my writing is legible, it’s unpleasant on the eye.
My handwriting is crap, always has been, but I take handwritten notes at times because it is convenient and fast (sometimes), I don't take them to look easy on the eye, I take them for the utility of having taken them. Usually I'll OCR anything that needs keeping long-term and keep it digitally.
Things like BuJo don't appeal to me, because it strips the practical nature of handwritten notes away in favour of making something more akin to art, and thus people become precious about their aesthetics rather than quality of note taking and ability to use their notes. Sorry, bit of rant, been trying to nail notes for a long time, but my conclusion is different tools for different tasks. Trying to compile it all in one place is a nice idea, but perhaps unrealistic for a lot of fields.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#40I use a laptop with zero accessories, which is unusual in of itself for SWE.
I have been doing that for years as a nomad of sorts, but it kills your back. I recently bought a small keyboard so I can get a better posture and I recommend you so the same.
Hmm, I might do that. It's been a year since I ditched my desk. Though my 16" MBP screen is big enough that it feels almost like a desk monitor.