Keyboard with a left handed number pad and a thumb trackball to the right. The keyboard is a bloody light strike optical gaming keyboard. The trackball has macros set to open a new tab, close a tab, and to use the ball to scroll when you hold down the right mouse button.
Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
51–60 of 853 posts
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#52I have multiple of these boom arms [1] clamped all around my desk. Great for things that require frequent fiddling (webcams / mics / lighting)
https://www.ulanzi.com/collections/desk-set-up/products/viji...
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#53Laptop arm -- basically a clamped monitor arm with a laptop tray instead of VESA mount. That combined with a USB-C dock and another monitor on an arm. I can quickly dock laptop and keep all my desk space.
I just got one of these last week that has a second arm for my external and I am enjoying it. It really opened up my desk.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#54multi monitors, two mice/trackball.
Two mice at the same time? Do you use one with your feet? Do have one for each hand? Tell us more!
Not the original answer, but I also have a couple of mice (elasto) - one for each hand, and then between my split keyboard I have a trackpad.
As much as possible I avoid the mice but when needed it's good to have the option of changing between hands.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#55HP E273d monitor with an HP S101
Supports both a desktop USB-B and a USB-C laptop with PD, with auto switch
Has built-in camera
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#56Here’s an actual lesser known accessory: a mouse bungee. It is a small weighted disc with a spring arm that holds the mouse cord up and away from the mousepad.
I don’t like the lag, connectivity, and battery issues of wireless mice, this fixes all of that! It feels _better_ than a wireless mouse, because it has no wires in the way also with zero lag.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#57I 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…
I use a 4-computer USB switch; it has 3 device inputs. So I can switch keyboard, trackball, and a vertical mouse between 4 computers at one desk. Pretty handy. Work laptop, personal/gaming laptop, linux laptop, and desktop/server.
With 2 monitors, I use one monitor exclusively with the linux laptop, and the other monitor I have on a HDMI switch to switch between the other 3 computers.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#58I use a Thinkpad keyboard with a track point mouse. So nice to not have to move my hands off the keyboard to move the mouse.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#59I built one of those custom mechanical keyboards with some "fancy linear switches", but I am not a fan of the mechanical keyboard enthusiast community because it is so sanctimonious, elitist, and close minded.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#60Left handed trackball (Elecom). Sits to the left of my Moonlander while my vertical mouse sits to the right. Not only is it convenient, as an old school Diablo player I get to tell people I duel wield. I also have a cheap X-Pen graphics tablet that I use for ‘white boarding’ on zoom calls. Almost forgot I also have a usb wireless numpad that I pair with a usb hid remapped on a pi zero to make hot keys for frequent ac…
+1 on the left-handed trackball and right-handed vertical mouse. I don't use both together, though. My trackball is a Kensington Orbit, with scroll ring.
I also have a cheap graphics tables, a Huion, for some digital painting or to help with creating software architecture diagrams.