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Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

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Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#81

Post by aceazzameen »

ja27 wrote: post #15

I 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…

The wireless second screen feature on Samsung tablets works surprisingly well on Windows for this too! I haven't found the need to use it much though. I don't really bring a laptop when I travel anymore.

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#82

Post by idontwantthis »

joshfee wrote: post #73
idontwantthis wrote: post #65

I recently ditched my external monitor and I’m finding myself less distracted. 16 inch MacBook Pro screen is all I really need. Anyone else prefer working with minimal peripherals?

This is much worse for posture though. I much prefer having a monitor that is elevated so that when I sit up straight it is directly in front of me

I do put it on a stand and use a Magic Keyboard and trackpad.

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#83

Post by idontwantthis »

kimburgess wrote: post #80
idontwantthis wrote: post #65

I recently ditched my external monitor and I’m finding myself less distracted. 16 inch MacBook Pro screen is all I really need. Anyone else prefer working with minimal peripherals?

I’ll see your 16” MacBook and raise you 12” iPad with external mech keyboard. I’ll admit that I’ve recently reverted to a 16:10 external display as I’m working more with engineering drawings and this reduces printing for short term use, but having one and only one thing to focus on can definitely be good under the right conditions.

Do you work in iOS apps or with Remote Desktop?

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#84

Post by kimburgess »

habosa wrote: post #68

Wired headphones. I’ve never had to start a meeting by trying to mess with my audio settings, or had to think about charging another battery.

I’ll add moderately high quality mic to this. If you’re spending a lot of working hours on calls, putting the resources into providing clear, intelligible voice for the people you’re working with will definitely be appreciated.

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#86

Post by livueta »

idontwantthis wrote: post #65

I recently ditched my external monitor and I’m finding myself less distracted. 16 inch MacBook Pro screen is all I really need. Anyone else prefer working with minimal peripherals?

Sometimes. It's definitely situational. Some tasks that involve a lot of visual cross-referencing can really use the screen space, but my deep work mode is curling up somewhere with nothing but a 13" laptop. Never at my desks, though: I'll roam around my environment or go out if I'm laptop-only. It's probably obvious that I'm a big tiling WM and terminal multiplexing fan.

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#87

Post by pama »

Not much is less known in the tech world, so I use as a dock the CalDigit TS3 Plus, connected to two external mechanical keyboards, the blue yeti mic with wired headphones, a Logitech MX vertical mouse, and a huge monitor with a simple ring light and a webcam on top. My favorite headphones throughout the pandemic were the Drop THX pandas, but they broke a month ago and I haven’t fixed them yet, so now I use the Monolith M1060C.

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#88

Post by plagiarist »

matthew28845 wrote: post #23
coder4life wrote: post #5

Lighted 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

The ReMarkable is so tempting but so expensive. It's just hard to stomach spending $500 at a minumum for the tablet + folio + stylus when I could have an iPad (a gimped base model one, but still) for the same price

I find it very tempting but last time I looked into it the sync is to their proprietary service (unless you mess with it). That is going to be a hard no from me.

Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?

#90

Post by riceart »

Our_Benefactors wrote: post #56

Here’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.

There’s essentially no lag in a dedicated wireless receiver mouse - the additional latency is dwarfed by the baseline latency of the hardware and software. https://www.rtings.com/mouse/tests/control/latency

Yes connectivity issues can be a problem in certain environments but luckily this has usually not been a problem with receivers not in close proximity to interference, including USB3. Battery wise I have had cheapie mouses that last months on a pair of batteries and expensive mice like the Mx master that are pretty no fuss recharging.

But you do you with the mouse bungee cord :).

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