Caldigit TSM3 - It's a usb hub + all sorts of other cables connect into it. You can then connect one cable to your mac and have everything boot up each time you reach your desk. It's expensive but worth it.
Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
131–140 of 853 posts
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#132Earlier quoted context omitted.
No question about it, wireless is the GOAT.
Buddy, I posted a link - the actual difference in latency in time to click and movements with wireless mice with dedicated receivers. Some do better than wired models - in any event the latency of the RF link is on the order or hundreds of microseconds and the wired part of the peripheral bus (ie USB) and the software is at least a couple milliseconds. It's very well possible my wireless mouse setup has lower latency…
Couldn't agree more. Upvoting for visibility.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#133I 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…
How do you switch video? Just change inputs on the monitor?
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#134Not 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 Monol…
>two external mechanical keyboards How do you make use of two keyboards?
Actually I am thinking if we one could use 2 keyboards to have a makeshift "split" keyboard setup.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#135UPS that can run my PC, monitors, USB hub for 10-30 minutes. I rarely have power outages, but when I do have one it's a non-event
Cheap boom arm for the webcam.
Stream Deck makes it was to quickly control audio and lights and aps
Tourbox makes it easy to edit video
Elgato Keylight Airs for video calls
Neumi powered speakers.
Corsair K100 keyboard. I love the feel and being able to disabled the capslock key
Logitech MX Vertical mouse. I hate using any other mouse at this point
Syba Sonic USB DAC. Better audio to the headphones plus a big volume knob
Jabra Evolve2 30 wired headset. They are comfortable and I don't need to charge them. Since they are USB-C, I can plug them into my phone for longer calls.
Audio-Technica ATH M50 headphones. When I want to listen or work on video.
Under the desk headphone mount. The convenience of being able to quickly grab either headset without having to look away
Desktop mat from drop.com. It looks better and it's another layer of padding for your hand.
ErgoFoam Adjustable Foot Rest. It makes my feet happy
Steelcase Leap chair. Spend the money on a good chair. Your back will thank you
STEALTHO Office Chair Caster Wheels Set. Replace the wheels of your office chair with polyurethane wheels and skateboard quality bearings.
Amazon Echo Show 5. It's a desktop clock and a display for the doorbell camera.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#136I 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
The only way I could go laptop-exclusive is with a VESA mount laptop stand attached to an adjustable monitor arm. I've grown too used to my desktop monitors sitting at the perfect height thanks to the arms they're attached to.
I think I'd be quickly frustrated though because even on a 16" MBP, using an IDE like Xcode or Android Studio the screen gets jam-packed so easily with all the panes and inspectors and such. That screen size is probably like a football field to the vim/emacs types though.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#137Earlier quoted context omitted.
No question about it, wireless is the GOAT.
Buddy, I posted a link - the actual difference in latency in time to click and movements with wireless mice with dedicated receivers. Some do better than wired models - in any event the latency of the RF link is on the order or hundreds of microseconds and the wired part of the peripheral bus (ie USB) and the software is at least a couple milliseconds. It's very well possible my wireless mouse setup has lower latency…
>Also I’ve never seen a networking over powerline system that worked better than Wi-Fi. Not all conductive paths are effective for signals.
although I agree that powerline networking is garbage, I have encountered older construction houses that create an environment that is just about impossible to conquer without specialist wireless equipment.
passive blocking via exotic wall materials, older drywall and fairing compounds that contained metallic particulate, various metallic accoutrements -- and accidental active jamming from poor wiring.
>Which is why professional musicians and broadcasters would never use wireless microphones and pickups. (sarcasm)
eh -- this is just an effective and allowed compromise. A performer will usually prefer not to drag wires around a stage just from the sheer physical discomfort from the additional weight and the worry of a trip hazard on an already hazardous stage.
That said , many performers opt to avoid such conveniences due to a perceived difference in quality. [0]
[0]: https://www.quora.com/Why-are-wireless-rigs-not-the-standard...
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#138Sadly, not much. The Datahands[1] are long gone. The keyboards I bought for their n-key rollover for Plover[2] are there but I can’t stenography. The Cykey chording keyboard[3] gone I think. The software I made to use a normal keyboard as chording input like that, unused. https://talonvoice.com/ free edition couldn’t make any sense of my accent I think. The webcam from when multitouch was new and could be done in sof…
I like my USB Griffin PowerMate. Shame Griffin basically dropped all support for it.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#139I use a 60% keyboard that doesn’t even have dedicated arrow keys. My caps-lock is configured as the Fn key and, when it’s held down, the JKLI letters are the arrow keys. This (and other macros) are actually really convenient when you get used to them. Unfortunately, it’s hard for me to type on “normal” keyboards because when I end up tiYping thinks like that. My keyboard is a Mistel MD600 split. My favorite unusual a…
I have a 60% without arrow keys and I really miss them. I think in part because the built-in Fn arrow functionality on that keyboard is UJHK (Up-Down-Left-Right). If it's not vi's KJHL (Up-Down-Left-Right), I can never remember it. My daily driver is a 60% with arrow keys - The CoolerMaster SK622. I tried some larger Fekir ones wit arrow keys and function keys, but I find it better to have a smaller keyboard and a Stream Deck.
I moved down from a Logitech G19 to the current configuration. The ergonomics are much better with a smaller keyboard if your desk space is limited.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#140Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is a genius idea. I’ve been using fingerless gloves. Is there anything in particular to look for when buying one?
I used this one through this winter and it worked fine: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09C5LQ86D/ I'd just look for what people say in the bad reviews. I generally use mine on the lowest temps, 80 or 90. I don't know what kind of maniac would use them at the higher temps. Every time I turn it on I have to press the button to cycle through the temperatures, a mild annoyance but NBD. It automatically turns off afte…
That is a much bigger pad than what I've used! Wow. That's amazing.
I've used a oversized body wrap pad (120V input) and a 24V pad with wall-wart designed for mini-green-house seed planters. The former was comfortable & wrapped in soft, but wasn't a great mousing surface. I do want to point out: in my experience, these are nice for the arm, but notably the keyboard and mouse never really warmed up very much, both remained a bit chill, back when I was in a fairly un-warm draft-y room. It was still really nice to have, but my hands could remain kind of chill, I'd still keep on my nice fingerless gloves. Still, a great addition.