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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?

#181

Post by tmm »

_JamesA_ wrote: post #96
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

> Lighted USB volume knob - they're inexpensive, the large aluminum knob is on a sturdy base, can be pressed down for mute. Any particular recommendations with Linux support?

I got two from Amazon recently and they both work out of the box with Linux. I suspect any you can find will work. They’re standard HID devices which send multimedia key codes like KEY_VOLUMEUP and KEY_VOLUMEDOWN

https://www.amazon.com/d/B0BKG11XBQ

https://www.amazon.com/d/B0B5ZXZWS5

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

#182

Post by rektide »

j45 wrote: post #172
rektide wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wireless headphones. Because sometimes I really have to go and it's literally no problem to walk to the bathroom. Or to go make tea. Or to do whatever. Freedom to not be chained up is amazing. Try it. I too don't feel like I've had to mess with audio settings. I have some SteelSeries Actis Pro's I bought a long time ago. They have bluetooth, but there's also a nice usb-based head-unit I use with higher quality, lower…

Good to have both for different reasons. A good wired headset can be superior to wireless mic audio when presenting or interacting. If merely consuming, and hanging around wireless is good too.

I have some mid-grade Rode Wireless Go and nice >$100 Samsung lavaier mics I can use when needed, which is faultless, reliable, amazing prosumer gear no one could conceivably gripe about, but honestly the Actis Pro headset I have is probably a better choice for both cases.

The Actis has better microphone positioning by far, which counts for so much.

I'm interested to test the range versus the Rode, but given that I can be 3 floors away & the Actis still fine, I'd be surprised if the Rode really had shockingly better range/reliability/interference-resistance.

I continue to think there's a paranoia & level-of-concern that does not match what modern hardware can do.

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

#183

Post by firstlink »

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

Everyone mentions the remarkable but the degrading pencil tips have got to be the stupidest, most infuriating, most egregiously rent-seeking product conceivable by the human mind. I refuse to play that game. Why would I want that feeling anyways? On paper I choose the slickest paper and exclusively use a fountain pen as wet as practical without being messy. I understand the glass tablet surface isn't nice for writing and I appreciate the alternative, but the $1.50 a pop guarantee that the tablet becomes a paperweight when remarkable goes out of business is insane. (On that note, I also seem to recall that features have been removed from the device via updates.)

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

#184

Post by gameshot911 »

A ZoomSwitch which lets me switch my wired headset between my PC and telephone with 1 button press.

I used to have a job which involved a ton of calls - both telephone and virtual meetings. This device let me easily switch my one headset between the two.

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

#185

Post by vorpalhex »

analog31 wrote: post #164

It seems like I'm the only person in the office or at home who uses a touch screen on my laptop. I like it, but there are some issues with software that gets too clever with UI widgets, rendering them unusable without a mouse. Routine things like web surfing are great, coding is almost impossible with a touch screen. So I wish I could say that it works better than it really does. And touch screen support for Linux di…

My current laptop I wanted a touchscreen so badly I custom ordered my laptop. Got it setup, works under PopOS and... I literally never use it. Works fine, just always less convenient than a mouse.

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

#186

Post by kjs3 »

rymawby wrote: post #113
hipplec wrote: post #75

I have a heating pad under my keyboard which keeps my hands warm in the winter. Was like $20 on amazon, and I can't even begin to describe how amazing it is, since I was really tired of always having a mug of hot water / tea / coffee to hold and didn't want to keep the heat on my house super high when I could just wear a sweatshirt and be fine except my fingers.

This is a genius idea. I’ve been using fingerless gloves. Is there anything in particular to look for when buying one?

I'm guessing you want one with a low enough temp setting that it doesn't bake your keyboard. Around 80-90F degrees I'd guess, but haven't tested. Especially important if you have a 'smart' keyboard, which has an actual small computer (more than an i8048) in it.

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

#187

Post by rektide »

xupybd wrote: post #154

I use a Kinesis advantage keyboard. It's expensive and ugly but comfortable. I would not go back to another keyboard ever again. Have a look at this review https://www.anandtech.com/show/7125/kinesis-advantage-review...

I came from using two Microsoft Natural keyboards at once, as my "split" keyboard. I eventually upgraded to a Kinesis FreeStyle 2. I've tried some ortholinear keyboards but hated hated hated every minute of it. I'm back on the FreeStyle 2 at work and a newer FreeStyle Edge at home.

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

#188

Post by Saigonautica »

I have an Atmel-ICE for embedded systems development, however I was too cheap to buy their cable and case (over 200$ vs 80$ for the raw board). Turns out the board has the SWD header installed backward, and their cable assembly silently reverses it back. So I had to build a similarly weird thing to fix it.

Also a Hemmi slide rule. It mostly just sits there to make me think about what accuracy is actually relevant in calculations -- e.g. with what I know about the system, is the answer really 0.6012, or is it really about 0.6 and that's all I know?

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

#189

Post by [deleted] »

KennyBlanken wrote: post #143
anonym29 wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No question about it, wireless is the GOAT.

> Let's be honest here, you're either prejudiced against cables or you don't really care about performance. Let's be honest here, you clearly have never used a decent or good wireless mouse, and have little or no knowledge of the marketplace (and oddly have a lot of opinions about them...) > Having to change batteries several times a year is objectively more expensive, wasteful, worse for the environment, and burdens…

[deleted]

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

#190

Post by deadfece »

kvandy wrote: post #19
dgunay wrote: post #4

I 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

I use this Tripp Lite USB 3.0 switch into a powered USB 3.0 hub: https://tripplite.eaton.com/4-port-superspeed-usb-3-peripher...

It's solid, boring, and works perfectly. I've never had a single problem with it, even with my X570 chipset constantly doing the old USB disconnect-a-roo that it's infamous for.

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