Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer? • Hacker News Board

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

#261

Post by twiclo » Tue, Apr 04, 2023, 5:08 AM UTC

domrdy wrote: post #229

A Tidbyt: https://tidbyt.com/ It's next to my computer, and I use it for notifications and smaller dashboards: https://github.com/tidbyt/community

Can you expand on what you use it for? What dashboards? Why do you like this more than a regular desktop notification?

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

#262

Post by TMWNN » Tue, Apr 04, 2023, 5:09 AM UTC

modeless wrote: post #237

Gaming wireless headphones, not for gaming but for videoconferencing. Bluetooth headphones are universally terrible for videoconferencing because the Bluetooth standard sucks and requires downgrading to telephone audio quality whenever the mic is enabled. Plus terrible latency. Gaming wireless headphones that come with their own dongle completely fix these issues and are perfect for videoconferencing. Someday the Blu…

>Also, some of those magnetic USB charging cables to keep them charged without fiddling with plugging in cables.

I've had MacBooks for two decades. Until my recent purchase of an Apple Silicon model, they all used proprietary power connections (first barrel, then MagSafe) on one side of the computer. Since I needed a power supply in two different places, this always meant obtaining a second Apple charger.

My current MacBook is the first I've owned that also allows charging from any USB-C port. For the first time, I can

* use a small USB charger I already owned (A 27W unit in my case. Yes, the computer does charge under use, albeit slower than with the Apple charger)

* charge on the opposite side of where the Apple charger goes (which is very useful for my aforementioned multiple-location usage pattern)

* still have an auto-detachable connection by, like you, using a magnetic USB connection (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BCJVL7CD/> is what I use)

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

#263

Post by fallenhitokiri » Tue, Apr 04, 2023, 5:09 AM UTC

stn_za wrote: post #239

Encrust6221 wrote: post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For mice they may have used to be the case, but recently wireless has become more popular (at least in CSGO.) 3/5 of the most popular mice used by pros are wireless (including the #1 spot.)

Highly doubtful

https://prosettings.net/games/cs-go/

Logitech X Pro Superlight seems pretty popular and sadly doesn’t work via cable but only Logitechs lightning receiver.

I’ve played with the Superlight for a year or so and and couldn’t notice the difference to the mouse is used before and am using now, both with a cable.

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

#264

Post by ergvgdvgrd » Tue, Apr 04, 2023, 5:12 AM UTC

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…

I do this virtually with a piece od software called barrier. https://github.com/debauchee/barrier

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

#265

Post by jedberg » Tue, Apr 04, 2023, 5:15 AM UTC

nanumbat wrote: post #248

An ancient 8 channel Mackie sound mixer to the left and slightly north of my keyboard. Other than inputs from the main computer, it pulls in audio from a bunch of other stuff/computers in the room, has a handy 1/4" headphone jack with volume control, and lets me instantly mute/mix any way I want without fiddling with keyboards or mice. Output is to the CD inputs on a Sony mini audio system I bought on my way through…

I have the same mixer but it doesn't work how I like. I can't get the phones to output unless I have the main turned up, so I can't go headphones only unless I turn off the speakers independently. Is that how yours works? Right now I have the headphones on main, and the speakers on aux, so I can set their volumes completely independently from the mixer, but the problem is the aux only outputs the left channel to the speakers.

I'd love to send the main to the speakers and headphones on the headphones, but then I have to control the speakers on the mains independently.

How do you have your outputs wired?

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

#266

Post by Moru » Tue, Apr 04, 2023, 5:16 AM UTC

stn_za wrote: post #219

I have a mouse cable bungee. Particularly useful for twitch based FPS shooters such as Counter Strike, but overall ensures never to get the cable in your way. PS: You don't use wireless for competitive shooters. LAN Cable, cable mouse, etc. See: https://www.amazon.com/Glorious-PC-Gaming-Race-Bungee/dp/B07...

Long before the FPS shooters started showing up I had the problem with mouse cables pulling on my hand and causing pain in the wrist. The solution was to use cable ties to fix the mouse cable to the keyboard cable so the mouse cable does a little loop up in the air and leaves enough space to move the mouse everywhere. Extra useful when you accidentally knock the mouse down because you are using an ergonomic mouse that is higher than you are used to. Instead of hitting the floor in three pieces, it just hangs in the air :-)

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

#267

Post by entropicgravity » Tue, Apr 04, 2023, 5:17 AM UTC

Mx Ergo (by Logitech) is far and away the best "mouse" for me and probably for you. It only takes about two hours to transfer your motor skills of regular mouse to the Mx Ergo. Because this "thumb ball" mouse only involves your thumb to work the mouse you won't get the full wrist, shoulder and neck pain that you can get from a normal mouse. If you have any kind of arm pain then check this out.

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

#268

Post by 0cf8612b2e1e » Tue, Apr 04, 2023, 5:23 AM UTC

noduerme wrote: post #226

Brajeshwar wrote: post #194

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there a device that does the opposite -- something to keep your hand cool? It is getting hotter and sweaty in India.

when I lived in Vietnam years ago, my Mac laptop fan broke and there was nowhere to repair it ... there are cooling pads with fans beneath them that you can buy, but my temporary solution was freezing a stack of Wired magazines in the freezer, then putting them under the laptop and changing them every 20 minutes.

How long did this last? Would the mac hard shutoff if it got too hot? Every twenty minutes would be brutal.

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

#269

Post by glacials » Tue, Apr 04, 2023, 5:24 AM UTC

A desk mat, like the ones by Nordik [1]. It's like a giant mouse pad that also goes under your keyboard.

I can't stand the size of normal mouse pads and I can't go without one because the years wear on my desk. Plus it also serves as coaster, art, and "clean zone" that my cats know to avoid. You can get them custom printed with anything you want.

[1]: https://amzn.to/3ZyXiU5

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

#270

Post by jedberg » Tue, Apr 04, 2023, 5:31 AM UTC

causality0 wrote: post #199

convolvatron wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

monitor arms are _great_. you get your desk back, plus you can really just put your monitor away, or adjust it so that two people can see it, etc.

Unless you're as anal-retentive as me and are driven insane by the slightest hint of tilt to one side or the other.

I keep a small level attached to the top so I can tweak it level.