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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?

#281

Post by spdionis »

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…

Can you recommend some models for the gaming wireless headphones? Are you using Kleer?

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

#283

Post by theshrike79 »

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…

I've wanted one for gaming on the go with the Switch and Steam Deck, but couldn't really justify the purchase.

...but if I can pretend I use it as a second monitor for work, then it's OK! :D

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

#284

Post by cheriot »

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.

I have an older laptop and user Docker for Mac daily. My fingers never get cold!

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

#285

Post by microtonal »

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...

Also Kinesis Advantage, but with the KinT mod to run QMK, the default firmware is pretty limited.

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

#286

Post by spidersouris »

n0zmer wrote: post #257
Brajeshwar wrote: post #224

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, I love this. Most people don't realize this setup but I feel it is very important. I have a normal soft & warm light (not flat white) that I can flick quickly (point upwards that bounced off the walls). An additional flood light in stand-by for interviews and other more important meetings. A well mounted setup with a dedicated microphone is a time saver and no brainer. I'm not too keen on the video and think is…

I didn't realize how much a difference the lighting makes until I got one. I got the Google dLight and it has both brightness and warmness sliders and can change it from computer or app (and has profiles) so it's really convenient.

It seems the Google dLight isn't sold and is reserved to employees. Did you get it from a Google employee? Or are you working at Google?

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

#287

Post by argiopetech »

jodrellblank wrote: post #104

Sadly, 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…

Have you considered ASETNIOP [0]? It offers stationary hands benefits like Datahands or Cykey without the complexities of full-blown steno. G Heavy Industries formerly built the Ginny, a keyboard designed to run ASETNIOP out of the box, but the owner appears to have had a rough few years and shuttered the business. A possible alternative to a used Ginny might be this open source system [1].

Still working on my steno (with a StenoMod). It's taken some time, but I'm finally at the point where I can derive more satisfaction from success than my aggravation due to lack of speed.

[0] https://asetniop.com/ [1] https://github.com/kbjunky/Chordie

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

#288

Post by themodelplumber »

kimburgess wrote: post #159

A large format (A1 or A0) roll plotter, pencils, compass, protractor and set squares. Obviously highly dependant on what you do. After being heavily screen only for most of my professional life, having the ability to print off a table sized drawing of an engineering diagram, review it, mark it up, and work with others in that process is really nice. It’s definitely more efficient in pure IO terms to work solely in th…

I did something similar for a while with a drafting setup. One thing I liked about it was the utility in simple visualization techniques like drawing quickly in perspective or in various media.

After doing that for a while, I found Inkscape and Free mind/Freeplane to be pretty reasonable alternatives that are still digital.

Even in plain text mode I learned later that there are some practices that also help the big picture emerge faster, so the spacial effects aren't as necessary in many cases.

Still, it's fun sometimes to get out the supplies and work in that way...

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

#290

Post by slow_typist »

archarios wrote: post #271
entropicgravity wrote: post #267

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.

If you're having those issues, please address the underlying problem instead of thinking that having the perfect ergonomic setup will fix your body. Getting up from the desk each day and getting some physical activity in will help your body a lot more in the long run.

Working with a computer is the underlying problem here. If a special mouse reduces tension, nothing wrong with that. Also you cannot know how often and intensely the parent poster exercises already.
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