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?

#311

Post by whitemary » Tue, Apr 04, 2023, 6:19 AM UTC

ornornor wrote: post #308

Dual arm monitors to free up lots of space on my desk and more easily hold displays at eye level so I don’t get pain. A split ortho homebrew keyboard (helix) that I can program with qmk so that I have shift esc enter space and special keys on other layers right where I want them. Or a dedicated Ctrl-a key for tmux. It virtually eliminated my pain. The OLED screens are useless though and I retrospect I should just hav…

What kind of trackball?

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

#312

Post by ramg » Tue, Apr 04, 2023, 6:22 AM UTC

klyrs wrote: post #79

A document camera. Just an ordinary webcam, but pointed straight down at a blotter. It's much nicer than all of the "whiteboard" options I've tried.

What is the camera mounted on? Do you have a picture of the setup?

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

#313

Post by trabant00 » Tue, Apr 04, 2023, 6:24 AM UTC

Jabra Speak 510 or 710 portable speaker with microphone, USB and bluetooth connection.

If you work in a dedicated room and don't need the isolation that headphones provide.

More comfortable than any headphones, excelent voice in and out, buttons with lights for volume and mute control, wired for good quality and latency, can also work wireless for phone. Works with Linux, no drivers needed for any functionality.

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

#314

Post by tonylemesmer » Tue, Apr 04, 2023, 6:25 AM UTC

akiselev wrote: post #302

3DConnexion SpaceMouse series [1] 6DOF mice for CAD, Photoshop, and pretty much every 2D/3D editing workflow [1] https://3dconnexion.com/us/spacemouse/#compare

Came here to add this. Use for Solidworks not so much the other 2d apps. Really speeds up my workflow.

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

#315

Post by bullen » Tue, Apr 04, 2023, 6:28 AM UTC

- DK2 VR camera so I don't need lights. (infrared)

- GV-USB2/Elgato HD60S to capture C64/Amiga1200/Raspberry 4 on Windows my desktop and/or display them on monitors.

- Many screens in a compact area (all 4:3/5:4, matte and low res): http://move.rupy.se/file/station.jpg

- 40% keyboard for that Raspberry 4 so it fits in front of my HHKB JP: http://move.rupy.se/file/last_computer.png

- Recently started using my old "Tab A" tablet with bluetooth Thinkpad keyboard and mouse, much lighter than a laptop, just wish I could install vanilla linux on it.

- UrbanEars Plattan 2 bluetooth (about 10+ of them) because it has wired and bluetooth. (sold out now unfortunately)

- Røde USB mic.

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

#316

Post by cranium » Tue, Apr 04, 2023, 6:28 AM UTC

I bought an Elgato Cam Link 4K to use my Sony A7II for video calls. I didn't have a webcam before the pandemic so I would have spent at least 100$ for a passable one. Sound was already solved with an Antlion ModMic 5 on a good pair of open headphones (Drop x Sennheiser HD6XX). I like to have a modular setup to reuse/upgrade independently each component.

I use the Logitech MX Ergo as my go-to mouse. Once adapted to the thumb trackball, it's really comfortable. As an added benefit, you need very little space on your desk and no mouse pad because it's stationary.

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

#317

Post by helloplanets » Tue, Apr 04, 2023, 6:30 AM UTC

whitemary wrote: post #311

ornornor wrote: post #308

Dual arm monitors to free up lots of space on my desk and more easily hold displays at eye level so I don’t get pain. A split ortho homebrew keyboard (helix) that I can program with qmk so that I have shift esc enter space and special keys on other layers right where I want them. Or a dedicated Ctrl-a key for tmux. It virtually eliminated my pain. The OLED screens are useless though and I retrospect I should just hav…

What kind of trackball?

Clearly Superior Technologies (CST) is the brand :) After a quick search, I think they're being manufactured by a different company now: https://xkeys.com/xkeys/trackballs.html

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

#318

Post by romanhn » Tue, Apr 04, 2023, 6:30 AM UTC

jedberg wrote: post #258

romanhn wrote: post #38

After working for almost 3 years with a barebones work-from-home setup (standup desk + laptop), I finally invested recently in some equipment to improve upon my crappy laptop camera and a room with little natural light. The difference in my video call quality is night and day. This is what I got: - A key light (Godox ES45) to throw a bunch of bright, natural white light at my face. Attached to the desk and positioned…

> Would sound even better if I were speaking directly into it, but I don't like having the mic visible. I've found that the sound is better if I keep it off to the side out of frame instead of above. Especially if you have the setting to make it directional and aim it towards your mouth. You can speak directly to the camera and it picks it up.

Interesting. I tested out a bunch of positions before landing on the current one, but I'll go ahead and try to replicate this. Thanks!

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

#319

Post by ajb » Tue, Apr 04, 2023, 6:30 AM UTC

I use a clear acrylic keyboard protector to prevent my cats from treading on the keyboard, while still allowing me to type. Oddly, the version I have was originally marketed as an underwater camera stabilizer for divers called "Sea Cine FISH". Because I use it with a laptop, I had to cut gaps in the sides to allow cables to be plugged in. You can now find ones where this has been provided for.

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

#320

Post by enigma20 » Tue, Apr 04, 2023, 6:31 AM UTC

Portable screen. Didn't know that such exists, till about few weeks ago. Have a small apartment and sometimes have to work at the dining table. Using a big screen is not an option.

Portable screen is light, size of the laptop and charges/sends data through one cable. Perfect!