I am using a Librem Key, USB security token based entirely on free software, to ensure my coreboot is not tampered with.
Can you talk a little more about your setup? How does it ensure your coreboot is not tampered with?
Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
421–430 of 853 posts
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#422An Elgato Stream Deck but for general purposes https://www.elgato.com/en/stream-deck-mk2 Basically imagine having 15 physical buttons to use with any kind of actions, shortcuts, macros etc. but you have a visual feedback too. It’s pretty great! I know there are alternatives like the Adafruit RP2040 https://www.adafruit.com/product/5128 but the visual knobs make the Stream Deck much better imo.
I got Stream Deck mainly to control Teams on my work computer, which is Windows 10. Teams does not have global hotkey for mute and video toggle (or on/off) and that would be compatible with the status. (You can use Windows global mute and control video, but that status is not updated if you use Teams mute). The Teams video conference must be active for the mute button to work. The whole point of seperate keyboard is…
Microsoft recently (~6 weeks ago) released a Microsoft Teams Plugin for the Streamdeck. It uses an API instead of hotkeys and so far it works for me.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#423Each one of these has been said, USB switcher, Screen switcher, and foot pedals. I have this combined, a USB + DisplayPort switcher, with a food pedal to change between the two connected laptops. It's great when it works, which it did in my previous HDMI+1080p screen setup. But as I moved to 4K, I had these issues:
- The noname HDMI cables I had was not the right version, bought 3 new ones.
- The old Apple dongle doesn't support 60hz, luckily I had a newer one which did, worked well on my newer Macbook Pro, but..
- ..Macbook Pro 2016 doesn't support 60hz through the dongles with HDMI, so I've got to move to DisplayPort.
- Now my NEW Macbook Pro doesn't work at all with DP. Macbook issue, as my other 3 Macbooks (on the same macOS) works fine.
So now I am using the KVM switcher for everything except the screen, which I have to manually change the input for, until I can reinstall macOS to see if that solves it (I have spent hours with Apple support).
Overall if you use multiple laptops the KVM is awesome, and the foot pedal is doubly so!
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#424An Elgato Stream Deck but for general purposes https://www.elgato.com/en/stream-deck-mk2 Basically imagine having 15 physical buttons to use with any kind of actions, shortcuts, macros etc. but you have a visual feedback too. It’s pretty great! I know there are alternatives like the Adafruit RP2040 https://www.adafruit.com/product/5128 but the visual knobs make the Stream Deck much better imo.
I used a Stream Deck XL for a long time, mostly as an app launcher, but the most useful feature was a "universal MUTE key". I used Keyboard Maestro to set up macros that would mute/unmute the microphone in any videoconferencing app, with the same physical key that also indicated the current status. This worked for Zoom, GoToMeeting and Google Meet.
I sold the Stream Deck XL for two reasons: I didn't need that many keys, and I found out that if you are to use a device like this at home and in the office, you really need two. The setup needs to be the same in all your work places, otherwise you won't bother learning to use the accessory.
As for some other less typical accessories: I use a 3DConnexion SpaceMouse and can't imagine doing any 3D CAD work without it.
Oh, also: for many years now all my monitors are on arms. The supplied stands are always too low, and arm mounting has the additional advantage of freeing up lots of space on the desk.
Does a 16-port USB-A hub count? (in addition to the CalDigit thunderbolt dock)
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#425I have an audiophile speaker setup that has a bit of a complicated setup - it either takes an SPDIF or 3.5mm jack, however the SPDIF way was recommended to me to achieve quality and get rid of DC POP. For this reason I bought a 4k HDMI splitter that extracts from a HDMI signal the different video and audio channels if needed. So I connect my MacBook pro to this splitter through hdmi and run another hdmi between this…
Which speakers?
KEF LS50
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#426None of this is really unknown, but maybe not super common.
* Standing desk. I work and play on my computer, so I try to spend at least half the working day in a standing position. It's an electric one, ime switching being effortless is very important for actual usage.
* Wired headset. If I'm on a call (work or TTRPG), I plug it in. Otherwise it's lying on the side. I hate charging so much, I even have my wireless mouse permanently connected via USB.
* Sound card. A Creative Soundblaster ZX. Probably not needed anymore, but my last laptop (2006ish) had a soundcard in that pci slot thing, and I bought one for my first Desktop afterwards and stinky kept it. I do like the Soundblaster software and it's not as if I need the pcie X1 slot it takes up for anything else.
* Document scanner. Scan all paper documents I might need again and store them in paperless ngx (the scanner software scans to a smb share on my home server that paperless consumes)
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#427A Shure SM-58 microphone, with a XLR soundcard to go with it. I always wanted to get a good microphone for voice calls, thankfully a friend of mine had more than a dozen of them, of all styles: dynamic, condenser, long range, cheap, expensive, etc... We spent a couple of hours trying them. First thing: condenser microphones are great... in a studio. You are probably not in a studio, so if you use one of them, people…
I like these too, nothing beats a stage mic when you're on cam as well as on stage.
But I was afraid the U-Phonia was USB.
These type dynamic mics actually can be used with a carefully wired XLR-to-1/8 inch cable, and plug straight into the regular analog PC mic input.
Even though the PC supplies 5VDC intended for a cheap condenser mic, if the voltage runs through the SM58 it will not hurt it.
Your carefully shielded (well-grounded shield) sensitive unbalanced precious signal goes somewhat unprotected on the motherboard down a copper trace for a few cm until it goes in a single analog input pin of the A/D converter section of the audio IC. From that point on it's as digital as your specs will support, so ideally in this configuration there are actually no "active" electron devices like transistors or vacuum tubes (even the best have some hiss and distortion) in between your mic capsule and your A/D.
Well when you enable the PC's software-controlled analog mic boost, that's when you engage an active transistor gain stage for your mic signal before it goes A/D, it makes the mic volume a lot more comfortable, but then you depend on the audio quality and noise level of an on-chip analog silicon feature which may not be so good, depending on the exact audio IC.
But at least the mic boost is only one little gain stage, not a number of components that your analog mic input, however balanced, can often encounter before reaching the A/D process of a USB audio adapter.
Now there is not zero latency with the mic plugged into the 1/8 inch jack, but people sometimes think so when they're accustomed to USB.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#428A Big Knob Passive (not powered), which can toggle audio independently between two inputs (laptop and pc), and two outputs (speakers, and bluetooth transmitter) using tactile toggle buttons with immediate response, and it also has a big volume knob, and a button to turn stereo into mono which has turned out useful for some badly encoded videos having audio in only one channel. The Bluetooth transmitter is used with s…
Is this a big knob you can buy?
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#429Earlier quoted context omitted.
I use wired. No hassle with charging or dongles. It's not as if I am going anywhere in these since the mic arm is quite awkward looking (but provides unbeatable sound quality).
No dongle? The whole thing is a giant dongle hanging off your computer. Headphone cables are far more annoying than mouse cables IMO, and they even affect the sound because it's quite audible when they hit or rub on stuff. Plus I find it surprisingly useful to be able to get out of my chair to grab something while still listening and/or talking. I can even go to another room.
I distinguish between a casual voice chat and an important meeting/presentation, casual I often take on the go and use whatever is the most convenient option (definitely not a proper headset... bone conductors more like it). At an important meeting I usually don't walk to another room.
And if you specifically mean the cheapest possible models, yes wired will have cable noise, but wireless will have horrible connection and battery issues, so let's assume we are talking about a good above-average model and in that case you can expect no cable noise.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#430Earlier quoted context omitted.
No dongle? The whole thing is a giant dongle hanging off your computer. Headphone cables are far more annoying than mouse cables IMO, and they even affect the sound because it's quite audible when they hit or rub on stuff. Plus I find it surprisingly useful to be able to get out of my chair to grab something while still listening and/or talking. I can even go to another room.
Or take a shit. And then worry that you didn't mute properly even though you triple checked it before walking out of the room.
I once moved to the couch while wearing wireless headphones and accidentally fell asleep at an important meeting. Thankfully I didn't need to speak anymore (I think). A wire anchoring me to the desk isn't the worst idea...