Split keyboard is a game changer
Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
671–680 of 853 posts
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#672Earlier quoted context omitted.
Another possibility: if you own any computer and any tablet, they can act as an external screen. That has been around for years before apple sherlocked it.
I do have an Android tablet mostly sitting and a Linux laptop (running KDE) can I do it in a really seemless way?
I use Deskreen with Windows, it has a Linux version that probably works similarly. I think it leverages browser streaming tech.
Easiest way to get it working is with a dummy plug (because it just casts displays, it can't create one), but maybe there's more options on Linux to fake a display in software.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#6733-color light ( https://www.adafruit.com/product/5127 ) and associated circuitry ( https://github.com/vladak/workmon/ ) that reminds me to change the position of the standing desk if too long in the same position (using ultrasonic distance sensor mounted underneath the table) and to take a break if working for too long without a break (using smart plug to which my display is connected) and also to alert me if I have…
My table even has that built in.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#674Earlier quoted context omitted.
Headsets with a mic arm that auto-mutes in hardware also have the benefit that you can go to the bathroom, use the kitchen, etc. on mute, but still respond quickly if someone addresses you.
Unless it's a Logitech headset, in which case 90% of the time the functionality of the mic-arm-mute breaks at the software level requiring various troubleshooting dances before anyone can hear you again. How they can be such a leader in the peripheral space but still produce absolutely the worst garbage software will never stop being annoying.
It seems like the mistake there would be implementing the mute in the software instead of a proper hardware shutoff.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#675Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yeah it's better than Bluetooth but a mic next to your mouth works far better than a mic in your laptop no matter how good it is.
You obviously never tried recent macbook...
I have a M1 MacBook Air and what I said is still true. It's a matter of physics.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#676I 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.
Interesting idea, I have the same problem with cold hands. I currently wear finger-less wool gloves but it isn't a perfect solution either.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#677I 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…
A lot of tablets also let you use them as second screens!
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#678After experimenting for many years with many kinds of mice, trackballs, touchpads, trackpoints etc. in the search for the most comfortable graphic pointing device, I have settled to use, instead of a mouse, a small Wacom Intuos graphic tablet (usually with Linux), configured in its "mouse" mode, i.e. with relative coordinates, not with its default absolute coordinates. At least for me, using a stylus has proven to be…
My ideal device would be one where the pen is in absolute mode, but you can also use it as a touchpad in relative mode with your fingers.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#679A 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…
Why you are recommending XLR but not recommending jack for delayless output to headphones? I have Samson C01 in USB version and all I miss is an ability to listen the signal. This is not a microphone for singers because it is very sensitive but it makes a good sound of me for video meetings and that's it.
That's because the UMC204HD has a monitor built into the device, GP doesn't need any software to do that.
Re: Ask HN: What lesser-known accessories do you use with your computer?
#680Oh boy, I found/invented a tweak that I can't live without anymore. I use an MX Ergo trackball, not sure how it'd fare on a mouse, but here are the magic runes: xinput set-prop "libinput Scroll Method Enabled" 0 0 1 xinput set-prop "libinput Button Scrolling Button" 8 Where you'd change 8 to a chosen mouse button and the mouse device id to its appropriate value from `xinput list`. What this does is make it so that as…
wow that's neat! I use and love the same device and while it feels a bit odd at first it also feels better than using the scroll wheel. btw in case anyone wants to try a different button (8 is "Page back") you can use `xinput test ` to listen to events and see which number each button is. Good news: it seems like the Back button still works when using this. Thanks!
edit:
Putting this in ~/.xsessionrc seems to work fine for me on Ubuntu:
xinput set-prop "pointer:Logitech MX Ergo" "libinput Button Scrolling Button" 8
xinput set-prop "pointer:Logitech MX Ergo" "libinput Scroll Method Enabled" 0 0 1