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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?

#711

Post by wtk »

WorldPeas wrote: post #625
wtk wrote: post #619

(not all are computer peripherals, but other comments seem wider than initial criteria) * whiteboard placed on a painting easel next to my desk (when I don't use whiteboard, I can use the easel it to paint acrylic) - about 90x120 cm. I put my tasks for work, but also pick exercises with checkbox to do during the day. * AKAI mpk mini - when tired of work, can jump over to Ableton like software and relax * MX Master 3S…

wait I thought that blue light at night was bad for your sleep? Are you using it as some sort of sleep suppressant?

I haven't tought about it, but now that you mentioned it seems obvious. It's more of a background color, when I for example watch tv in another part of that room. It gives an ambient so I see shapes of furnitures but it doesn't attract attiention. Also it's subtle dark blue, nothing like the one that shines brightly from your phone straight into your eyes (I think it matters). I also never have problems falling asleep, since I get up early, I fall asleep in a matter of few minutes around 10-11pm.

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

#712

Post by romanhn »

preya2k wrote: post #469
romanhn wrote: post #359

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure thing. Here are the specific items I ended up with: - Cam link 4K card: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09XXBTBYB - Dummy battery kit: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B078PDCF7D - Micro HDMI cable: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08C2QMT4R In terms of camera settings, I think the main ones were switching the file format to XAVC and turning off the display icons so they don't show when I'm on video. Might be worth…

Or save yourself the cost and latency of the HDMI grabber and use it via gphoto2/v4l2 if you don't mind a little command line action. https://girishjoshi.io/post/using-dslr-camera-as-webcam-on-l...

Not sure this would work with every camera. My particular model does not support remote shooting over USB. Newer models of the same camera do and Sony even provides software to go the USB route.

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

#713

Post by pedrovhb »

_def wrote: post #680
pedrovhb wrote: post #580

Oh 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 fi…

Nice, using "pointer:Logitech MX Ergo" beats my hacky regex. Thanks!

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

#714

Post by jedberg »

nanumbat wrote: post #705
jedberg wrote: post #265

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

It's an 802-VLZ3. All inputs have MUTE ALT 3-4 selected. ALT 3-4 is selected for Control Room Source. Assign to Main Mix is selected. Ctl Room/Submix level is at the Unity detent. Main Out L/R send the final mix to the amplifier inputs. Headphones in Phones. This keeps the headphones working independent of the Main Mix level setting. Did I have to stare at page 26 of the manual for about an hour to figure this out? W…

Ah thanks for the details. I have a different model that sadly doesn't have the Assign to Main Mix button. :(

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

#715

Post by roym6 »

psychomugs wrote: post #596
Eisenstein wrote: post #419

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't use magnetic USB adapters. They run a decent risk of frying your device. The USB-C spec was not designed to have the connection broken in that way. You will have no issues 99% of the time, but you will eventually have that time when your device gets fried. It takes a very precise design and a lot of clever engineering to have a high-current power connector with tiny pins be able to break without having the grou…

Among the neurotic optimizations I’ve made to my cable setup - retracting USB-C cables and normal cables of any length, adapters for any and all devices I own - I have avoided magnetic adapters for the above reasons.

How did you make retracting cables?

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

#716

Post by patrickk »

fendy3002 wrote: post #208
j45 wrote: post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good to have both for different reasons. A good wired headset can be superior to wireless mic audio when presenting or interacting. If merely consuming, and hanging around wireless is good too.

Both is the answer. I'm using wireless if I anticipate whether I'll need mobility sooner or later, and wired as backup and other cases.

It’s possible to combine both.

I have a Philips SHP-9000 headphone with a vmoda boom pro mic, which plugs into the 3.5mm jack on the headphones. On the other end, I sometimes attach a cheap Chinese Bluetooth receiver, which can be plugged into any 3.5mm jack, so any wired headphones can be made wireless as needed.

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

#717

Post by modeless »

throwaway290 wrote: post #430
raffraffraff wrote: post #370

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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...

Haha fair enough!

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

#718

Post by modeless »

maccard wrote: post #389
modeless wrote: post #249

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm using a SteelSeries Arctis 1 ($69) and I like it overall. Only minor flaws: the battery life is good but not exceptional (magnetic charging helps), the charge port is micro USB (despite the fact that the dongle is USB-C), the wireless range is good but not exceptional, the shape of the dongle is wide and tends to block nearby ports, but the biggest flaw is the power button which you have to hold down for an etern…

Those power buttons have a tendency to pop out just ouf of warranty. A few of my friends have them and its 50/50 as to whether theyve survived 6 months longer than warranty

I believe this. I have two and I guess I've been lucky because it hasn't happened to me.

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

#719

Post by laserlight »

Schinken_ wrote: post #390
comprev wrote: post #381

I use my iPad as a second screen on my macbook air with Duet [0] Had the software for a few years now and it’s used very frequently. I don’t know if using the app hardwired requires a subscription though as mine was a one-off purchase via App Store. [0] https://www.duetdisplay.com/

Iirc modern-ish MacOS versions (and iPadOS/iOS) allow this feature out of the box? I'm pretty sure I used it once or twice when I had my old smaller macbook from work.

Right. It's called Sidecar [0].

[0] https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210380

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

#720

Post by bullen »

ragazzina wrote: post #687
bullen wrote: post #315

- 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…

What is the benefit of having low res monitors?

- It uses less power to render to and light up.

- It's smaller.

- I can read them without expensive advanced rendering = standard bios/boot/terminal bitmap fonts are large enough.

- It looks better imo.

- It probably lasts longer.

And probably more that I forget now...

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