Ask HN: What is a purchase that made you happy?
I love a well made thing. What’s something you bought that sparked joy, brought you deep satisfaction, or otherwise felt great?
66 comments
I've got a few.
I rather like my Logitech MX Master mouse. I have 2. The unlatching of the click mechanism of the scroll wheel at high speed is my favorite thing, possibly, of any of my PC peripherals, which is odd because I didn't consider scrolling to be that big a part of my day, but I miss it when using other mice. I'm disappointed that the rubber on the scroll wheel is melting, however, but I still love it.
Back when conventional thinking said it was Wacom or bust, I gambled on a cheap Huion H610. At a fraction of the cost of the equivalent Wacom, I was skeptical, but amateur reviews looked promising. Initially it was dodgy but they persisted with driver updates and it became a perfectly decent drawing tablet with the specs an artist cares about and fine drivers (also works plug and play with Win8/10). The only downside with my unit is that it has a battery in the pen, a limitation fixed in later revisions.
Also, a good trade-level cordless drill (I went DeWalt) is also a huge improvement from cheap sub $100 units, and I'm quite fond of that too, because it feels very precise and I've spent too much time with crap tools to ever forget.
I rather like my Logitech MX Master mouse. I have 2. The unlatching of the click mechanism of the scroll wheel at high speed is my favorite thing, possibly, of any of my PC peripherals, which is odd because I didn't consider scrolling to be that big a part of my day, but I miss it when using other mice. I'm disappointed that the rubber on the scroll wheel is melting, however, but I still love it.
Back when conventional thinking said it was Wacom or bust, I gambled on a cheap Huion H610. At a fraction of the cost of the equivalent Wacom, I was skeptical, but amateur reviews looked promising. Initially it was dodgy but they persisted with driver updates and it became a perfectly decent drawing tablet with the specs an artist cares about and fine drivers (also works plug and play with Win8/10). The only downside with my unit is that it has a battery in the pen, a limitation fixed in later revisions.
Also, a good trade-level cordless drill (I went DeWalt) is also a huge improvement from cheap sub $100 units, and I'm quite fond of that too, because it feels very precise and I've spent too much time with crap tools to ever forget.
I too am happy with my Logitech MX Mouse but there was an interval where I wasn't.
Here's the shaggy dog version. I got a job working as an AutoCAD draughtsman and the company only had a shitty mouse to work this expensive Windows-only software. I decided to purchase a Logitech MX Mouse ~$80 equivalent to prevent RSI. My boss thought I was crazy - what was wrong with the mouse they provided? Hah! Soon it became obvious they did not care for tech or techies and I left. But I am on Linux at home and it really bugged me that I could not use my expensive mouse on my Linux laptop. Curses and swears! Fast forward 6 months and I was browsing a Linux magazine and it featured libratbag which is a DBus daemon to configure gaming mice. I couldn't believe my eyes. It promised to get my MX Mouse working on Linux. I got home downloaded the software and hey presto! my MX Mouse works on Linux. I am so happy with it and so lucky that I picked up that Linux magazine on that day.
Here's the shaggy dog version. I got a job working as an AutoCAD draughtsman and the company only had a shitty mouse to work this expensive Windows-only software. I decided to purchase a Logitech MX Mouse ~$80 equivalent to prevent RSI. My boss thought I was crazy - what was wrong with the mouse they provided? Hah! Soon it became obvious they did not care for tech or techies and I left. But I am on Linux at home and it really bugged me that I could not use my expensive mouse on my Linux laptop. Curses and swears! Fast forward 6 months and I was browsing a Linux magazine and it featured libratbag which is a DBus daemon to configure gaming mice. I couldn't believe my eyes. It promised to get my MX Mouse working on Linux. I got home downloaded the software and hey presto! my MX Mouse works on Linux. I am so happy with it and so lucky that I picked up that Linux magazine on that day.
Can I ask a couple of questions about the mouse?
1. How does it compare in terms of response to a wired mouse?
2. How does it connect to different computers (dongle? built in Bluetooth?) and how does it cope with quickly swapping between different computers?
1. How does it compare in terms of response to a wired mouse?
2. How does it connect to different computers (dongle? built in Bluetooth?) and how does it cope with quickly swapping between different computers?
1) Imperceptible. Some angle snapping issues which will annoy elite gamers. It's a task mouse, and will not suit for pro gaming, but, then, no wireless mouse will.
2) Bluetooth or Logitech Unifying Receiver. It has a button on the bottom of the mouse to swap the computer it's paired with and it can be hot paired to three devices, and that works well.
2) Bluetooth or Logitech Unifying Receiver. It has a button on the bottom of the mouse to swap the computer it's paired with and it can be hot paired to three devices, and that works well.
I have the MX Master 3, which was only superseded by the 3S recently with very little change.
1. Response time is imperceptible
2. It can connect directly via bluetooth, or with a small usb dongle. There is a button on the bottom of the mouse that lets you switch between 3 stored devices. It would be nice remap the device switch to a button on the top of the mouse, but this doesn't seem possible yet.
1. Response time is imperceptible
2. It can connect directly via bluetooth, or with a small usb dongle. There is a button on the bottom of the mouse that lets you switch between 3 stored devices. It would be nice remap the device switch to a button on the top of the mouse, but this doesn't seem possible yet.
One of those el-cheapo "fairy light"[1] things (a strand of multi-color LED's that can change color, blink, etc). I bought this as a lark when I was re-organizing my electronics lab area at home and strung the lights on and around the rack that holds part of my test equipment, and across to the rack that sits on my bench. Put it in "change color" mode and haven't touched it in over a year. The thing just sits there and shines and changes colors. That's it. Dead simple, stupid, cheap, and meaningless. And yet it brings me joy for some reason. Just about every time I walk through that room I find myself smiling and thinking "I'm so glad I bought that."
It's not really rational and I can't really explain it, but I just really enjoy it for some reason. shrug
[1]: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WGSP78V/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b...
It's not really rational and I can't really explain it, but I just really enjoy it for some reason. shrug
[1]: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WGSP78V/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b...
Wow, no one has mentioned a bicycle, I got mine for around 300usd like 10 years ago, a simple but useful MTB, since then I have invested no more than 800usd in addons and repairs ( to fix a bike is so cheap!) With it I've traveled for around 15 cities in my country (Colombia), I've discovered amazing places: lakes, forrests, mountains, rivers, towns and more... I've met lots of new friends and saved tons of money as it became my main mode of transportation, it also allowed me to know my city: new parks, new cafes, new spots you can't really see from a window's car perspective.
And additionally, it allows me to control my weight without having to spend a cent in a gym!
My wife and I are similar. After having many bikes stolen over the years we buy used bikes from a local non profit here in SF that benefits at risk youth. We get a bike for a few hundred dollars that works great and we're not afraid of being stolen, they get something for the kids to work on and benefit them. We love biking around the city, nearly all the value is not in the bike but in the experiences, so it's not really needed to get a fancy one, the big thing is to get out and ride.
I bought a Specialized Hard Rock for about $400 back in 2006. It's still the bike I ride to this day. Yes it's an antique by contemporary MTB'ing standards (26" wheels, egad!) but the thing is a tank and it just keeps working. Other than routine maintenance and a bent derailleur hanger, it's been almost completely bullet-proof. Probably one of the best purchases I've ever made.
Mine is a 26" too!
A cheap, plastic plant. $5 (plus sales tax if applicable).
My workspace was feeling a little gloomy, needed a change. I wasn’t sure what it was lacking. But I was sure that it was lacking something. It just felt dead.
Imitation life to the rescue.
This overpriced piece of plastic made me smile. I don’t want to kill a plant out of negligence, or buy something that turned out to be bad for me, so this is a good compromise for now.
I say cheap, but it looks surprisingly real for what it is. Especially from a distance. It looks alive.
I’m somewhere else now, but was in the same chain where I bought the first. Saw some more, made me smile. Like seeing a mall santa as an adult. I know that’s a stranger in a costume impersonating a fictional character. But it doesn’t matter, because Christmas. I don’t need to believe that’s Santa to smile.
I don’t need a real plant, either. At least for now. I rather need not a real plant at the moment.
Bought one for here as well. It sounds so silly, in part because in some ways it is, but it makes me happy.
I know it is fake. Devoid of life. That leaves just the tinge of sadness. A real one would be even better. (A real Santa would be great too.) But I want to make sure that I’m ready for that responsibility. Soon.
So for now, I look at that hunk of plastic. And I smile.
My workspace was feeling a little gloomy, needed a change. I wasn’t sure what it was lacking. But I was sure that it was lacking something. It just felt dead.
Imitation life to the rescue.
This overpriced piece of plastic made me smile. I don’t want to kill a plant out of negligence, or buy something that turned out to be bad for me, so this is a good compromise for now.
I say cheap, but it looks surprisingly real for what it is. Especially from a distance. It looks alive.
I’m somewhere else now, but was in the same chain where I bought the first. Saw some more, made me smile. Like seeing a mall santa as an adult. I know that’s a stranger in a costume impersonating a fictional character. But it doesn’t matter, because Christmas. I don’t need to believe that’s Santa to smile.
I don’t need a real plant, either. At least for now. I rather need not a real plant at the moment.
Bought one for here as well. It sounds so silly, in part because in some ways it is, but it makes me happy.
I know it is fake. Devoid of life. That leaves just the tinge of sadness. A real one would be even better. (A real Santa would be great too.) But I want to make sure that I’m ready for that responsibility. Soon.
So for now, I look at that hunk of plastic. And I smile.
Hamilton Khaki watch. Analog watches may be superfluous and pointless in an era of phones and smart watches, but I actually really enjoyed learning about horology and researching more about movements and brands, and purchasing a well made time piece was just plain ol' fun.
Watches are amazing, they're one of the last connections to my previous life as a mechanical engineer (software now). JLC, NOMOS, and Zenith are wonderful brands to check out.
I also enjoy Hamilton Watches, I've got the Khaki field automatic, it's great!
Highly rate Hamilton watches, very pleasing to look at when they came into our office when I was working at a watch dealership.
Seconded. I have a Khaki King and I love it. I wear it almost every day I’m working.
A combination: Bose noise-cancelling headphones, plus a premium Spotify membership. I've added nearly all my faves going back to the 1970s to a single massive playlist. The gym, while driving (FM radio in my town is terrible), late-night coding, and anytime I'm in public and prefer the solitude.
Pink Floyd's "Animals" at 1am is ... you know.
Pink Floyd's "Animals" at 1am is ... you know.
My puppy. It was an expensive pandemic buy. But she has done more for me than I can ever imagine. I would pay 4/5 times the amount for her. Worth every penny
At first I interpreted that as "I'd pay 0.8 times the amount for her" and I was a bit confused.
Dogs are awesome. Keeps the living space a lot less depressingly empty and quiet.
Dogs are awesome. Keeps the living space a lot less depressingly empty and quiet.
The Apple AirPods Max.
So the problem I had is that I had a wireless headset which paired with one device at a time, and every time you wanted to change the pairing, you would need to un-pair and re-pair the device and this was always a bit clunky. Additionally, I was using Windows/Android. If I'm watching a video or listening to a podcast, I'm not allowed to chromecast TO my Windows laptop, I'm not allowed to chromecast FROM a bunch of websites, and this resulted in various workarounds.
So what the Apple ecosystem made it that I can do is, just be able to airplay video from ANY website to ANY of the screens that I own. What the AirPods max enabled is that it made it so that if I switched playing audio from one device to another device, that it made it seamless or at least easy to switch the audio output of that other device to the AirPods on my head. I just love the slick integration so much and I find it easier to be watching something on my TV and then continuing to consume that content in my kitchen or when I'm grocery shopping (if it's something like a podcast) and that makes me healthier.
I'm autistic, and man if you hate noise as much as I do, Apple is making some GREAT products nowadays. It's funny to me though, whenever I talk about Apple products people rave about most of them but seem to be very sceptical about the AirPods Max, when for me that's the keystone product.
So the problem I had is that I had a wireless headset which paired with one device at a time, and every time you wanted to change the pairing, you would need to un-pair and re-pair the device and this was always a bit clunky. Additionally, I was using Windows/Android. If I'm watching a video or listening to a podcast, I'm not allowed to chromecast TO my Windows laptop, I'm not allowed to chromecast FROM a bunch of websites, and this resulted in various workarounds.
So what the Apple ecosystem made it that I can do is, just be able to airplay video from ANY website to ANY of the screens that I own. What the AirPods max enabled is that it made it so that if I switched playing audio from one device to another device, that it made it seamless or at least easy to switch the audio output of that other device to the AirPods on my head. I just love the slick integration so much and I find it easier to be watching something on my TV and then continuing to consume that content in my kitchen or when I'm grocery shopping (if it's something like a podcast) and that makes me healthier.
I'm autistic, and man if you hate noise as much as I do, Apple is making some GREAT products nowadays. It's funny to me though, whenever I talk about Apple products people rave about most of them but seem to be very sceptical about the AirPods Max, when for me that's the keystone product.
Boox Nova Air C. Color e-reader. I've never had an e-reader before. The refresh is slow, the colors are like a faded cheap newspaper, and it's not as sharp as a b&w kindle. But I love it. It runs a heavily modified version of Android, and can load anything from the play store, but mainly it's just so much better to read on than my former tablet because you aren't really tempted use it for much else, other than maybe some article browsing. As it's a Chinese-made OS and device I don't use it to connect to any services that require an important password. But I have to say, the interface gets better with every update... it's very clever and full of tricks and shortcuts once you get to know it. The best part is the wacom pen and note taking which really feels like a marker on paper, as opposed to writing on glass. I write short fiction in my spare time and have started taking it out and writing longhand on it as opposed to typing on a laptop. Little pricey for an e-reader but it's definitely my favorite purchase of the past year.
My Bosch sliding miter saw. I had a crappy Ryobi miter saw for 20 years that never stayed in alignment. For some reason the Bosch's sliding arm just makes me happy each time I use it - its like my little robot arm saw.
This saw is indeed awesome. I picked up a Festool Kapex for $900 just before finding out about these; it’s not even close.
A hammock hung in a shady grove of trees. Perfect for lazy Sunday afternoons.
A bunch of tplink smart light switches for the well used lights around the house. Deep satisfaction every night to turn off an entire floor with a voice command. Next up will probably be automatic roller shades, though they are considerably more pricy.
A bunch of tplink smart light switches for the well used lights around the house. Deep satisfaction every night to turn off an entire floor with a voice command. Next up will probably be automatic roller shades, though they are considerably more pricy.
A great stereo system. Expensive, but it gets used every day and music sounds fantastic on it, and it will easily last 20+ years (my last one did).
Don't keep us guessing, what's the system?
A cheap LED head torch. Only ~€10, charges with USB. It’s amazing how many times it can make little things much easier, once you’ve got it to hand. The ability to point it precisely where you’re looking and then benefit from it following our head movements is a minor game changer!
A 3D Printer. I avoided one for years, and have never printed anything frivolous. But the ability to make useful things for the house at (almost) a moment’s notice is great. Also, I’m really enjoying learning CAD, and the ability to easily create physical objects that I have designed is very fulfilling.
A 3D Printer. I avoided one for years, and have never printed anything frivolous. But the ability to make useful things for the house at (almost) a moment’s notice is great. Also, I’m really enjoying learning CAD, and the ability to easily create physical objects that I have designed is very fulfilling.
Hello Fresh subscription. I now spend more time with my girlfriend.
Next up: joint trips to the local market on market day! You'll love it and maybe even outgrow hello fresh :-)
A 50cc gas scooter! I've never been into motorcycles and learned to ride a bike pretty late in life. My friends got into dirt bikes and that got me thinking, maybe I'd like to try something similar.
Well so far its been a wonderful experience. I love the sense of freedom it gives me. And its actually super economical with 80 miles per gallon. I became a scooter/moped preacher!
Well so far its been a wonderful experience. I love the sense of freedom it gives me. And its actually super economical with 80 miles per gallon. I became a scooter/moped preacher!
What are your thoughts on safety? That's always the things that gets me before I go any further into motorcycles/mopeds/etc.
Never forget the first rule of skateboarding: you will fall, miss or crash. It's not if it's when. What happen then depend on your speed (hopefully). So I dont drive above 20 miles an hour on my scooter. Above is simply not viable.
Knowing myself, there is simply no way I will stay under 20 mi/hr...
A very small and cheap skateboard, for kids not even 10y, that I use irregularly in my commutes. Note: I was a real skater 30y ago.
The SteamDeck.
I have been purchasing games that run natively on linux for a long time as a small way of supporting the devs that take the time to release them. So far the problem was that moments I spend on my computer are usually dedicated to work of some type, so my 650~ game library has sat unused for the better part of the last years.
With the SteamDeck I managed to start and to finish some of the titles that have piqued my interest over this period.
The fact that it can be used as a regular computing device (it can run in desktop mode with KDE) is pretty nice also.
I have been purchasing games that run natively on linux for a long time as a small way of supporting the devs that take the time to release them. So far the problem was that moments I spend on my computer are usually dedicated to work of some type, so my 650~ game library has sat unused for the better part of the last years.
With the SteamDeck I managed to start and to finish some of the titles that have piqued my interest over this period.
The fact that it can be used as a regular computing device (it can run in desktop mode with KDE) is pretty nice also.
The RPi that runs basically all my outward-facing Internet services. Well, there's two RPis because I've been slow to move some of the more painful services across, but still all off-grid for ~2W total.
And it's also neat that my new MacBook Air will just about run with the screen off at ~2W also, which is also astonishing considering how it has come down over time for the MBAs, and yet is a full-on multi-core, multi-GByte system with 1TB of storage...
And it's also neat that my new MacBook Air will just about run with the screen off at ~2W also, which is also astonishing considering how it has come down over time for the MBAs, and yet is a full-on multi-core, multi-GByte system with 1TB of storage...
Bike, hammock, portable smokeless grill.
Also bought a couple of bikes for kids that couldn't afford them, that's probably what brought me most joy.
Also bought a couple of bikes for kids that couldn't afford them, that's probably what brought me most joy.
A lightweight, tapered Italian jacket that I nabbed at a consignment store at a great price. Wearing it, I feel like a million bucks.
A fountain pen. Platinum preppys can be had for 5 bucks, one can spend more, but doesn't need to. It's such a fun hobby.
My dog :-)
non-tech: a small spiral-bound notebook as my journal. paid at least 100x itself as far as reducing anxiety and improving mental health and memory.
tech: System76 laptop. marked my switch from apple/win ecosystems to linux and haven't looked back; the incredible freedom of not feeling like i'm constantly fighting the software itself is amazing.
tech: System76 laptop. marked my switch from apple/win ecosystems to linux and haven't looked back; the incredible freedom of not feeling like i'm constantly fighting the software itself is amazing.
Would love to hear your journaling technique if you’d be up for sharing
Absolutely! :D I'm a bit late to this reply, my apologies - but have a post that describes the journaling habits over here on dreamwidth: https://walonvaus.dreamwidth.org/174408.html
HP 32f Monitor - I was at Best Buy in January 2020, they were closing them out because they're only 1920x1080 pixels, for $200. I called up my wife to ask if I could buy one... she said NO... BUY TWO! One for me, one for sproutlet.
We both got nice big monitors right before we were stuck at home forever... whew!
We both got nice big monitors right before we were stuck at home forever... whew!
To my surprise I have derived quite some fun from buying a (used) racing bike and touring the city with it. In comparison to running/jogging it is exhilarating how for you can go (at least here in Europe) at 20 mph / 30 kmh.
Tesla Model X. Never spent as much on anything before. But the auto opening doors, the falcon wings, the whisper quiet movement, the rapid acceleration, and the autopilot on highways give me joy every single time.
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My cats. I bought them eight years ago and despite some really hard times and them pretty much being a money-pit, they've made me happier than anything else I've ever bought.
I tend to be an extreme minimalist and my answer will be boring: upgrading my iPhone every 5-6 years (I tend to buy new and keep until I get full iOS updates) always brings me immense joy.
Hey, offtopic but I couldn't find another way to contact you. What did you end up doing for getting off of gmail?
I just switched to a custom domain with mailbox and email forwarding to my personal gmail with Gandi. Then I configure gmail to send email as my custom email address using Gandi’s SMTP. It has been working well enough for a couple years now.
I might decide to move to Google workspace at some point purely because email reception has been a bit spotty at times (a couple times Gandi decided that my bank’s mail forwarder IP addresses were in some sort of spam list and bounced them, causing them to revert to paper statements, which makes me wonder if I lost some other mail…), just haven’t done it yet.
BTW big, big fan of Cassandra, got many battle scars from running it at moderate scale (500+ nodes ~8 years ago) :-)
I might decide to move to Google workspace at some point purely because email reception has been a bit spotty at times (a couple times Gandi decided that my bank’s mail forwarder IP addresses were in some sort of spam list and bounced them, causing them to revert to paper statements, which makes me wonder if I lost some other mail…), just haven’t done it yet.
BTW big, big fan of Cassandra, got many battle scars from running it at moderate scale (500+ nodes ~8 years ago) :-)
Thanks! I see a lot of people complaining about Workspace, so this sounds like the way to go.
A working plex, radarr, sonarr and nas setup.
Such a blissful experience.
Such a blissful experience.
I had a really nice setup a few years ago that downloaded every new episode of whatever show I was watching. It think it was called sickbeard with a newzbin subscription. I rarely watch shows now though so I don’t think I would appreciate it as much.
I recently switched from a 6 year old Lenovo Inspiron to Macbook 14' M1 Pro and I can say I have been enjoying coding on it.
I “rescued” a plush gray cat from my grandkids house. I call him Meow Kitty. He is my best friend.
My second electric guitar, an Ibanez RG570 I bought in 1992. Really any Ibanez RG at or above the price point of the RG5xx models (now called the RG15xx models. On the higher end, RG3120, RG8670, etc. are brilliant.). On the much lower end, a Harley Benton SC550 gives 98% of the Gibson Les Paul experience at an unreasonably affordable price (I own a Gibson Les Paul and an HB, and I prefer my HB. Maybe my Gibson is a dud.) But electric guitar in general has brought me so many hours of enjoyment over the last 30 something years it's hard to think of any other physical item that can compete with it.
I recently bought a pizza peel, a pizza stone, a kitchen scale, and some dough boxes and have begun making pizzas at home following Vito Iacopelli's videos on youtube, and I'm now making pizzas that are superior to delivered pizza (though less perfectly round so far) and in an altogether different galaxy than frozen pizzas. I am amazed at how good they come out. I'll never buy a frozen pizza again. And the process of making pizzas is neither difficult nor expensive. At some point I might buy an outdoor pizza oven, but so far I'm satisfied with what I'm getting from my conventional oven at max temp.
I recently bought a pizza peel, a pizza stone, a kitchen scale, and some dough boxes and have begun making pizzas at home following Vito Iacopelli's videos on youtube, and I'm now making pizzas that are superior to delivered pizza (though less perfectly round so far) and in an altogether different galaxy than frozen pizzas. I am amazed at how good they come out. I'll never buy a frozen pizza again. And the process of making pizzas is neither difficult nor expensive. At some point I might buy an outdoor pizza oven, but so far I'm satisfied with what I'm getting from my conventional oven at max temp.
Along similar lines, I bought a handpan a couple of years ago and it's very lovely indeed. Since then most of my (many) other instruments have been mostly gathering dust.
For pizzas check out the "G3 Ferrari G10006" - compact, indoor, goes up to double normal oven temperature. I was thinking of getting a wood fired outdoor one until I realised this thing does the job.
For pizzas check out the "G3 Ferrari G10006" - compact, indoor, goes up to double normal oven temperature. I was thinking of getting a wood fired outdoor one until I realised this thing does the job.
under-cabinet LED lights. really brightened up my kitchen's working surfaces.
I bought a £20 ukelele.
It was the cheapest one availablr and has had a fantastic ROI.
It was the cheapest one availablr and has had a fantastic ROI.
32” 4k screen,
Mac Mini M1,
Keychron C1 with linear switches,
Behringer homestudio headphones.
Mac Mini M1,
Keychron C1 with linear switches,
Behringer homestudio headphones.
My Comandante C40 coffee grinder.
almost nothing. maybe the MacBook air I bought in 2013.