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Ask HN: What is the best gadget you bought in 2022?

12 points by Igor_Wiwi 4y ago

Igor_Wiwi 4y ago
I'll begin with myself. I purchased the Jabra Elite 7 Active wireless headphones earlier this year. Amazing user experience, long-lasting battery, and active noise cancellation. Though not the cheapest, this one is definitely worth the money.
- dankwizard 4y ago
  Jabra are the worst - see https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31388163 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31388163
  - Igor_Wiwi 4y ago
    can't relate, mine pair work like a charm
mikewarot 4y ago
A NanoVNA was given to me by a friend... it's the coolest gadget that I'm still learning the power of. I'm weighing the purchase of a TruSDX transceiver kit, and it would come in handy for verifying the setup of the band pass filters, and getting the antenna tuned.
- agent008t 4y ago
  Could you please elaborate on what it is useful for?
  - mikewarot 4y ago
    A VNA is a vector network analyzer, a device which can make fairly precise measurements of radio frequency electronics networks. These devices used to sell for $10,000 and up, recently someone figured out how to make a reasonably good one for hobby use, and they can be had for $100 or less. You can use them to test antennas, tune filters, find the frequency of crystals, and other things.
Kaibeezy 4y ago
Dial-type tire pressure gauge (can no longer read the stick kind) and a cheap portable air compressor. Paid for themselves the first time I didn’t have to drive to the petrol station on a nearly flat tire. The long flimsy power cord and having to use it with the car running is an annoyance, might have to look at a cordless one next time.
karmakaze 4y ago
Netgear Nighthawk Wifi6 Mesh router with 2 satellites. Should have had this all along but I had incrementally added various other access points. A single system is much easier to deal with and have work consistently. A small Dual 24+18W USB charger block kept in laptop bag. It can even charge a M1 Macbook Pro while in use.
- karmakaze 4y ago
  Update: I got a GaN (gallium nitride) 65W 3-port USB charger (65W or 45W+18W/45W+15W) that can charge anything I've got.
nop_slide 4y ago
A Fujifilm x100v camera. As a relatively new dad this thing is so fun to use and is really a step up from phone photos for capturing the fam. I had actually bought a Fuji x-t20 first only about a month ago, but serendipitously stumbled on a x100v in store and bought it as they’re extremely difficult to buy at the moment. I also initially wanted the x100v before I learned about the supply issues. I’m prob going to sell the x-t20 as the fixed lens on the x100v is more compact. In general definitely recommend looking into a mirror less camera if you want to boost your photos. I’ve only been using them for a month and not a pro by any means, but it’s been a lot of fun and I’ve already gotten complements on some of the photos I’ve taken.
- aosaigh 4y ago
  I've had my eyes on one of these for a long time but haven't been able to find them in storck. I've also been thinking of a Sony A7C with their 40mm 2.5 lens as an almost-as-small alternative. Having owned a a6000 mirrorless before and numerous other DSLRs before that, I like the no-nonsense and no-decisions nature of the fixed lens on the Fuji.
  - nop_slide 4y ago
    A suggestion I saw is to just place an order on B&H or Adorama even though it says back ordered. Might be worth a shot! > The X100V is so wildly popular that you won't find it "in stock," but it's easy to get your X100V. Order it at Adorama [...] or at B&H [...] and be patient for it to arrive. Most people don't realize that these come in and go out the same day to people like me who have them on order all the time, without ever showing as "in stock" because they never make it to "stock" before they get shipped to us. Order yours and be patient, or be prepared to pay about $1,700 for a used one. The X100V is this good! https://www.kenrockwell.com/fuji/x100v.htm https://www.kenrockwell.com/fuji/x100v.htm
gravitate 4y ago
https://www.amazon.com/Corsair-K100-Optical-Mechanical-Gaming-Keyboard/dp/B08HR74WV4 https://www.amazon.com/Corsair-K100-Optical-Mechanical-Gamin...
heresjohnny 4y ago
Both the best and unnecessary gadget purchase: upgrading from an iPhone 13 Pro to a 14 Pro. Oddly, I truly enjoy the design and thinking that went into what is objectively a glorified notch.
- unixbotnuke 4y ago
  iPhone 13 Pro -> 14 Pro via redpocket deal was <100 for the upgrade after selling my 13 Pro on craigslist. 100% worth it.
smhg 4y ago
Logitech MX Keys keyboard. It's the best keyboard I've every typed on by a large margin. In Europe, I had to order the US (qwerty) version through eBay though. As Logitech is stuck in ancient regional limitations.
- dev_0 4y ago
nicbou 4y ago
2017 Macbook 12 It's absurdly small and light, which is great for backpacking or motorcycle travel. In the summer I can carry it in my backpack and not notice it's there. It's much more pleasant to pack than my 15 inch model of the same year.

12 points by Igor_Wiwi 4y ago

I'll begin with myself. I purchased the Jabra Elite 7 Active wireless headphones earlier this year. Amazing user experience, long-lasting battery, and active noise cancellation. Though not the cheapest, this one is definitely worth the money.

dankwizard 4y ago
Jabra are the worst - see https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31388163 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31388163
- Igor_Wiwi 4y ago
  can't relate, mine pair work like a charm

mikewarot 4y ago

A NanoVNA was given to me by a friend... it's the coolest gadget that I'm still learning the power of. I'm weighing the purchase of a TruSDX transceiver kit, and it would come in handy for verifying the setup of the band pass filters, and getting the antenna tuned.

agent008t 4y ago
Could you please elaborate on what it is useful for?
- mikewarot 4y ago
  A VNA is a vector network analyzer, a device which can make fairly precise measurements of radio frequency electronics networks. These devices used to sell for $10,000 and up, recently someone figured out how to make a reasonably good one for hobby use, and they can be had for $100 or less. You can use them to test antennas, tune filters, find the frequency of crystals, and other things.

Kaibeezy 4y ago

Dial-type tire pressure gauge (can no longer read the stick kind) and a cheap portable air compressor. Paid for themselves the first time I didn’t have to drive to the petrol station on a nearly flat tire. The long flimsy power cord and having to use it with the car running is an annoyance, might have to look at a cordless one next time.

karmakaze 4y ago

Netgear Nighthawk Wifi6 Mesh router with 2 satellites. Should have had this all along but I had incrementally added various other access points. A single system is much easier to deal with and have work consistently. A small Dual 24+18W USB charger block kept in laptop bag. It can even charge a M1 Macbook Pro while in use.

karmakaze 4y ago
Update: I got a GaN (gallium nitride) 65W 3-port USB charger (65W or 45W+18W/45W+15W) that can charge anything I've got.

nop_slide 4y ago

A Fujifilm x100v camera. As a relatively new dad this thing is so fun to use and is really a step up from phone photos for capturing the fam. I had actually bought a Fuji x-t20 first only about a month ago, but serendipitously stumbled on a x100v in store and bought it as they’re extremely difficult to buy at the moment. I also initially wanted the x100v before I learned about the supply issues. I’m prob going to sell the x-t20 as the fixed lens on the x100v is more compact. In general definitely recommend looking into a mirror less camera if you want to boost your photos. I’ve only been using them for a month and not a pro by any means, but it’s been a lot of fun and I’ve already gotten complements on some of the photos I’ve taken.

aosaigh 4y ago
I've had my eyes on one of these for a long time but haven't been able to find them in storck. I've also been thinking of a Sony A7C with their 40mm 2.5 lens as an almost-as-small alternative. Having owned a a6000 mirrorless before and numerous other DSLRs before that, I like the no-nonsense and no-decisions nature of the fixed lens on the Fuji.
- nop_slide 4y ago
  A suggestion I saw is to just place an order on B&H or Adorama even though it says back ordered. Might be worth a shot! > The X100V is so wildly popular that you won't find it "in stock," but it's easy to get your X100V. Order it at Adorama [...] or at B&H [...] and be patient for it to arrive. Most people don't realize that these come in and go out the same day to people like me who have them on order all the time, without ever showing as "in stock" because they never make it to "stock" before they get shipped to us. Order yours and be patient, or be prepared to pay about $1,700 for a used one. The X100V is this good! https://www.kenrockwell.com/fuji/x100v.htm https://www.kenrockwell.com/fuji/x100v.htm

gravitate 4y ago

https://www.amazon.com/Corsair-K100-Optical-Mechanical-Gaming-Keyboard/dp/B08HR74WV4 https://www.amazon.com/Corsair-K100-Optical-Mechanical-Gamin...

heresjohnny 4y ago

Both the best and unnecessary gadget purchase: upgrading from an iPhone 13 Pro to a 14 Pro. Oddly, I truly enjoy the design and thinking that went into what is objectively a glorified notch.

unixbotnuke 4y ago
iPhone 13 Pro -> 14 Pro via redpocket deal was <100 for the upgrade after selling my 13 Pro on craigslist. 100% worth it.

smhg 4y ago

Logitech MX Keys keyboard. It's the best keyboard I've every typed on by a large margin. In Europe, I had to order the US (qwerty) version through eBay though. As Logitech is stuck in ancient regional limitations.

dev_0 4y ago

nicbou 4y ago

2017 Macbook 12 It's absurdly small and light, which is great for backpacking or motorcycle travel. In the summer I can carry it in my backpack and not notice it's there. It's much more pleasant to pack than my 15 inch model of the same year.