What has brought you joy?
Companion to the last question :)
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Another one for the Steamdeck pile. Honorary mention to the SNES mini I got my hands on years before that, which is what got me back into gaming.
A PCPanel Mini.
It was one of those things that went from no idea anything like it existed to solving a problem I’d been dealing with since I got a computer.
I believe they’re out of stock forever now and the company had some issues with support and refunds, but I got mine, it works, it’s great, and I’ll use it for as long as I can!
Are you talking about one of these things?
Yep
Recently, I’d say it’s the new¹ desktop/monitor I got. Needed a monitor upgraded and new HDMI ti make it all work. I was a little bummed about the monitor upgrade since the old TV I was using works perfectly fine, but the new monitor at least takes up less bulk and weighs less, so I’m not as worried about a collapsing desk.
Definitely an upgrade from the ~$400USD budget computer I got around 2021. Don’t remember what graphics card, but as a software guy and not a hardware guy, I see 2021 release year and the ability to run Yooka-Laylee without lag and I am happy.
Don’t have access to it right now, so I cannot say anything more specs wise. Either way, I like it well enough.
¹ new as in from a pawn shop. Got lucky.
steamdeck and the skin and cover I bought. ironically the official dock is one of the worst.
The dock could be good if it was wider. I don’t know anyone rawdogging they’re deck. It’s like assuming your average smart phone has no case
I had issues with both the power and hdmi but unfortunately it was so intermittent by the time I realized it, it was to late to return. When i looked it up many others seemed to have similar issues so you might have been lucky or maybe they fixed whatever it was at some point. Its kinda funny because its such a simple thing. If I had to do over I would have bought third party on the dock.
what’s the skin and cover brand/model that I put bought?
Laying on my back on my sofa playing Clair Obscure at 720p, while my overpowered gaming pc with giant screens is just over there.
I don’t even bother trying to stream games or use the dock on my TV, I just like holding a little rectangle in front of my face.
Number 2 is an electric vehicle.
Number 1 is a non-smart TV
Honorable mention; The Apple Watch SE 2 I bought for my wife so she stops thinking she’s going tachy or having a heart attack 9 times a year. Considering the cost of an average ER trip, and the hit to my sanity when these things only happen at like 3 AM, I’ll gladly upgrade her to the pro version or whatever when the SE kicks the bucket.
I’m in the market for a new TV, what would you recommend for a dumb screen?
I got an Insignia from BestBuy a few years ago. There was a smart version that was 2 inches bigger for 25 dollars less, and I opted out of that. To say the salesman was floored by this decision would be accurate.
an ereader (a decent, 3rd party software compatible one, not amazons ewaste)
I recently went on a trip to Italy and my e-reader was the unexpected MVP of that trip. Any downtime at the hotel or on the plane instead of staring at a tiny screen I was reading books and felt refreshed instead of drained afterwards, and it took up less space than if I brought just a single book with me. I also didn’t need to charge it once on the entire 10 day trip because eink is so freaking amazing
My favorite tech buy is a good 3D printer.
The ability to imagine something, model it in 3D, and then send it to a box and have it “magically” become real via 3D printing will never not amaze me or stop being cool.
Plenty of other useful tech toys like a jellyfin PC or a 3D scanner, but the printer is the thing I enjoy the most.
Which printer did you buy?
X1C. The new version looks even better. Pretty happy with the XIC’s performance, though. Way better than my old Lulzbot.
My Nintendo 3DS. I don’t use it often or regularly but when I do I’m glad I have it.
I love the 3ds. It had such fun & interesting features.
my lg g2, best phone i had. still using it as a daily driver after more than a decade
recently a used panasonic cf-rz6, extremely lightweight/tiny machine and runs linux perfectly
Had the Nexus 5 version and loved it.
I loved my lg g2, but a tiny scratch ruined the touchscreen sensor after a couple of years. My literal “perfect phone” would be the lg g2 form factor with a newer SoC and GrapheneOS on it.
yeah, sadly the issue is coming to mine as well since about 2022. right now the dead zone is in the upper area above the keyboard and below status bar, so it remains usable… but if it kills the keyboard, i’ll have to switch :(
g2 with modern specs would be wonderful
PRK eye surgery. Does this count!
A portable power supply.
Enjoy the looks of envy when the people fighting over an outlet notice you’re plugged into your tiny, little power supply.
How big of a power supply are we talking?
I love my modular synthesizer, although the cost of it is not good value for money so probably can’t count as my best tech purchase.
My sim racing rig has the same issue, it’s bought me thousands of hours of joy but is prohibitively expensive.
My ergodox mechanical keyboard is a solid contender. The original model, Hand built, cherry MX clears. It’s lasted easily 10 years and I hate typing on anything else.
But I think it’s probably my headphones. Beyerdynamics DT770 pro’s. They sound great, they’re super comfy, and not terribly expensive. I’ve had them for probably 10 years and I see no reason I won’t have them till the day I die
I bought a Lily58 DIY kit a couple years ago. I don’t think I could ever go back to using a full keyboard. It’s just so comfortable. My shoulders aren’t tense anymore. My hands aren’t bent out anymore. I’m not scrunched up like a ball when I type. Then switching layouts to Colemak-DH was another plus. The two things combined really helped my body relax in front of a PC.
Steam Deck OLED has been pretty great. Also the HTC Vive VR headset, back in 2016.
I also bought the Vive back in `16. Can’t believe that was 10 years ago! I moved two years ago though and never set it back up. I figured at the time that Valve would have a new headset that didn’t require base stations soon. Finally coming this year, so if someone wants to buy an OG Vive…
My Fairphone 5, because it has allowed me to break free from Google and other big tech companies by letting me install whatever I want on it.
And my good old Thinkpad.
Nice i have a fairphone 4. Such good phones!
Yup I just got the FP6 and I am really happy with it.
i’m so annoyed cus i have one but aus put a law making sims not work on it anymore :<
