157 lines
5.7 KiB
Markdown
157 lines
5.7 KiB
Markdown
|
tazjin's best tools
|
||
|
|
===================
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
In the spirit of various other "Which X do you use?"-pages I thought it would be
|
||
|
|
fun to have a little document here that describes which tools I've found to work
|
||
|
|
well for myself.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
When I say "tools" here, it's not about software - it's about real, physical
|
||
|
|
tools!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
If something goes on this list that's because I think it's seriously a
|
||
|
|
best-in-class type of product.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<!-- markdown-toc start - Don't edit this section. Run M-x markdown-toc-refresh-toc -->
|
||
|
|
- [Media & Tech](#media--tech)
|
||
|
|
- [Keyboard](#keyboard)
|
||
|
|
- [Speakers](#speakers)
|
||
|
|
- [Headphones](#headphones)
|
||
|
|
- [Earphones](#earphones)
|
||
|
|
- [Phone](#phone)
|
||
|
|
- [Other stuff](#other-stuff)
|
||
|
|
- [Toothbrush](#toothbrush)
|
||
|
|
- [Shavers](#shavers)
|
||
|
|
- [Shoulder bag](#shoulder-bag)
|
||
|
|
- [Wallet](#wallet)
|
||
|
|
<!-- markdown-toc end -->
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
---------
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
# Media & Tech
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
## Keyboard
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The best keyboard that money will buy you at the moment is the [Kinesis
|
||
|
|
Advantage][]. There's a variety of contoured & similarly shaped keyboards on the
|
||
|
|
market, but the Kinesis is the only one I've tried that has properly implemented
|
||
|
|
the keywell concept.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I struggle with RSI issues and the Kinesis actually makes it possible for me to
|
||
|
|
type for longer periods of time, which always leads to extra discomfort on
|
||
|
|
laptop keyboards and such.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Honestly, the Kinesis is probably the best piece of equipment on this entire
|
||
|
|
list. I own several of them and there will probably be more in the future. They
|
||
|
|
last forever and your wrists will thank you in the future, even if you do not
|
||
|
|
suffer from RSI yet.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[advantage]: https://kinesis-ergo.com/shop/advantage2/
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
## Speakers
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The speakers that I've hooked up to my audio setup (including both record player
|
||
|
|
& Chromecast / TV) are the [Teufel Motiv 2][motiv-2]. I've had these for over a
|
||
|
|
decade and they're incredibly good, but unfortunately Teufel no longer makes
|
||
|
|
them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It's possible to grab a pair on eBay occasionally, so keep an eye out if you're
|
||
|
|
interested!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[motiv-2]: https://www.teufelaudio.com/uk/pc/motiv-2-p167.html
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
## Headphones
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I use the [Bose QC35][qc35] (note: link goes to a newer generation than the one
|
||
|
|
I own) for their outstanding noise cancelling functionality and decent sound.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
When I first bought them I didn't expect them to end up on this list as the
|
||
|
|
firmware had issues that made them only barely usable, but Bose has managed to
|
||
|
|
iron these problems out over time.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I avoid using Bluetooth when outside and fortunately the QC35 come with an
|
||
|
|
optional cable that you can plug into any good old 3.5mm jack.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[qc35]: https://www.bose.co.uk/en_gb/products/headphones/over_ear_headphones/quietcomfort-35-wireless-ii.html
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
### Earphones
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Actually, to follow up on the above - most of the time I'm not using (over-ear)
|
||
|
|
headphones, but (in-ear) earphones - specifically the (**wired!!!**) [Apple
|
||
|
|
EarPods][].
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Apple will probably stop selling these soon because they've gotten into the
|
||
|
|
habit of cancelling all of their good products, so I have a stash of these
|
||
|
|
around. You will usually find no fewer than 3-4 of them lying around in my
|
||
|
|
flat.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[earpods]: https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/MNHF2ZM/A/earpods-with-35mm-headphone-plug
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
## Phone
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The best phone that's on the market at the moment is the [iPhone SE][se]. It's
|
||
|
|
as far as I am aware the *only* phone that has a reasonable size (up to 4")
|
||
|
|
*and* a 3.5mm headphone jack.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
These two are the make-it-or-break-it requirements for me. Despite iOS being an
|
||
|
|
annoying system to use there is nothing better available at the moment.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This is the only item on this list for which I am actively seeking a
|
||
|
|
replacement, so if you have any tips about new phones that might fit these
|
||
|
|
criteria that I've missed please let me know.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[se]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone_SE
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
# Other stuff
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
## Toothbrush
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The [Philips Sonicare][sonicare] (note: link goes to a newer generation than
|
||
|
|
mine) is excellent and well worth its money.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I've had it for a few years and whereas I occasionally had minor teeth issues
|
||
|
|
before, they seem to be mostly gone now. According to my dentist the state of my
|
||
|
|
teeth is now usually pretty good and I draw a direct correlation back to this
|
||
|
|
thing.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The newer generations come with flashy features like apps and probably more
|
||
|
|
LEDs, but I suspect that those can just be ignored.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[sonicare]: https://www.philips.co.uk/c-m-pe/electric-toothbrushes
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
## Shavers
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The [Philipps SensoTouch 3D][] is excellent. Super-comfortable close face shave
|
||
|
|
in no time and leaves absolutely no mess around, as far as I can tell! I've had
|
||
|
|
this for ~5 years and it's not showing any signs of aging yet.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Another bonus is that its battery time is effectively infinite. I've never had
|
||
|
|
to worry when bringing it on a longer trip!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[sensotouch]: https://www.philips.co.uk/c-p/1250X_40/norelco-sensotouch-3d-wet-and-dry-electric-razor-with-precision-trimmer
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
## Shoulder bag
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
When I moved to London I wanted to stop using backpacks most of the time, as
|
||
|
|
those are just annoying to deal with when commuting on the tube.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
To work around this I wanted a good shoulder bag with a vertical format (to save
|
||
|
|
space), but it turned out that there's very few of those around that reach any
|
||
|
|
kind of quality standard.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The one I settled on is the [Waterfield Muzetto][] leather bag. It's one of
|
||
|
|
those things that comes with a bit of a price tag attached, but it's well worth
|
||
|
|
it!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[muzetto]: https://www.sfbags.com/collections/shoulder-messenger-bags/products/muzetto-leather-bag
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
## Wallet
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
My wallet is the [Bellroy Slim Sleeve][slim-sleeve]. I don't carry cash unless
|
||
|
|
I'm attending an event in Germany and this wallet fits that lifestyle perfectly.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It's near indestructible, looks great, is very slim and fits a ton of cards,
|
||
|
|
business cards, receipts and whatever else you want to be lugging around with
|
||
|
|
you!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[slim-sleeve]: https://bellroy.com/products/slim-sleeve-wallet/default/charcoal
|