I need this at the office | Hacker News Reader

I need this at the office

nikf.org

137 pointssinzone25 comments

Simple solution to a common problem, using everyday objects, which anyone can implement. Love it.

I've been using velcro and double-sided tape, but I think this method is even better.

looks expensive, you will have to put in procurement request with approval from three levels of management accompanied with a two paragraph justification of need. This will get processed in four weeks.

Ask accounts to print out a copy of last month's statements so you can 'double check the billings'. It will waste a couple of reams but you'll get your clips by Monday.

I'm having a Saturday morning-induced brainfreeze. What is this "common object" called, so I can go to Staples and get it right now?

A binder clip: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binder_clip

Alligator clips are also the best inexpensive way to mount flyers and paper art. Just use two alligator clips on the top, and thread a string, and hang the string from a tack or pin. Other solutions (like little tape squares, and the blue or white putty) can leave marks on the work. This solution assumes that you can make tiny holes in the wall.

Been using this solution for quite some time. Works great. Found it on lifehacker.com. Using plastic rain gutter as a wire trough is another good one.

I got some of these [1]. They look nice and can be stuck anywhere, not just the edge. The price seems a little high until you start using them and realize they are worth every penny. You can also find them a bit cheaper if you look around.

1. http://www.bluelounge.com/cabledrop.php

I also use those binder-clip things to hold plastic bags (ie: like on snacks, etc.) closed after you've opened them.

Not elegant, but better than nothing. This is why I usually only buy laptops with docking stations; much easier.

Usually buy the ones with an awesome OS. Those don't come with docks. ;)

What? Thinkpads come with docks.

This is the only bad thing I can say about my MBP. :(

Anyone knows what is the first connector on the left ?

It's an Apple Magsafe connector.

That's worth 13 votes?!

I've taken to my mess of cables with a Dyno label maker. Each power brick tells me what it powers, and each usb cable tells me what it connects to (camera, printer etc. saves unplugging the wrong thing)

Karma on HN is meaningless. Don't think otherwise.

That is just awesome.

My most confortable furniture hack is a monitor stand, cloned from one the local IKEA had on exhibit. Made by screwing 11cm Capita legs onto an Effektiv file frame front 80cm wide. Looks like this: http://imgur.com/rlxEK.jpg

It's also large enough for a monitor base on one side and a laptop on the other.

I think that is just building something from parts. A hack implies something ultra rigged and ugly looking.

I was taking it in the "not the intended use" sense, like the posted clips. And I 'll disagree that a good hack must look ugly ... for example, yesterday's beautiful Turing machine is a hack in my book.

The stand's not my idea, anyway. Posted because of the title, someone else might like it. I'm alright ;-)

As long as I'm "selling" IKEA stuff (I wish, I just give them money ;-): in their kitchen area, there's a Dralla "cutting board". This is a pleasant piece of flexible matte plastic, a couple of millimeters thick, about the size of two sheets of paper, with rounded corners; I've seen it in dark-gray, blue and red.

I use the Dralla as a writing pad, on the desk; some people seem to like it as a giant mouse-pad. (Not in the photo, the red thing is a thicker, smaller, unused mouse-pad.)

i've always constructed monitor stands from phone books, but sometime in the near future, there won't be huge stacks of them for free at the supermarket

Funny, I've used that exact technique before. This leaves space underneath to shove the keyboard away and have a go at the pencil and paper ...

Reply on news.ycombinator.com