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Comment by hifikuno | Hacker News Reader

Flipper Zero is one of those things that I would love to try, but I can't justify the price when I know I'll get minimal usage out of it before it just sits on the shelf.

I still love seeing what everyone does with them though.

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I'd say the Bus Pirate v5 is the more useful device for makers, unless you need the wireless.

I'd say most (if not all) of the value from the flipper comes from the various wireless sensors/readers/writers, and the fact that it's portable.

Same. I opened the purchase page multiple times already, but I always close it because I realise that I have no use for it. Everything cool that you could potentially do with it is illegal.

>Everything cool that you could potentially do with it is illegal.

How so? Think of it as a lock picking tool. Sometimes maybe you loose your keys to your bike lock or garage. Wouldn't ti be better if you had the tools to pick your own locks? That's not illegal.

> That's not illegal

Worth to specify exactly where in the world you make this claim.

In a lot of countries, carrying around tools that can be used exclusively for burglary can be illegal, and also picking locks (even your own) can be illegal unless you have a license.

As always, it depends on where you are :) Best to lookup your local laws if you're a person who like to carry lock picks around.

Just as an example: in Alberta, Canada, it is illegal to carry lock picks without a license, no matter for what purpose.

In the United States its always legal to carry lockpicks if you have no criminal intent. But there are a few states where you can be arrested and must prove your lack of criminal intent to avoid a conviction (carrying lockpicks in those states is prima facie evidence of criminal intent so the ordinary burden of proof is reversed).

I don't live in Canada.

That makes at least two of us then.

I have been been on the checkout page multiple times and just not been able to pull the trigger.

I thought so too until it saved me paying $90 for a new garage opener.

You can buy a nice rolling code receiver and pair of programmable key fob transmitters for $15.

That's only an option if you own the garage door itself, not if you're i.e. renting in an apartment building

It cost more than 90 but the bragging rights are _priceless_.

Sounds like they already had one, so they saved $90 by not having to buy another garage door opener by using something they already had.

You could buy a USB SDR device and get most of the same functionality but without the convenient form factor.

My Apple Vision Pro has literally gathered dust.

Why didn’t you return it, if you weren’t using it?

Probably passed the 14 day return window in the hopes a killer app will come out any day now.

Not sure how that relates to anything else, but sell it then?

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