MacBook Charger

The MacBook charger qualifies as both good and bad design, as some elements place it in one category, others in another. I usually tend to explain it as a great design with serious flaws.

The Good: MagSafe

Unlike most laptop charging cables, the MacBook cable attaches solely by magnet. If for some reason the cable is yanked (or tripped over, or gets caught on something...), it quickly detaches to prevent the computer from tumbling to the floor. I have been saved by this feature countless times and the MagSafe adaptor is one of the features of my computer that I appreciate most.

The Bad:

This charger also qualifies as a bad design due to it's stunning lack of durability. My first charger came with my computer and looked like this:

As can be seen in this photo, the plastic sheathing tended to detach from the connector and leave wire exposed. This was a very common problem, leading to a class-action lawsuit and eventually a redesigned charger. After mine became unusable, I bought the new design, which looked like this:

This eliminated a lot of the stress on the connector, but caused a whole new slew of problems. First, the connectors on a MacBook look like this:

The port on the left is where the charger cable attaches. When the cable is attached in one direction, it blocks the Ethernet and mini-DVI ports. When attached in the other direction, it tends to bend close to the connector, and the plastic sheathing begins to split. In my experience, these chargers (both the old and new design) have a lifespan of about two years before they need to be replaced.

Wegmans Reusable Shopping Bags

When Wegmans' asked their customers what features they would like to see in reusable bags, the responses nearly perfectly matched what I look for in a reusable bag.

• Waterproof material that can be cleaned with a sponge
• Sturdy straps
• Flat bottom to prevent tipping, increase capacity

Wegmans' bags are some of my favorites. They are not an inconvenience I am willing to deal with for the sake of the environment- I actually enjoy using them more than plastic bags because they meet my needs better than plastic bags ever could.

Bloxes

Bloxes are building blocks meant for adults, and were designed with adults in mind. Their large size makes them great for building life-size structures. They are incredibly versatile, and can even be used to build arches and other free-standing structures. Many different tech companies (Google, Mozilla, twitter) keep bloxes on hand for employees to play with as a creative outlet.

Thermos Intak Water Bottle

After quite literally years of trying to find a well designed water bottle, I finally was introduced to the Thermos Intak. I hate buying bottled water and like to have a drink with me in class, so I tried at least six different water bottles from freshman to junior year. All of them were terrible- they leaked water everywhere. The worst offender was the Rubbermaid Chug bottle, which once popped open in my backpack and drowned my TI-89. Either the mechanism holding the bottle shut was too weak, or the seal between the bottle and the cap was inadequate in every water bottle I tried. The Intak does not suffer from either of those problems.

A rubber gasket insures that the fit between the bottle and the lid is tight. A rubber stopper ensures that no water can leak from the mouthpiece, and the clear plastic lid is solidly held down by two different mechanisms to ensure that it doesn't open by accident. I can throw this bottle in my backpack with my laptop and papers without worrying about leaks.

It is also high capacity while maintaining a reasonable size, as well as easy to grip.

Microsoft Zune Device Interface

The video above demonstrates everything that I love about the Zune firmware.

The first thing that I love is the "twist" interface. It eliminates the need for excessive menu drill-down. For instance, to switch from an artists menu to a genre or album menu, it is necessary to go "back" and select the desired sort method. On the Zune, you just swipe across the screen. The metaphor expands from "backwards and forwards" to "up, down, left, right," presenting new possibilities for how options and information can be displayed.

The very best part of the Zune interface though, is the use of text. For instance, at 0:14 in the video above, faint text can be seen underneath the album artwork and song title. This is a list of upcoming songs. Tapping this list causes it to display full-screen, where a song can be selected. The text above the album artwork is interactive as well. Tapping the artist name brings up that artists profile: albums in your collection by that artist, a list of albums available for purchase, pictures, a biography, even a list of similar artists, all in a "twist" menu.

The home screen has two faces, a typical list of media categories (music, movies, podcasts, apps) and the quickplay menu (now playing, recently played, recently added, and "pins" or any items that are frequently used).

Swingline Compact Stand-up Stapler

Although I own this stapler in a somewhat more subdued black and grey, it is a joy to use. I believe it is well-designed because

• It can stand on one end to reduce the amount of space it takes up on your desk.
• It is solidly built, heavy enough to feel substantial and sturdy enough to get through more sheets of paper than it would appear capable of.
• A gauge on the back of the stapler indicates roughly how many staples are left so it is easy to see that it is getting low.
• The rubber, ergonomic grip on the bottom makes one-handed stapling easy.

L.L. Bean Personal Organizer

This is my single favorite piece of luggage.

I am allergic to nearly all soaps and shampoos, so all of my toiletries have to come with me whenever I travel. Most toiletries bags aren't large enough for this, and are little more than a rectangular soft case. Until I found this bag, Ziplok bags were the best solution that I had found, as they were large and their transparency made it easy to locate items. This bag, however, if perfect. It is large enough to hold everything that I need and has enough pockets and pouches to keep everything organized. Large bottles each have a compartment in the main body of the bag, while small things like makeup and spare contacts can be placed in smaller pockets. The bag folds up flat enough to be placed in a suitcase. Another great feature of this bag is the hanging hook. When the bag is opened, a hook swings out and can be used to hang the bag in the hotel bathroom or another convenient location to keep everything at hand and countertops clear.