Objects So

Five Products We Changed Our Minds On

2024-03-20T00:00:00Z

We review a lot of products. Sometimes our initial take misses the mark. Here are five products we dismissed too quickly—and what made us reconsider.

1. AirPods Max

Initial take: "No one needs $550 headphones."

Now: The computational audio, build quality, and seamless device switching have made these our daily drivers. The price still stings, but the experience is genuinely better than anything else we've tried.

2. Standing Desk Converters

Initial take: "Just get a real standing desk."

Now: Not everyone can replace their entire desk. The Fully Cora converter sits on any surface and adjusts smoothly. It's a legitimate solution for renters and office workers.

3. Expensive Coffee Grinders

Initial take: "Coffee is coffee."

Now: The Fellow Ode changed everything. Consistent grind size means consistent extraction means actually good pour-over at home. The $300 price paid for itself in skipped coffee shop visits within months.

4. E-Ink Tablets

Initial take: "Just use an iPad."

Now: The reMarkable 2 does one thing—writing—and does it perfectly. The paper-like feel and zero distractions make it better for notes and thinking than any LCD screen.

5. Mechanical Keyboards

Initial take: "Sounds like a gimmick for gamers."

Now: The typing experience is meaningfully better. Not just the sound and feel, but the reduced fatigue over long writing sessions. We were wrong to dismiss this one.

The lesson: give products time. First impressions matter, but they're not everything. Some of our favorite gear took weeks to appreciate.

Why Good Design Costs More (And Why It's Worth It)

2024-03-05T00:00:00Z

"Why would anyone pay $500 for a chair when you can get one for $50?"

It's a fair question. And the answer isn't just "because it looks better." The real value of well-designed products often lies in what you can't see.

Materials Matter

That $50 chair uses particle board, plastic casters, and foam that compresses in six months. The $500 chair uses die-cast aluminum, reinforced nylon, and foam engineered to maintain its shape for a decade.

The cost of materials alone doesn't explain the price difference—but it's a significant factor.

Engineering Takes Time

Good design is really good problem-solving. The Dyson vacuum didn't just look different; it solved the problem of clogged filters. The iPhone didn't just have a touchscreen; it reimagined what a phone could be.

This kind of thinking takes years of iteration, testing, and refinement. That R&D cost gets distributed across every unit sold.

Longevity Is Value

Here's the math most people skip:

$50 chair lasting 2 years = $25/year
$500 chair lasting 15 years = $33/year

The price difference is $8 per year. But the experience difference is immeasurable. No squeaking, no discomfort, no replacement hassle.

The Intangibles

There's also something to be said for the feeling of using well-made things. The solid click of a quality keyboard. The smooth glide of a precision mouse. The silence of a well-engineered fan.

These details don't show up on spec sheets, but they compound into daily satisfaction.

When It's Not Worth It

Not everything deserves the premium treatment. Cables, adapters, basic tools—these often perform identically regardless of brand. The key is knowing where quality matters and where it doesn't.

For things you touch every day, see every day, or rely on for your work: invest. For everything else: save.

The Desk Setup Essentials We Actually Use

2024-02-10T00:00:00Z

After years of testing gear and watching countless desk setup videos, we've settled on a core set of products that genuinely improve how we work. No RGB lighting, no unnecessary gadgets—just tools that do their job exceptionally well.

The Monitor

The Apple Studio Display remains our top pick. Yes, it's expensive. But the 5K resolution, excellent color accuracy, and built-in camera make it worth every dollar for anyone doing creative work. The nano-texture option is genuinely useful if your desk faces a window.

Keyboard & Mouse

We've tried them all—mechanical keyboards, ergonomic splits, vintage IBM Model Ms. Our current setup: the Keychron Q1 Pro for typing and an Apple Magic Trackpad for navigation. The combination of satisfying tactile feedback and gesture controls hits a sweet spot.

The Chair

The Herman Miller Aeron isn't a revelation at this point, but it's earned its reputation. Twelve-year warranty, fully adjustable, and it looks as good on year five as it did on day one. The remastered version with PostureFit SL is the one to get.

Lighting

Forget ring lights. A simple BenQ ScreenBar mounted on your monitor provides even, glare-free lighting without taking up desk space. It's one of those products that seems unnecessary until you use it.

What We Skipped

Monitor arms (the stock stands are fine)
Desk mats (they just collect dust)
Cable management boxes (embrace the chaos)

The best desk setup is the one you stop thinking about. These products let us do exactly that.

Welcome to Objects

2024-01-15T00:00:00Z

We're launching something new: a carefully curated collection of the best-designed products we've discovered.

What We Do

We spend our time finding products that meet a simple but demanding criteria: they must be well-designed, well-made, and genuinely useful. No filler, no sponsored posts, just things we'd actually want to own.

How It Works

Every product on this site has been researched and selected by our team. We look at:

Design quality — Does it look and feel considered?
Build quality — Will it last?
Functionality — Does it actually solve a problem?
Value — Is it worth the price?

Stay Updated

Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly roundups of the best new finds. We promise to only send the good stuff.