# Products you had low expectations for but then fell in love with **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 27, 2021, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-had-low-expectations-for-but-then-fell-in-love-with/943007 "2021-05-27T04:19:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-had-low-expectations-for-but-then-fell-in-love-with/943007/123 "2021-06-05T04:25:46Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > internetz What is “internetz”? I’ve always heard it as “internets”! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-had-low-expectations-for-but-then-fell-in-love-with/943007/124 "2021-06-05T13:43:32Z")
I thought it was the “interwebz.” ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-had-low-expectations-for-but-then-fell-in-love-with/943007/125 "2021-06-05T14:47:14Z")
Haz anyone actually seen **Ponch8**? Are we sure he’s not a cat? ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-had-low-expectations-for-but-then-fell-in-love-with/943007/126 "2021-06-05T16:24:11Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Auto-correct, how so? “kookies” isn’t a word, either. That’s right. Kooky is a person. Lend him your comb. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-had-low-expectations-for-but-then-fell-in-love-with/943007/127 "2021-06-05T16:44:26Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > Haz anyone actually seen **Ponch8**? Are we sure he’s not a cat? I have! Not a cat. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-had-low-expectations-for-but-then-fell-in-love-with/943007/128 "2021-06-05T21:08:44Z")
Don’t look up kooz at work. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-had-low-expectations-for-but-then-fell-in-love-with/943007/129 "2021-06-05T22:37:50Z")
🤦‍♂️ typo ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2021, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-had-low-expectations-for-but-then-fell-in-love-with/943007/131 "2021-06-14T14:34:46Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > Haz anyone actually seen **Ponch8**? Are we sure he’s not a cat? No, that’s just a Zoom filter. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-had-low-expectations-for-but-then-fell-in-love-with/943007/132 "2021-06-16T04:06:26Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > What is “internetz”? I’ve always heard it as “internets”! Isn’t it “Webtubes”? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-had-low-expectations-for-but-then-fell-in-love-with/943007/133 "2021-06-16T04:08:36Z")
I bought a pair of cheap $16 external speakers for my laptop. It’s fantastic. Finally I can blast music loudly without needing to worry about damaging the internal electronics of my thin Asus Vivobook. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-had-low-expectations-for-but-then-fell-in-love-with/943007/134 "2021-06-17T04:39:48Z")
Time Timer. It’s an adorable little plastic timer that visually represents time with a colored pie slice clock face that gets smaller as your time runs out. Incredibly simple design. $20 on Amazon. I got it out of desperation trying to work on my ADHD issues. Wasn’t sure what to expect. I’m in love with it. Something about that visual passage of time, which you can see at a glance, really helps keep me focused. My kitchen is now cleaned every day in 15 minute increments. I bought one for work. If I’m getting distracted I just set it for 25 minutes and go (you can turn off the alarm so as not to disturb others.) My husband bought one for his job too. Now we have three! On the subject of knives, my Wusthof forged steel knife collection. At this point I have several and I’m extremely protective of them. $125 for a knife? With a lifetime warranty it’s a sound investment. I think the one that most surprised me in its utility is the tomato knife. I use it to cut tomatoes and other soft fruits all the time. I’m saving for the full set of steak knives. And a cheese knife. I may have an addiction. Ditto car seat warmer, and remote car starter. Never had those until I bought my Honda CRV in 2019 and it came with all the stuff. Makes winter suck slightly less. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Isn’t it “Webtubes”? The interwebs. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-had-low-expectations-for-but-then-fell-in-love-with/943007/135 "2021-06-17T14:03:40Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > … If I’m getting distracted I just set it for 25 minutes and go … Can you expand that a bit for us dummies? Do you use the timer to take only a 25 minute break? Does setting the timer calm your distractions and let you focus for 25 minutes knowing there’s a break coming at a time certain? I ask because I’m adding a ADHD person to my close social set and trying to learn what’s going on in there and their often paradoxical reactions to stuff versus normies’ reactions. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-had-low-expectations-for-but-then-fell-in-love-with/943007/136 "2021-06-17T14:12:31Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > The interwebs. That’s what I said. > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I thought it was the “interwebz.” * * * > [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > visually represents time with a colored pie slice clock face This is why I prefer analog clock faces to digital. The visual cue of the pie wedge of time is more meaningful to me than (after doing some math in my head) “10 minutes” until \. Here’s the amazon link to Time Timer. I love it, too! > **[Amazon.com: Time Timer Visual Timer : Home & Kitchen](https://www.amazon.com/Time-Timer-Visual/dp/B08SKVMGCK)** > > Buy Time Timer Visual Timer: Timers - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-had-low-expectations-for-but-then-fell-in-love-with/943007/137 "2021-06-17T14:47:54Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Do you use the timer to take only a 25 minute break? Does setting the timer calm your distractions and let you focus for 25 minutes knowing there’s a break coming at a time certain? It’s going to be different for every person, but where I really struggle is switching tasks, particularly if it’s switching from the internet to something productive. I just arrived at work, I set the break timer for 10 minutes. That gives me some time to ease into work. Then I will set it for 25 minutes and work. Then another short break. And so on. I guess it’s like… managing expectations? When I glance at the timer I see how much time I have left, and it gives my brain a chance to prepare/wind down/whatever. It may also shape what I choose to do with my remaining time… I’m not jumping into Great Debates with four minutes on the clock. Likewise, when I’m doing work, it shows me that the time I have to devote is finite and I don’t have to do the task forever. Eventually I’d like to work up to 90 minute work sessions because that’s what it takes to maintain maximum focus for deep work (there’s a great book about this called Deep Work.) ADHDers have a little trick up our sleeves called hyperfocus. If we can tap into that during work time, nothing will disturb us. The Time Timer only goes to 60 minutes though. I have the more compact version. > **[Time Timer® MOD - Home Edition](https://www.timetimer.com/products/time-timer-mod-home-edition)** > > The Time Timer MOD® - Home Edition can bring comfort, confidence, and relaxation to your life. This exclusive collection of visual timers comes in limited edition colors. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-had-low-expectations-for-but-then-fell-in-love-with/943007/138 "2021-06-17T14:51:15Z")
Thank you. Makes sense. As to being stuck w a 60 minute limitation, good bet there’s an app for that which can both time longer intervals and have an analog clock face, not just the ominous numbers counting down to 00:00:00 = **Ka-Blooey!!** ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-had-low-expectations-for-but-then-fell-in-love-with/943007/139 "2021-06-17T16:39:54Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > On the subject of knives, my Wusthof forged steel knife collection. At this point I have several and I’m extremely protective of them. $125 for a knife? With a lifetime warranty it’s a sound investment. I think the one that most surprised me in its utility is the tomato knife. I have the chef and santoku Wustof knives. But the one I love? The 7" paring knife. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-had-low-expectations-for-but-then-fell-in-love-with/943007/140 "2021-06-17T16:45:05Z")
I use the paring knife all the time, too (miner’s smaller though.) I remember when I started researching this I was thinking, “what do I need all these different knives for?” But they really are all useful in their own way. In order of most to least used I’ve got: Chef knife Paring knife Tomato knife Santoku Carving knife Pastry knife (great for cutting bread.) Never could really figure out how to use the Santoku. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2021, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-had-low-expectations-for-but-then-fell-in-love-with/943007/141 "2021-06-20T00:02:52Z")
SharkBite plumbing fittings. I didn’t really expect them to be as easy as they are to use or to work as well as they do. Every one I’ve used has worked flawlessly and never leaked. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2021, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-had-low-expectations-for-but-then-fell-in-love-with/943007/142 "2021-06-20T00:24:20Z")
Oh, yeah! SharkBite is the Bomb! ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2021, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-had-low-expectations-for-but-then-fell-in-love-with/943007/143 "2021-06-20T22:17:31Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > On the subject of knives, my Wusthof forged steel knife collection. At this point I have several and I’m extremely protective of them. $125 for a knife? With a lifetime warranty it’s a sound investment. I think the one that most surprised me in its utility is the tomato knife. I use it to cut tomatoes and other soft fruits all the time. I’m saving for the full set of steak knives. And a cheese knife. I may have an addiction. You sold me! I just got one. I do slice tomatoes quite a bit, and it’s always a pain. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-had-low-expectations-for-but-then-fell-in-love-with/943007.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-you-had-low-expectations-for-but-then-fell-in-love-with/943007.md?page=8)