# Things that scream quality
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-scream-quality/232650
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [March 5, 2004, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-scream-quality/232650 "2004-03-05T04:25:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2004, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-scream-quality/232650/1 "2004-03-05T04:25:06Z")
There are some material things that just scream quality because they are designed so well. Things that you are proud to own, regardless of the price.
Some examples:
1. Apple iPod - in fact, most of Apple’s whole product line
2. Canon Powershot cameras (the small ones in particular, like the S200/S400) - gorgeous looking, tiny, good photos, great design.
3. Palm V series - metal case and black leather cover and so, so tiny. A bit old now, but still lovely.
What do you own and love? Or even just lust after with all your heart? And why?
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### Author:  [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2004, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-scream-quality/232650/2 "2004-03-05T04:39:01Z")
Two Land Rovers.
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### Author:  [@rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rose)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2004, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-scream-quality/232650/3 "2004-03-05T04:40:24Z")
The things I love are the ones that aren’t technological at all… older things scream quality to me. (But I guess if you’re going after a computer or something that should be up-to-date, it’s a different story.)
Lately I have a thing for vintage brooches and earrings; gorgeous pieces that some old lady wore once upon a time.
And you mentioned a tiny, sleek camera… but I would love to own a clunky, old-fashioned, huge-lens camera from back before I was born.
Hope this fits the OP… maybe you were going for things that are more well-designed than sentimental?
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### Author:  [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2004, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-scream-quality/232650/4 "2004-03-05T04:41:44Z")
[this](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0000A98DS.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg)
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### Author:  [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2004, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-scream-quality/232650/5 "2004-03-05T04:56:20Z")
[and this](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000068QGF.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg)
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### Author:  [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2004, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-scream-quality/232650/6 "2004-03-05T05:20:53Z")
> [@rose](#):
>
> And you mentioned a tiny, sleek camera… but I would love to own a clunky, old-fashioned, huge-lens camera from back before I was born.
Ha, that’s funny. My _other_ camera that I bought last year is a Canon A-1 manual SLR that weighs about a pound. It came out when I was 3. And I’m so in love with it that I can’t believe I forgot to mention it in the OP.
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### Author:  [@LtningBug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LtningBug)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2004, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-scream-quality/232650/7 "2004-03-05T05:46:53Z")
Odd as it may seem, Subaru WRX cars. It could be that my current car is a Subaru with 189,000 miles on it, and it still runs great.
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### Author:  [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2004, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-scream-quality/232650/8 "2004-03-05T05:54:23Z")
Nokia cell phones. They seem to last longer than any other brand I’ve owned, and they’ve all had a fantastic user interface.
Similar to the Canon Powershot above, I’m very impressed by my Pentax Optio S4.
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### Author:  [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2004, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-scream-quality/232650/9 "2004-03-05T05:59:52Z")
Gibson Les Paul Custom and Fender Stratocaster guitars. Old ones, made of old-growth maple.
Steinway grand pianos.
Neumann microphones.
Marshall amplifiers.
McIntosh stereo components.
Jaguars. Lamborghinis. Cars that don’t require advertising because of their unmatched reputations.
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### Author:  [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2004, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-scream-quality/232650/10 "2004-03-05T06:04:12Z")
Crap, hit submit too earlier.
Similar to the Canon Powershot above, I’m very impressed by my [Pentax Optio S4](http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/optios4.html). It has a tiny credit card-sized steel body marked with tiny concentric score lines in the metal. The lense retracts by collapsing into the camera chassis and then folding _upwards_.
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### Author:  [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2004, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-scream-quality/232650/11 "2004-03-05T06:14:53Z")
Belgian and Swiss chocolate 😉
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### Author:  [@bookbuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bookbuster)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2004, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-scream-quality/232650/12 "2004-03-05T06:33:41Z")
If someone handed me $650 I would be broke in thirty seconds.
[linkage](http://store.yahoo.com/freq10tech/80aravmupl.html)
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### Author:  [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2004, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-scream-quality/232650/13 "2004-03-05T07:07:19Z")
Nissan Maxima!
(Best car I ever had ten times over.)
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### Author:  [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2004, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-scream-quality/232650/14 "2004-03-05T07:17:37Z")
Hmm…lessee…
Hewlett-Packard calculators.
Flashlights from [Arc](http://store.yahoo.com/flashlight/), [Elektrolumens](http://www.elektrolumens.com), and [TnC](http://tnccustomproducts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=TnC&Category_Code=5F).
[Linn](http://www.linn.co.uk) hi-fi equipment.
Old Volvos.
[All-Clad](http://www.allclad.com) and [Le Creuset](http://www.lecreuset.com/new/home.php) cookware.
Sabatier Au Carbone knives.
Pliers made by the Diamond Tool & Horseshoe Company, plus any number of antique tools.
Furniture made by [Moosehead](http://www.mooseheadfurniture.com/) (the same could be said for any number of small manufacturers).
[Ittala](http://www.ittala.com/designor/web/iittalawww.nsf/pages/C0A7734D76E1C7B6C2256CD40045AF61!OpenDocument&Expand=6) glassware.
Ironwork from the Dragon Fly Forge (they’re just some very plain candlesticks, but I like 'em a lot).
[Filson](http://www.filson.com) clothing.
Reproductions made by the [Shaker Workshops](http://www.shakerworkshops.com).
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### Author:  [@kellner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellner)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2004, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-scream-quality/232650/15 "2004-03-05T13:36:09Z")
The [Zwilling Küchenhilfe](http://www.zwilling.com/country/de/language/de/article/1020/products/article_details?articles_start=0&series_start=0), the perfect scissors; indestructible, simple, sharp for decades, cuts virtually everything; Once in a while you come across someting and you don’t know whether it can be cut (wire, a leftover christmas tree…) but then you remember that that three generations of your family own those scissors and you have never seen them fail…
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### Author:  [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2004, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-scream-quality/232650/16 "2004-03-05T13:39:36Z")
[QUOTE=fishbicycle]
Gibson Les Paul Custom and Fender Stratocaster guitars. Old ones, made of old-growth maple.
…
Marshall amplifiers.
…
[QUOTE]
**fishbicycle** named the guitars I would’ve, too. The thing about most of the stuff named is that they incorporate the best _design_, not just quality. The Fender Strat, for example, was originally derided as a “plank that could be made with a bandsaw” by Gibson and other luthier-based manufacturers, _but that is the whole reason it excels - for what it is trying to do, nothing does it better in terms of functionality and design._ The iPod, some of the cars, etc., strike me the same way. The unity of form and function have lead to some beautiful, enduring synergy.
I disagree with Marshall amps, though - the goods ones back in the '60’s were serendipity more than intent, the quality of Marshall amps has always been notoriously inconsistent and they are still trying to figure out how to recapture the magic of the old ones - and other amp makers are doing it better.
How about **Pixar films** - form (computer generated look with humane and complex characters who grab us) and function (predictable plots that can appeal to a child but also contain adult humor and complexity) combined with passion to produce the best of their class…
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### Author:  [@Nathan\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nathan_S)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2004, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-scream-quality/232650/17 "2004-03-05T14:25:47Z")
I’ll second the Les Paul guitar. As a knife enthusiast, I’d also have to mention the Chris Reeve [Sebenza](http://www.truenorthknives.com/tnk_1mainframe.htm) .
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### Author:  [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2004, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-scream-quality/232650/18 "2004-03-05T15:07:39Z")
IBM notebooks. I’ve owned 3 so far and they were all spectacular.
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### Author:  [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2004, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-scream-quality/232650/19 "2004-03-05T15:36:30Z")
I have an alarm clock that I’ve had for 20 years. I took it to college with me where it fell from my top bunk onto a hard floor on numerous occasions. It’s woken me up well since 6th grade. I don’t think they make them anymore. It’s a company called “cosmo time”. 5 buttons: Snooze, Alarm set, Time set, Hour, Minute.
My Subaru Outback. You can just tell when you shut the door how well made it is.
Vasque hiking boots.
All-Clad pans.
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### Author:  [@Daikona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daikona)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2004, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-scream-quality/232650/20 "2004-03-05T16:17:42Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#):
>
> IBM notebooks. I’ve owned 3 so far and they were all spectacular.
Eh. I had one and it was a piece of crap. Granted, I may have just had a lemon, but the fact that it spent more time getting fixed than used doesn’t “quality” the first thing that comes to my mind when IBM notebooks are discussed.
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