Foo - Surprising products that changed your life

What product/item/thing have you found to be completely incredible? Life-changing, even? Something that you lived just fine without before you found it, but have now realized just how much better life is WITH it?

One of mine: Switching from plastic shower curtain rings (the kind that click into themselves) to hanging metal hooks. The time, frustration and shoulder pain from the former made my life a living hell compared to the ease of the latter. Plus they look so much better.

Yours? (And don't say Viagra.)

My Brooks B17 Imperial.

Also a big plus 1 on metal shower hooks.

Foo

I spent quite some time thinking about this (okay, 4 minutes), and I can't think of anything. :(

Aluminum hardtail. Almost goes without saying. *wistful look of longing*

VIAGRA!

no, I'm kidding.

internet, for being so... internet

http://seespanrun.com/relevant/clapper.jpg

internet, for being so... internet

This.

I forgot one thing.

Sex.

Life is so much better with it than without even though I have been going without for far too long.

I forgot one thing.

Sex.

Life is so much better with it than without even though I have been going without for far too long.

isn't that a service and not a product?

isn't that a service and not a product?

services can be products.

could be a product of a service... I guess...

isn't that a service and not a product?

It's a thing.

It could be considered a service if you have to pay for it.

this:

http://www.templeofthai.com/images/products/6220000306.jpg

it makes cleaning a cat's litter box very easy, leaves little mess, saves litter, and most important - keeps the monster happy!

computer.

When I first started out - used to only have typewriters, then memory typewriters - moved on to sharing a WANG (used 10-1/2" floppy disks) with about 30 secretaries (got to sign up for 1/2 hr time slots to use it) and so on. "Manual" labor!

Foo

yeah. I'd +1 this. :o

whisper room modular practice studio.

http://www.redferret.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/whisperroom2_small.jpg

Consumer review websites. That is, read the negative comments, look at the overall rating and then make a slightly more informed decision on where to spend the hard earned clams.

Good cookware. Never realized how much it made a difference until I took the plunge and got "real" cookware.

Decent coffee grinder (Capresso Infinity - want an even better one some day)

Internet - I am a research junkie. I'll research every possible thing about items before purchase (for one example). I don't even remember how I researched before the days of the common internet.

In no particular order:

TiVo
iPhone
Xerox DocuColor 240
CatGenie

In no particular order:

TiVo
iPhone
Xerox DocuColor 240
CatGenie

I love the Cat Genie but eventually one of our cats rebelled and started pi$$ing all over. :mad:

It should be a little bit bigger so that the cat is more comfortable. Otherwise it's a great idea that took too long to get to market. :beer:

ShamWow. I now go around intentionally spilling all kinds of **** just so I can wipe it up.

Tude you shared a 10.5" floppy wang with other women?

Huh.

BTW, sex isn't a product (it CAN be a commodity, but would fall under "service".). Now if you want to say "**********", that'd be different. But lets keep this relatively family-friendly, eh?

A couple others:
Magnetic kitchen timers
Beer can koozies
The Neti Pot
Snuggie!
George Foreman Grill

Keurig Elite brewing station.

There's all sorts of things that I see initially and wonder, "why the hell would anyone need that?", and this was one of them. It's a single cup coffee/tea/cocoa maker. You fill the water tank on the side, put a single serving packet in the receptical, close the lid and push the button. Blammo, it's coffee (or tea, or cocoa; there's something like 150 different kinds of these packets you can buy.)
I've never been concerned too much about my coffee. I've always used whatever $25 cheap-o machine I could find, and relatively inexpensive pre-ground coffee beans. If I wanted tea, I'd just put the kettle on and wait, then come back and find my tea satchel and leaves, etc. The Girl is a bit more particular about her java. That, combined with the fact that she doesn't walk/stand so well, and a cup of coffee at home was quite a difficult chore. It either meant me getting the espresso machine out and playing around with all the crap that entails, or I'd head across the street to get a (tasty, but) overpriced drink from the local non-Starbucks purveyor of coffee based beverages.
The Keurig takes 90 seconds from entering the kitchen empty handed, to walking out with a cup of coffee. It costs 80% less per drink than going across the street (not including the fact that if it wasn't me walking there, The Girl would have to drive there.)
So, while it's one of those things whose necessity perplexed me at first, it's become the kitchen gizmo that both of us really appreciate.

ShamWow. I now go around intentionally spilling all kinds of **** just so I can wipe it up.

:D You're a busy fella, aren't ya?

SPD pedals

ShamWow. I now go around intentionally spilling all kinds of **** just so I can wipe it up.

Those Germans.....

Well,

1) Computer, I work in an IT heavy sector, without it would simply be impossible
2) Decent cooking knives
Never had the opportunity to own good pots and pans, but yeah, cooking with them helps tremendously.
3) WD TV...finally all those downloaded movies can be watched on TV, with friends, without huddling up close (okay, sometimes that can be good ;) ).

And yeah, I have to go with the Sex and Love. For me the whole transition is quite recent (I'm 24 with Fundie past) and it tremendously improves life. I tend to feel healthier, more confident, and happier when I am dating someone.

Those Germans.....

they make good products......

Anyone who's ever driven a '96 Jetta GL would beg to differ.

Anyone who's ever driven a '96 Jetta GL would beg to differ.

It takes two Shamwows to soak up a liquified Jetta.

Shamwow parody.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A9fmnAsgdg

I don't know what I would do without my Snuggie.

Most recently, this:

http://awcg.com/Allen/Images/Cicero/Cicero.6.jpg

comforter clips. so when you're getting frisky, the down comforter doesn't slide around in the duvet.
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/assets/product_images/230/197210313465P.JPG

just because:
http://www.yulelog.com/images/usb-drive.jpg

aerosol hairspray (seriously)
http://outsidemybrain.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/aerosol1.jpg

citrus peeler.
http://www.recipetips.com/images/glossary/o/orange_peeler.jpg


I've got a lot more. its the simple things that amuse me :)

I don't know what I would do without my Snuggie.

Sister has threatened to send the folks to a state run eldercare home if she catches them buying that.

Tude you shared a 10.5" floppy wang with other women?

Huh.

BTW, sex isn't a product (it CAN be a commodity, but would fall under "service".). Now if you want to say "**********", that'd be different. But lets keep this relatively family-friendly, eh?


Wait, what?!?

Sex lube.

But seriously, whoever invented sheet rock screws should get a Nobel prize.

a 2001 Univega Modo Vincere

A Trek 1500 roadbike - no more spare tire around my waist - completely changed my way of life.

Edit: I guess that's not too surprising being on a bike forum

I like to cook/fry/ steam with my wok.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/Gordo_Ruckus/images00.jpg

The walkman. From it's earlier cassette form, trough the cd player variety up to the current mp3 incarnations.

Wait, what?!?

I thought the same thing. What the heck is a "floppy wang"? I'm even afraid to ask.

bagged lettuce and spinach

comforter clips. so when you're getting frisky, the down comforter doesn't slide around in the duvet.

I seriously can't imagine those things working that well during frisky-time... I'd have to use heavy-duty clamps, not some plasticky clips. :o

AllenG, that's gotta be the cutest puppy picture ever!!

Sex lube.

But seriously, whoever invented sheet rock screws should get a Nobel prize.

Please tell us those items aren't being used simultaneously! :twitchy:

Please tell us those items aren't being used simultaneously! :twitchy:

Why not?

Either way...something's getting screwed. :innocent:

I seriously can't imagine those things working that well during frisky-time... I'd have to use heavy-duty clamps, not some plasticky clips. :o

AllenG, that's gotta be the cutest puppy picture ever!!

I'll say!

I'd also like to add Crystal Light single water bottle powder things that make regular water turn neon colors and taste like candy.

My flat iron to straighten my hair.
DVR... pausing live TV? Amazing.
The Spork.

Leatherman multi tools, and Bowie knives. I consider both to be indispensable.