Why I like things: home office, house and too much curiosity

I am Marc, programmer, tech freak and probably the kind of person who does not simply turn on a new lamp, but first wants to know whether it can also be controlled through an app, automation or a dumb workaround.

That is not always healthy.

But often very entertaining.

I work from home a lot, so I sit at my own desk more than I sometimes like.

That makes small things stand out more: a keyboard that annoys me.

A microphone that sounds in calls like a wet shoebox.

Light that makes the room look more like a dentist waiting room in the evening than a home.

That is exactly where good stuff starts for me.

Tech does not have to be spectacular

I do not like products that only impress on the spec sheet.

Of course I read spec sheets. Far too many, even.

But in the end, something else counts for me: do I like using the thing? Does it make something better without pushing its existence into my face every day?

A good keyboard eventually is just the keyboard.

A good webcam makes sure I do not look in meetings like a hostage situation on VHS.

A good robot vacuum reduces the little floor dirt you would otherwise ignore for three days.

That is not glamorous.

That is everyday life.

Owning a house is dangerous

Since I have owned a house, the playground has become bigger.

Earlier, a gadget was usually something for the desk.

Today, it can suddenly affect the network, lights, cleaning, doorbell, cameras, coffee corner or some corner in the hallway that was actually never supposed to become a project.

Spoiler: every corner can become a project.

That is exactly the trap.

A house gives tech ideas room.

You try something, notice that it is actually useful, and suddenly you are standing there on Saturday thinking: "Actually, I could automate this more cleanly."

Nobody asked. You do it anyway.

Why I recommend things

I do not recommend something because it is new.

Not because it is expensive.

And not because some product page puts eight exclamation marks behind a feature.

I recommend things when they stick with me. When, after a few weeks, I notice that I no longer want to return, replace or mentally improve them.

That is exactly why this site exists. The more detailed starting point is in Why guteszeug exists. And concrete examples are things like the Keychron Q3 Max, Hermes as AI for everyday life or later some light strip where I tell myself that atmosphere is a valid technical use case.

It is, by the way.

The actual standard

I do not want to collect perfect products.

Perfect products almost never exist.

I want to collect things where the advantages in everyday life are bigger than the flaws. Things that bring joy without constantly wanting attention. Things where I can honestly tell someone: "Take a look at this, it might fit you."

There is not more behind it.

Just a bit of curiosity, a home office, a house and far too little resistance against good stuff.