Busy Bar

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Price and Value Perception

  • Many commenters fixate on the $249 price as “way too high” for what they see as essentially a timer/busy sign that “could be an app.”
  • Some say they initially misread the price as ~$25 and were ready to buy; $250 is a deal-breaker.
  • A minority argue the price is reasonable for a well-designed, niche hardware product given engineering, software, and marketing costs, not just BOM.
  • Several compare it to “designer” products or Juicero: beautiful, overbuilt, and ultimately a luxury toy.

Cheaper Alternatives and DIY Solutions

  • Repeated mentions of cheaper devices (Amazon LED signs, Ulanzi TC001 + custom firmware, USB lights, sand timers, mail indicators).
  • Many propose ultra-low-tech alternatives: paper signs, door hangers, door locks, headphones, cardboard “BUSY” signs.
  • Hobbyists note it’s a “week-long Arduino project” or even faster with current tools; others counter that the polish is hard to match.
  • Expectation that Chinese knockoffs will appear around $30–$60.

Use Cases and Social Dynamics

  • WFH scenarios with spouses and kids are seen as the most reasonable use case; some already use door status or stack lights for this.
  • In offices, many see the device as passive-aggressive or outright hostile, especially the promo video where a coworker is wordlessly rebuffed.
  • Some think a clear, verbal “I’ll come find you later” is healthier than a gadget-mediated “talk to the hand.”
  • A few suggest it could help push back against interrupt-at-any-time cultures; others think it would quickly be banned or create resentment.

Design, Aesthetics, and Marketing

  • Strong praise for the landing page, animations, and overall “cassette futurism” aesthetic; some compare it to high-end design brands.
  • Others find the animated hand deeply uncanny and off-putting, even nausea-inducing.
  • Several complain the labels and top text appear oriented toward the viewer, not the user; the dense backside text and QR code are called anti-aesthetic.
  • Some say the whole product and site look AI-generated, especially the instructional text and graphics.

Functionality and Integrations

  • Noted features: very bright LED display, programmable, desktop and mobile apps, integrations (e.g., Home Assistant, Matter).
  • Some see value in a physical, always-visible interface that avoids picking up the phone (and its distractions).
  • Others argue most operating systems already have focus modes, making hardware redundant.
  • The companion phone app being free is appreciated; “Hardcore Mode” that supposedly requires a full phone reset to bypass is mentioned but its actual availability is unclear.

Focus and Productivity Philosophies

  • Some argue no gadget can fix an unhealthy environment; the tool can easily become procrastination fodder.
  • Several share personal tactics: meditation timers, “hoodie up” signals, sand timers, Home Assistant automations, or stack lights.
  • There’s a side discussion on meditation methods to build focus without any hardware.