camperotacticoNov 15

I wish the Steam Controller used AA batteries

https://lemmy.world/post/38822955

Show threadmnemonicmonkeysNov 15

All my Xbox360 controllers still work fine, but none of my PS3’ Dualshock 3s.

An important thing to note is that the Steam Controller will be user-serviceable and they want to continue their partnership with ifixit

Show threadartyomNov 15
Why is that important
Show thread𝔄 𝔰𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔢𝔫𝔱 𝔭𝔦𝔢𝔠𝔢 𝔬𝔣 𝔠𝔥𝔢𝔢𝔰𝔢Nov 15
Because it means you can probably swap your battery with a single screw or two.
Show threadartyomNov 15
I’m not doing that on a regular basis. I can swap the battery in my Xbox controller without any screws.
Show threadrebelsimileNov 15
Not downvoting you, but you’re not being reasonable. Serviceable means actually serviceable. It might be “better” to use AA batteries but if they can’t, the next best thing would be that it can be serviced by the actual end consumer. And yeah if you’re planning on fixing your own things you may need to own a screwdriver.
Show threadartyomNov 15
I don’t think you understand. I’m not talking about service. I’m talking about normal use. I swap the batteries on my current controller every few days. It’s not unreasonable to expect modern controllers to have the same functionality they had 20 years ago…
Show threadKoboldCoterieNov 15
Except that you don’t have to swap the batteries on a built-in rechargeable battery every few days. You plug it in when you aren’t using it, and swap the batteries every few years when they stop holding a charge. I guarantee you the time spent swapping AAs every few days will far outweigh the time you spend using a screw driver to replace this battery at the frequency it requires.
Show threadartyom

You plug it in when you aren’t using it

That requires

  • Having a cable nearby
  • Being tethered to said cable for an hour.

    • I don’t have a charging station in my couch.

    I guarantee you the time spent swapping AAs every few days will far outweigh the time you spend using a screw driver to replace this battery at the frequency it requires.

    I guarantee you it doesn’t. Not to mention those screws would become stripped in a matter of weeks.

    Nov 15 at 1:16pmWeb
    Show threadaugustus672Nov 15
    Man is gaming 24/7 and has zero downtime where he could plug in a controller. That’s dedication right there /s
    Show threadartyomNov 15
    We’ve already been over this. I don’t want to be tethered to a cable.
    Show threadKoboldCoterieNov 15
    Sounds like your use case is unique and does not match the use case of the vast majority of users. Maybe you should look for another controller that meets your very specific requirements more closely.
    Show threadartyomNov 15
    I already have one, but thank you for the suggestion.
    Show threadClentNov 16

    You think you’re use case isn’t a tiny minority because you found some other people on a thread?

    A thread specifically about the use case?

    This is how the world gets dumber.

    Show threadDon_alFornoNov 15
    Every controller I own (dual shocks, dual senses, 8bitdo’s, switch pros) lasts me an entire day of gaming at least. Plug them in at night and you’re good.
    Show threadartyomNov 15
    I suppose your phone has never died because you forgot to or didn’t have time to plug it in? It’s just yet another device that I have to worry about managing the battery.
    Show threadsugar_in_your_teaNov 15
    Maybe once a year? Plugging a cable in for 20 min isn’t asking a lot.
    Show threadartyomNov 15
    It doesn’t matter if it’s “asking a lot” or not, I just don’t want to do it. I don’t want to worry about it. It’s not my preference.
    Show threadreevNov 15
    My preferance is to not have to change batteries constantly, so I suppose I’ll but a controller made for people like me and you can buy one made for people like you! It all works out in the end.
    Show threadartyomNov 15
    I mean they could make one for both of us by simply adding a battery door and making the battery swappable.
    Show threadreevNov 15
    Then I fail to see why you’re complaining about this one
    Show threadartyomNov 15
    Because my choice in controller, or any other product for that matter, isn’t singular.
    Show threadsugar_in_your_teaNov 15

    What’s the alternative for phones? My last phone had about 2-3 days battery life and I ran into this issue more frequently because I didn’t need to have a routine. My current phone lasts about a day and a half, so my routine is to charge at night, but if I forget, I charge in the morning or at work.

    In the old days with easy to swap batteries, I never brought a spare with me because that required more planning than charging at night. In the old old days of flip and candybar phones, they lasted a week, so recharging wasn’t a big deal.

    The controller situation is different. I have both an Xbox 360 and a DS4, and the DS4 is less fussy. Why? I only need to charge it like once a week given how much I play, so it’s more like the old flip phone.

    Show threadartyomNov 15

    I never brought a spare with me because that required more planning than charging at night.

    I can’t answer your question because this just makes zero sense to me.

    Show threadsugar_in_your_teaNov 15

    What, you would always bring a spare with you?

    The only things I bring with me are keys, wallet, and phone. If I’m traveling somewhere far (road trip or flight), I’ll bring a power bank. Even if my phone had easily rechargeable batteries, I wouldn’t bother with them.

    Show threadartyomNov 15
    It doesn’t require “planning”. You throw them in your bag and that’s it. That’s not a plan.
    Show threadsugar_in_your_teaNov 15

    I usually don’t have a bag with me. So it would need to go in my pocket, and I don’t like those to be full.

    If I have a bag, that means I’m either going to work (plenty of charging options) or on a trip. I’ve covered the latter case with the power bank.

    Show threadSpaceNoodleNov 15
    You never slept?
    Show threadWaryleNov 15
    What happens if your controller dies and you’re out of AA batteries?
    Show threadartyomNov 15
    I don’t run out. They’re rechargeable.
    Show threadhowrarNov 15
    And if you forget or don’t have time to plug them in to recharge?
    Show threadartyomNov 15
    They’re always charged because I put them on the charger when I rotate them.
    Show threadmoonlightNov 15
    You're so close to getting it...
    Show threadartyomNov 15
    You’re not…
    Show threadmoonlightNov 15

    They're The controller is always charged because I put them it on the charger when I rotate them. am not using it.

    So the controller never dies unless you're playing for more than a day straight, and there's no fiddly swapping out of batteries. The only downside is that you might need to replace the battery in like 5 years time with heavy use, and it's only marginally more difficult than swapping out AAs.

    Show threadartyomNov 15

    So the controller never dies unless you’re playing for more than a day straight

    Or…you didn’t plug it in? I don’t have to worry about plugging it in. Not every hour. Not every Day. Not every week or every year. There is never a time when the batteries are dead or I need to fiddle with a cable. Ever.

    Show threadmoonlightNov 15

    Well it will be fine even if you only leave it charging a tiny fraction of the times you use it. And with AAs you have to remember to change them anyway or it will die while you're playing.

    And if you think the process of:

    opening the back cover, taking out the AAs (especially on the original steam controller), putting them in a charger, and putting new ones back in the controller

    is even close to as easy as just setting the controller down on a magnetic charger, I don't know what to tell you.

    Show threadartyomNov 15
    You’re not considering the scenario of a dead battery.
    Show threadHolytimesNov 18
    Neither are you. Your talking out your ass at this point.
    Show threadHolytimesNov 18

    Mate you are actually are dumb and dense as a rock. I’m honestly impressed someone can be this out of touch with the reality of the world around them and the people living in it.

    You have to be fucking with everyone in this thread. There is no possible way your serious here.

    Show threadartyomNov 18
    Right, I should join all of the 1337 gamers that only agree with your opinions. Fuck off, dumbass. Get absolutely fucked. 🖕
    Show threadWaryleNov 15
    Since you’re already managing charging things, what prevents you to put your controller to charge when you’re done playing?
    Show threadartyomNov 15
    I don’t have to manage charging anything. If I neglect it, and it dies, I just swap charged batteries into it. That’s the whole point.
    Show threadWaryleNov 15

    You do are managing your AA batteries: you have a dedicated charger for rechargeable AA batteries, and you put yours to charge when you swap them out. That’s just your routine so you just don’t consider that it’s not bothering.

    You could just as well put your controller on it’s charging stand/plug it when you’re done playing. Or plugging it after your gaming session when it notifies you that it’s starting to running low.