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Nintendo announces new product revisions in Europe with replaceable batteries

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Re: Nintendo announces new product revisions in Europe with replaceable batteries

#101

Post by everdrive »

sva_ wrote: post #79
mdrzn wrote: post #22

"There is no difference in functionality between current products and revised products containing user-replaceable batteries." So there was nothing "limiting" them from making it already with user-replaceable batteries, they just didn't care enough until EU forced them (like all the smartphone brands). Love EU.

> like all the smartphone brands But there is at least some argument that smartphones nowadays have some pretty crazy waterproofness that I'm not sure is physically possible with a replaceable battery?

This is not true. There are old replaceable-battery dumbphones that were rated in feet of submersion.

Re: Nintendo announces new product revisions in Europe with replaceable batteries

#102

Post by artisinal »

vrganj wrote: post #71
parineum wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A more complicated design costs more money to build/test and introduces more modes of failure in the final product.

I'm not too worried. Removable batteries were standard fare for decades before Apple came around and set negative precedent. I don't recall it ever causing issues.

I’m happy that my gadgets no longer need expensive AA batteries.

Re: Nintendo announces new product revisions in Europe with replaceable batteries

#103

Post by ahartmetz »

vrganj wrote: post #71
parineum wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A more complicated design costs more money to build/test and introduces more modes of failure in the final product.

I'm not too worried. Removable batteries were standard fare for decades before Apple came around and set negative precedent. I don't recall it ever causing issues.

The current hack is to buy devices made for disposable batteries and then use rechargeables. Electric toothbrushes almost all come with built-in non-removable batteries... except the cheapest ones, which also work fine.

Re: Nintendo announces new product revisions in Europe with replaceable batteries

#104

Post by bluescrn »

SpicyLemonZest wrote: post #52
Zambyte wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not that they didn't care, it's that they did care in the wrong way. A non-replacable battery means people will be more likely to buy a whole new device if (when) the battery fails.

I don't understand why battery failure is a "when". The only batteries I've ever had fail in rechargeable electronic devices were replaceable packs where water got into the compartment. Perhaps I've just gotten lucky?

The Switch 1 is almost 10 years old. Batteries don't have that much longevity.

And it was unnecessarily hard (actually dangerous due to fire risk) to replace it with a 3rd-party battery replacement due to excessive amounts of strong adhesive holding the battery in place.

Re: Nintendo announces new product revisions in Europe with replaceable batteries

#105

Post by ToucanLoucan »

Waterluvian wrote: post #95
Zambyte wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is victim blaming. The customer is not the one deciding make the batteries non-removable. This is protection from Nintendo.

I just don't need a government to declare that I'm a victim by treating me like I'm not capable of saying, "no, the Switch 2 isn't cutting it for the pricetag. I'll skip this gen's Pokemon." This isn't bread. It's a luxury good.

Yes but eliminating unnecessary e-waste is a good thing for everyone.

This isn't about the government being your nanny, it's about the government, long term, building a better more sustainable society for everyone, as it should be doing. And I don't think there's a reasonable objection to that.

Re: Nintendo announces new product revisions in Europe with replaceable batteries

#106

Post by patrickmcnamara »

drstewart wrote: post #56
smashini wrote: post #2

Honestly, amazing stuff. For all the flak that the EU gets this is absolutely an essential regulation

This. The top problems facing the world are gaming consoles' charging sources. Everything else is thankfully solved.

Nothing should be improved unless it solves world hunger.

Re: Nintendo announces new product revisions in Europe with replaceable batteries

#107

Post by ahartmetz »

artisinal wrote: post #102
vrganj wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not too worried. Removable batteries were standard fare for decades before Apple came around and set negative precedent. I don't recall it ever causing issues.

I’m happy that my gadgets no longer need expensive AA batteries.

...or NiMH AA rechargeable batteries if you could be arsed.

Re: Nintendo announces new product revisions in Europe with replaceable batteries

#108

Post by bluescrn »

orloffm wrote: post #83
benoau wrote: post #3

Amazes me they don't just sell it like that everywhere because it sounds a lot like a product improvement... > The revised products will be available on a rolling basis in territories where Nintendo of Europe conducts business, either directly or through a distributor, namely: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,…

I would prefer the current versions without anything replaceable. I have the Switch bought on day 1 and a Pro Controller which is 9 years old. Yes, the Switch was mostly used docked, but the battery is last thing failing there, it rather has issues with the fan, the screen scratches etc. The controller works perfectly and I charge it once a month. The replaceable battery would only make it less solid. The biggest Swi…

My day 1 Switch battery was definitely significantly degraded when I did a DIY battery swap a couple of years back.

Battery longevity varies based on usage patterns and likely other factors (temperature?), but it's normal to notice a significant reduction in capacity within 4-5 years.

And the amount of adhesive holding the old battery in made replacing it an unnecessarily hard and actually dangerous (risk of battery fire due to physical damage) process.

Re: Nintendo announces new product revisions in Europe with replaceable batteries

#109

Post by deaton »

arghwhat wrote: post #92
Zambyte wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not that they didn't care, it's that they did care in the wrong way. A non-replacable battery means people will be more likely to buy a whole new device if (when) the battery fails.

To be clear, all the mentioned Nintendo products are already designed for battery replacement, with well-contained battery units and easy connectors, and the batteries are available and problem-free to replace unlike for a certain fruit company. The redesign is because the ease of accessing the batteries did not comply with the new rules. The pro controller in particular requires almost complete disassembly to get to…

Torx is also common and also way way better than philips. Really we as a society need to phase out philips screws yesterday.

Re: Nintendo announces new product revisions in Europe with replaceable batteries

#110

Post by srmatto »

Waterluvian wrote: post #67
Zambyte wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not that they didn't care, it's that they did care in the wrong way. A non-replacable battery means people will be more likely to buy a whole new device if (when) the battery fails.

I think the more likely explanation is that there was not sufficient market motiviation to include the additional requirement of a user-swappable battery. ie. people care, but they don't care enough or in enough volume for Nintendo to decide it's required. I celebrate user-swappable batteries and I think I like the battery regulations. I just don't think the Ghost of Iwata is under your bed twirling a Wario moustache…

This doesn't really take into account the real history around user replaceable batteries. It's been happening for years and when there are no alternatives to choose from its not a "vote with your wallet" situation. For example at some point MacBooks just stopped shipping with replaceable batteries and its disingenuous to expect someone to then switch to Dell, Lenovo, or something else. Those platforms can't run MacOS so the choice was made for the users. If you depend on MacOS and the software that runs on it, then your choice was clear--buy a new MacBook with a glued battery.
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