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Mercedes-Benz commits to bringing back physical buttons

drive.com.au

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Re: Mercedes-Benz commits to bringing back physical buttons

#281

Post by ErroneousBosh »

userbinator wrote: post #197
hnlmorg wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What the fsck possessed manufacturers to come up with that stupid recessed door handle? I think I might actually hate that more than touch screen climate controls.

Chasing very tiny fuel (or battery) efficiency gains.

Apparently some engines now have a solenoid-operated shroud that pops up to surround the water pump impeller, so if the coolant is still warming up it doesn't circulate. This is supposed to reduce the parasitic load on the engine from the ancillaries.

I can't help but think that the water pump must require about 3 brake gerbil power to turn, and the weight of the solenoid, plunger, spring, shroud, and extra cabling - not to mention more seals to go hard and leak - probably takes more power to haul around.

I don't really care about a car's 0-60 time or fractions of a mile per gallon. If you want to save fuel, lighten your right foot.

I want the car to be simple enough to be reliable and repairable when it eventually does go wrong.

Re: Mercedes-Benz commits to bringing back physical buttons

#282

Post by fooker »

eknkc wrote: post #280
fooker wrote: post #276

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tesla software is in no way a joy to use. I had rented one and it was infuriatingly bad. I'm sure people can get used to it, but people can get used to literally anything. The map looks like it really wants to be in Star Trek more than than it is meant to be usable software. Doing simple things takes getting into menus 2-3 layers deep, often while driving.

I’ve been driving a Model Y for a year now. Used to have a Volvo with android automotive and before that a Mercedes Benz with the.. I’m not sure whatever that OS is called. Tesla sw is miles better than the previous two. It is responsive and laid out well. When you get used to it, it is intuitive. Android was not that bad but the visual design was much worse and it was laggy. The MB software can die in hell. It is th…

The comparison, for the purpose of this article, is not against Mercedes or Volvo or Toyota software or even Android auto/carplay.

It's against old fashioned tactile buttons for essentials.

Re: Mercedes-Benz commits to bringing back physical buttons

#283

Post by ErroneousBosh »

Zak wrote: post #204
userbinator wrote: post #197

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Chasing very tiny fuel (or battery) efficiency gains.

Airplanes have had fully manual flush door/hatch handles for decades, and a handful of cars have imitated them. The electric retracting handles are pure gimmick.

1990 Citroën AX Sport - https://assets.dyler.com/uploads/cars/406167/9080414/medium_...

Look at that door handle. Fully flush, NACA profile scoop in the bodywork to insert your finger behind the trailing edge of the door and flick the little lever up to unlatch it.

Give me that, please. I wish I'd never sold my 1991 Citroën AX GT, it was so quick and quiet. Hardly any wind noise, so it must have been very aerodynamic.

Re: Mercedes-Benz commits to bringing back physical buttons

#284

Post by gregorygoc »

dhorthy wrote: post #97

functional programming taught us this decades ago. State is the root of all evil. If the outcome of my interaction with the interface (e.g. tap a place on the screen) is a function of not just where i tap but the last 2-6 places i recently tapped (menus etc) suddenly you've added massive complexity and mental overhead. can't wait to get back to a button that does the same thing every time every time i press it [1] te…

Currying is a thing in FP too.

Re: Mercedes-Benz commits to bringing back physical buttons

#285

Post by Paradigm2020 »

l72 wrote: post #65
satvikpendem wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's pretty weird and indicates your phone or its touchscreen might be defective, you should get it looked at, because other than with old resistive touchscreen phones I've never had capacitive touchscreen phones need multiple presses.

I have Raynaud's which causes loss of circulation in my fingertips even when the weather isn't that cold (so even in a car with the heat on). Then this happens, touch screens do not register correctly, and I end up having to use a knuckle or do what my sister does and use the tip of the nose

While still available I'd recommend getting a galaxy s / note from lateryear with the stylus.

Response time, accuracy etc near perfect.

Hope it helps

Re: Mercedes-Benz commits to bringing back physical buttons

#286

Post by OptionOfT »

I was in the market for a new car, and was looking at an M4.

The iPad taped to the dash was horrible. Too many presses to do anything climate related, which is something you do mess with a little more when driving a convertible with the top down.

But the worst part was when you start the car and it starts to heat / cool. While it is working to reaching your desired temperature, it shows an indeterminate progress bar in the button to adjust the temperature.

REALLY distracting.

Ended up getting an M8, the pinnacle of BMW before hybridization and full touch screens. If only it had an analogue cluster...

Re: Mercedes-Benz commits to bringing back physical buttons

#287

Post by jval43 »

geodel wrote: post #258

Last time it was VW bringing it back, then Mazda bringing it back, and so on. Also luxury cars will not use touch controls, thats only for cheap cars . It appears wishful thinking that physical buttons are coming back. This would be an idea whose time has gone. It does not even matter companies that physical buttons are better, or they can offer as choice (at higher price) if someone wanted. Like remote working, offi…

Even Toyota is going touch now, with the 2026 models lacking climate control knobs.

I don't know why. Every review always praised the previous models for the physical buttons, and literally nobody asked for them. The physical buttons were perfect, yet they've taken them away.

There must be some grand anti-button conspiracy, it just doesn't make any sense.

Re: Mercedes-Benz commits to bringing back physical buttons

#288

Post by pcurve »

OptionOfT wrote: post #286

I was in the market for a new car, and was looking at an M4. The iPad taped to the dash was horrible. Too many presses to do anything climate related, which is something you do mess with a little more when driving a convertible with the top down. But the worst part was when you start the car and it starts to heat / cool. While it is working to reaching your desired temperature, it shows an indeterminate progress bar…

current 3/4 series had near perfect interior until 2023 interior update.

Re: Mercedes-Benz commits to bringing back physical buttons

#289

Post by pcurve »

m463 wrote: post #275

I think they should distinguish between controls and settings. Settings are great on a touchscreen. A wide variety of options, easily navigated to and explained. They suck on physical buttons, it ends up being like setting the time on a VCR. Controls on the other hand deserve physical buttons. Or levers. or dials/knobs/spinners. It should depend on muscle memory, and the type of control. I also thing driving status s…

love that distinction.

Re: Mercedes-Benz commits to bringing back physical buttons

#290

Post by OptionOfT »

pcurve wrote: post #288
OptionOfT wrote: post #286

I was in the market for a new car, and was looking at an M4. The iPad taped to the dash was horrible. Too many presses to do anything climate related, which is something you do mess with a little more when driving a convertible with the top down. But the worst part was when you start the car and it starts to heat / cool. While it is working to reaching your desired temperature, it shows an indeterminate progress bar…

current 3/4 series had near perfect interior until 2023 interior update.

Which is the one in the M8, except the temperature aren't dials but up/down buttons.
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