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Mercedes-Benz commits to bringing back physical buttons

drive.com.au

331–340 of 523 posts

Re: Mercedes-Benz commits to bringing back physical buttons

#331
post #279
post #273

The argument of buttons vs no buttons is missing the forest for the trees. Teslas have a mere two buttons and are generally a joy to use. Why? Because the UI/UX was taken seriously, and the cpu hardware wasn't sourced from the dolllar store. This combination resulted in a screen-only experience that is responsive and easy to use (if you disagree with this, I will point you to Tesla's consumer satisfaction ratings, wh…

recent survey suggests Tesla is last among competitors in user satisfaction when it comes to usability https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-s...

That report speaks nothing about the infotainment system. It's also a pay-to-play service. I'm talking about actual customers. For example, look at the Tesla subreddit as a closer proxy than CR. It is a source of frustration where Tesla is frustrating; the lack of buttons is rarely complained about.

Re: Mercedes-Benz commits to bringing back physical buttons

#332
post #6

I’m quite suspicious that they do that not because they understood or learned something, but because China requires physical buttons starting next year. And they simply don’t want to lose one of their biggest markets.

Despite China, IT development is a complete disaster in Germany. All car so called German car manufacturers UX/UI is horrible to say the least. Dieter Rams is the only UX/UI designer, who became famous - outside of Germany. Hartmut Esslinger kind of popularized DR, what an irony, that two Germans made history, but of course not in Germany and even in Germany DR wasn't well known. Braun was a brand and statement, but…

Engineers in Europe are essentially pariahs, a necessary evil for corporations hiring them. Sure they earn more than cleaners or teachers, but not substantially more. Difference between being able to afford 2 visits in restaurant a month rather than just 1.

This means engineering is not attractive and no longer something to build life around.

It takes years of learning, patience, trial and error for not much different remuneration than jobs requiring far less commitment.

Re: Mercedes-Benz commits to bringing back physical buttons

#333
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.

What needs to be changed during driving that needs 2-3 layers deep stuff? Examples.

Wiper speed, fog lights

Re: Mercedes-Benz commits to bringing back physical buttons

#334
post #6

I’m quite suspicious that they do that not because they understood or learned something, but because China requires physical buttons starting next year. And they simply don’t want to lose one of their biggest markets.

Despite China, IT development is a complete disaster in Germany. All car so called German car manufacturers UX/UI is horrible to say the least. Dieter Rams is the only UX/UI designer, who became famous - outside of Germany. Hartmut Esslinger kind of popularized DR, what an irony, that two Germans made history, but of course not in Germany and even in Germany DR wasn't well known. Braun was a brand and statement, but…

>And to the haters: Show me any company or product from Germany in IT that is Top 100 globally. Only SAP is or has been featured somewhere below the bottom. And I gurantee you, no one fell in love with its UX/UI

Games count I suppose?

Re: Mercedes-Benz commits to bringing back physical buttons

#335

I really like what Jony Ive did with Ferrari. It’s the perfect blend of digital and analog instruments. High quality material and finishing. Many of these German car companies are following what sells well in Chinese markets, more and more screens. IMO, nothing beats the feeling and assurance of tactile buttons/toggles/knobs.

It is really really good, loved it too.

But doing on a niche car is such a waste of development resources (as all Ferraris are of course). Or maybe given this is going to be EV perhaps Ferrari is finally planning mass manufactured car, but I doubt.

Re: Mercedes-Benz commits to bringing back physical buttons

#337
post #279
post #273

The argument of buttons vs no buttons is missing the forest for the trees. Teslas have a mere two buttons and are generally a joy to use. Why? Because the UI/UX was taken seriously, and the cpu hardware wasn't sourced from the dolllar store. This combination resulted in a screen-only experience that is responsive and easy to use (if you disagree with this, I will point you to Tesla's consumer satisfaction ratings, wh…

recent survey suggests Tesla is last among competitors in user satisfaction when it comes to usability https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-s...

That is a complete lie. Your page literally says VW is least satisfying.

Tesla is the bottom of _top ranking_ by satisfaction.

Re: Mercedes-Benz commits to bringing back physical buttons

#338
post #276
post #273

The argument of buttons vs no buttons is missing the forest for the trees. Teslas have a mere two buttons and are generally a joy to use. Why? Because the UI/UX was taken seriously, and the cpu hardware wasn't sourced from the dolllar store. This combination resulted in a screen-only experience that is responsive and easy to use (if you disagree with this, I will point you to Tesla's consumer satisfaction ratings, wh…

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 don't know a single owner who complains. Everyone is buying a second or third one.

The only people who got frustrated is people who rented.

Re: Mercedes-Benz commits to bringing back physical buttons

#339

I hope Elon Musk can take a lesson from Mercedes. Tesla went in the other direction: there are barely any physical buttons to remove, so they removed the stalks for signaling and even for changing gear! You have to use the touch screen to shift gears!

Tesla sells twice as many cars as Mercedes...

Re: Mercedes-Benz commits to bringing back physical buttons

#340

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The cup holder situation, on the other hand… (992.1 owner)

My favorite car was a 92 BMW 325IS coupe, standard. It was a simple driving machine. It drove well. It performed when asked. It had room for four, or three plus skiis with half the rear seat folded down. And BMW took a strong stance against drinking and driving: zero cup holders. I miss that car. I would buy one again in a heartbeat if BMW still made them.

My E36 was fantastic as well. Automatic climate control, heated motorized mirrors, heated monkey pissers, heated power-adjusted leather seats, power windows, power sunroof, dash lights that fluidly adjusted to ambient conditions, two throttle bodies (in series -- one for the loud pedal, one for the ASC+T), and a single-DIN radio that was dead-nuts simple to upgrade properly whilst leaving the rest of the factory system (and its 10 channels of amplification) intact.

That's a pretty long list of things for a simple driving machine.

But anyway:

It came with two cup holders in the center console, BMW part 51168205367. There were two more cup holders in the middle armrest for the rear seat. Two additional cup holders were also available, which fit under the top of the glove box -- BMW part 51168184470.

I loved that car and it was brilliant to drive, but it did not represent a "strong stance" about drinking and driving.

It was a rather complex machine that came fitted with plenty of cup holders. :)

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