Sliding the Switch in and out of the dock will inevitably scratch the screen

An Open Letter to Stans:



Dear Stans,


Please don't continue to blame users for this stuff.

Please don't say "Of course that shit happens if you're careless"

or, "I don't ever watch Netflix on anything except an iPad so who cares"

or "Why would you want to play in a Hotel anyway?"

or "Most people will use it at home in the dock"

or "Nobody will ever use it in the dock anyway"

or "Bluetooth headphones are a nightmare anyway"

or "You already have ten devices that can do that."

or "Nobody plays for more than 2.5 hours at a stretch anyway"

or "would you treat a Faberge egg like that?"

or "friend codes are actually useful"

or "Why would you need a unique nickname?"

or "everyone using this also has a phone so no biggie"

etc.


Think all that stuff by all means. And if someone complains about something ludicrous, like, "I can't connect an eSATA drive to this," or "the screen should be 4K in mobile because the Pixel is" then go after them. But all the above are normal usage cases for normal people and it's actually OK if it's not perfect.

Every launch has a discovery period where flaws are noted and discussed. It's not a personal attack on you. And the Switch can still be awesome. I'm in Team All of the Above Affects my Usage Scenarios, but I am still looking forward to getting home and cracking it open (not literally lol).
Could not have said it better
 
Those scratches look like the Switch was put into a Jean pocket with a metal button or with keys. I'm sceptical for two reasons.

  1. There is a noticeable gap between the screen and dock.
  2. Plastic isn't hard enough to create deep gouges in glass like this on it's own. It could create scuffs, but not deep vertical gouges.

I've just looked at my system and the dock.

The edge of the dock actually lines up directly with the marks on this picture. It isn't the inside of the dock but the actual edge it seems. In which case this person must be clumsily placing the unit into the dock pretty haphazardly.
 
who doesn't put a screen protector on their mobile/tablet etc. device
I don't, because gorilla glass. I can put my phone in my pocket without worrying, but just thinking about doing the same with my Vita would earn it a new scratch.

The question is, why do we have devices with touch controls coming out without gorilla glass or something similar and leaving to you the "optional" $10+shipping purchase?
 
Regardless of the articles intentions it most definetly will. Its nothing but hard plastic. In and out and over time will get scratches
Its a stupid design and as soon as I saw mine could not for the life of me get why it wasn't padded. Also the padding may have helped with the switch rocking when docked if touched because it also isn't secure in there.

I don't have one yet (waiting on the mail) but can you not just place it in without pushing it against the front? I mean that's how i'd naturally try to dock it, but is something forcing it forward to require it be rubbed?
 
So how good are the glass protectors? I typically go no screen protector on phones and the DS's as the plastic ones cause a good bit of shimmering.
 
I think if this really does happen to people, it certainly sucks. I think most people should have screen protector anyway because it's kind of a no brainer. But so far, I find that it's really hard to believe that this is a serious issue that is an actual design flaw because there's really quite a lot of space between the front and back of the switch and the respective ends of the dock area. The docking process is also very clean. It either fits or it doesn't. You don't have to "push" the Switch for a click or anything. It just slides in.

So yeah, I dunno. I've found that in the past few months, Glixel has had... some... not so great articles?

What does feel like it could be an issue to me, is how the straps for the Joycons slide in easily but seem pretty damn hard to slide out without using some amount of force. I reaaaaaaaaally don't want to break my Joycons like Giant Bomb did. It's kinda odd that they slide so easily in and out of the Switch itself when you use the buttons at the back, but with the straps it's almost like... something not clipping quite right.
 
I can't believe the screen isn't glass. That's really cheaping out.

For me, that's going to depend on the plastic. If it's good, then the weight savings are well worth it, IMO. Anyone who travels knows that that weight really adds up. A laptop, iPad and a phone can turn your bag into an anchor real quick.
 
I don't have one yet (waiting on the mail) but can you not just place it in without pushing it against the front? I mean that's how i'd naturally try to dock it, but is something forcing it forward to require it be rubbed?
I mean we have literal pictures in this thread where people with switches are showing that it doesn't even rest against the rubber so at this point idk what the panic is about. People want to post hottakes and pass it off as "criticism" then never come back to the thread for an actual discussion where evidence is clearly being shown that the OP is an exaggeration.
 
yeah i dunno

not gonna discount someone else's experience, not totally sold on a screen protector either. then again, both 3DS's ive had got scratched up from closing on themselves, which sucked but not many people raised a fuss there either, oddly
 
I'll probably end up getting a glass protector. Anker sent me an email that they are releasing them for 10 bucks for a two pack.
 
I think if this really does happen to people, it certainly sucks. I think most people should have screen protector anyway because it's kind of a no brainer. But so far, I find that it's really hard to believe that this is a serious issue that is an actual design flaw because there's really quite a lot of space between the front and back of the switch and the respective ends of the dock area. The docking process is also very clean. It either fits or it doesn't. You don't have to "push" the Switch for a click or anything. It just slides in.

So yeah, I dunno. I've found that in the past few months, Glixel has had... some... not so great articles?

What does feel like it could be an issue to me, is how the straps for the Joycons slide in easily but seem pretty damn hard to slide out without using some amount of force. I reaaaaaaaaally don't want to break my Joycons like Giant Bomb did. It's kinda odd that they slide so easily in and out of the Switch itself when you use the buttons at the back, but with the straps it's almost like... something not clipping quite right.

You may have defective straps. Since they are some cheap-ass plastics sold at a cheap-ass price, I expect this to be the first thing to be broken/not works properly.
 
who doesn't put a screen protector on their mobile/tablet etc. device

Why I (or somebody else) should?

I have a lot of portable devices (several iPods, Vita, Smartphone, etc), and never had a problem with scratches.

For example, this is how my Vita looks after 3 years of extensive use:

31766292155_ef2411ddec_o.jpg

no scratches at all.

or smartphone (4 years old device):


same.
 
I don't, because gorilla glass. I can put my phone in my pocket without worrying, but just thinking about doing the same with my Vita would earn it a new scratch.

The question is, why do we have devices with touch controls coming out without gorilla glass or something similar and leaving to you the "optional" $10+shipping purchase?

I think you just answered your own question.
 
I'm not really sure how else I would put it in the dock.

Or anything with any dock, really.

When you lower it in there, you're always at a slight angle unless you're really careful every single time. The screen can totally touch those plastic protrusions.
 
Why I (or somebody else) should?

I have a lot of portable devices (several iPods, Vita, Smartphone, etc), and never had a problem with scratches.

For example, this is how my Vita looks after 3 years of extensive use:



no scratches at all.

or smartphone (4 years old device):



same.
Screen protectors exist because people aren't generally careful with their devices. This shouldn't be a knock against anyone that doesn't need them. If a device NEEDS a screen protector then there's an obvious design failure on the onus of the manufacturer.

That being said I don't think this article is being overblown, but I suppose we'll see in a week.
 
I've just put 4 small strips of velour backed vinyl tape on mine just out of paranoia. I have a roll lying around and it's come in handy for loads of things. It's D-C-Fix Velour from Wilko if anyone in the UK is interested.
 
What does feel like it could be an issue to me, is how the straps for the Joycons slide in easily but seem pretty damn hard to slide out without using some amount of force. I reaaaaaaaaally don't want to break my Joycons like Giant Bomb did. It's kinda odd that they slide so easily in and out of the Switch itself when you use the buttons at the back, but with the straps it's almost like... something not clipping quite right.

Mine feels like this too.
 
Two observations:

1. If the dock manages to scratch the surface like that, I don't think the surface is glass.

2. Why the fuck does there appear to not be a thin film of soft coating all around the insides?

I'll be buying a tempered glass protector like a motherfucker, but this is really poor design.
 
Screen protectors exist because people aren't generally careful with their devices. This shouldn't be a knock against anyone that doesn't need them. If a device NEEDS a screen protector then there's an obvious design failure on the onus of the manufacturer.

That being said I don't think this article is being overblown, but I suppose we'll see in a week.

Well, not really if we aren't talking about gorilla glass.

You could still be very careful but if some sand somehow got in your carrying case and rubbed up against the screen wrong you'll get scratches. That's why screen protectors are nice.

Even gorilla glass I always get a tempered glass one because if a drop should somehow happen the screen protector should take the brunt of the impact, screen protector shatters, but not your screen. Sometimes a drop can happen through no fault of your own (dogs, kids, etc).

I have had a few drops but with a case and tempered glass your device doesn't take any damage.
 
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