Based on the description on their site, the controller includes a built-in battery: "8.39 Wh Li-ion battery, 35+ hours of gameplay… "
That was disappointing for me. Specially condidering the Steam Frame’s controllers make use of AA batteries: “One replaceable AA battery per controller, 40hr battery life”
AA Batteries might not be as convenient to use, but being able to replace them is a great advantage. All my Xbox360 controllers still work fine, but none of my PS3’ Dualshock 3s.
The official docking station could be used to recharge (rechargables) AA batteries so the functionality could remain the same.
Swappability is not a matter of the exact size and shape, but how many screws are needed to access it etc.
Did you see a battery door on the Steam controller?
In your imagined world where the steam controller has AA batteries, the difference you’re taking about is the battery door, not the battery firm factor.
The difference in my hypothetical world is time. Pretty much all lithium batteries are not quickly swappable.
And the other difference is I already have a drawer full of rechargeable AAs. It’s a standard size thats readily available for purchase from 1000 different places and likely will be indefinitely and I can use the same ones in a dozen different devices.
I’m talking about the actual physical object and its characteristics. The part that affects time taken is the access to the battery, not the battery form factor.
It’ll take all of two minutes to swap the battery, chill out.
I don’t think you understand. This is something I do every few days. Swapping my AA batteries takes 10 seconds.
When Steam drops a battery door I’ll be less concerned. But they didn’t. And they won’t. And maybe someone else will make and sell them but then I’ll have to spend extra money to buy it.
I don’t know why you think I’m not “chill”?
Ok, and you’ll only have to swap this battery out after a couple of years, so what’s the problem?
Glad we’re agreed it’s about the access, not the battery itself.
I have had discussions with this person before and it’s not worth it haha. It doesn’t matter that this person will spend arguably more time swapping AA batteries over the years than the time spent replacing the built in batter one or two times during its lifetime.
I’ve already said what the problem is, several times now. I’m not repeating myself. Scroll up and read.
No, it’s both.
The problem as you’ve stated it compares replacing an AA battery (necessary very often) to replacing a rechargeable battery (only necessary when it’s health depletes after years), so your characterisation of it so far is unreasonable, which is why I asked again.
If it’s both you’ve failed to explain any inherent problem with non-AA batteries when it comes to the time taken to change them. I can change a the custom battery in my camera as quickly as any AA. Faster, even, than the typical AA sprung enclosure because of the housing.