Hardware What do you think the dock will have?

What do you think the dock is capable of?

  • External Gpu inside the dock.

    Votes: 8 18.2%
  • Minor improvement with no restriction of thermal and battery life, and add a few ports.

    Votes: 28 63.6%
  • A standalone unit like a typical console.

    Votes: 4 9.1%
  • Massive power scaling, which the tablet has a powerful yet restricted gpu inside.

    Votes: 15 34.1%
  • Some post processing unit to make the visual better on tv, like the psvr dock.

    Votes: 18 40.9%
  • Required to connect more controllers.

    Votes: 5 11.4%

  • Total voters
    44

x65943

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Most people only think resolution will go up slightly on the tv. Therefore if you can play the same games at home and on the go - then a large difference in power won't be tenable. If there was a large difference in power, and games took advantage of that when played at home, then you'd get horrible fps in portable mode.

I think the dock will include additional ports, but that's it.

I know most of the rumors ended up being true, and that a lot of people said the dock would give a power boost, but it just doesn't make sense to have a unified platform with vastly differing situational specs.
 

ADS3500

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Most people only think resolution will go up slightly on the tv. Therefore if you can play the same games at home and on the go - then a large difference in power won't be tenable. If there was a large difference in power, and games took advantage of that when played at home, then you'd get horrible fps in portable mode.

I think the dock will include additional ports, but that's it.

I know most of the rumors ended up being true, and that a lot of people said the dock would give a power boost, but it just doesn't make sense to have a unified platform with vastly differing situational specs.
If the dock does increase the power, there will probably be a few games that aren't compatible with portable mode.
 

Tigran

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Okay.. I could be wrong, but here is what I expect. When the tablet is off the charger the GPU goes into a "underclocked mode." displaying maybe 720 - 900p.

When the tablet is plugged into the Dock, I expect the proccessor to get full power and thus go normal speed or overclocked. and display 1080p.

I also expect the Tablet to have touch screen so that touch screen controls are an option should the joycon battery die or you don't feel like taking it with you.
 
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foob

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my bet:
* no additional post-processing or fancypants features in dock
* the typical USB ports we have been shown & the the typical charging and TV display will be offered.

Nintendo are way too cheap to duplicate functionality or give extras or to risk anything to make game design more complex. I think the Switch main unit will do all the gruntwork. The Switch will be an 'interesting' jack of all trades, master of neither the Portable nor Home domains. It will be King of Compromise and definitely seems to be aimed squarely at the non-casuals.

Nintendo will offer the ability to carry an external USB truckpack with you (at additinoal cost) to get enough power when on-the-go. If we had the Vita released now (without the overpriced memory sticks), I believe the Vita would outsell the Switch by a huge margin. Timing and overpriced memory sticks being what they are, we will never see that play out, so Nintendo have a market opening for the Switch.
 

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I have absolutely no idea what the hell you just said...
Essencially the Vita would have did a great job if it is released now than back in 2012. The one thing that kills it is the memstick. It also allow Nintendo to avoid the same mistake, hopefully.
In a way the switch is a Giant Nintendo psv.
 

Tigran

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I love my Vita.. But I don't think it'll do a good job. I actually think -if- the switch has touch screen controls, it will take a sizable chunk out of the tablet market.

Lets be honest, most people are afraid of being seen playing games out in public. But with the tablet looking like a tablet, and possible touch screens, they can hide what they are doing.
 

foob

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I love my Vita.. But I don't think it'll do a good job. I actually think -if- the switch has touch screen controls, it will take a sizable chunk out of the tablet market.
Keep in mind the Switch is:
1) at least double the thickness of a regular tablet of similar size (please correct me if I'm wrong)
2) more than likely will be heavier than an equivalent-sized tablet
3) more than likely will be priced higher than an equivalent-sized tablet (and certainly won't reach entry-level pricing like we see with many tablets)
4) more than likely won't have 1/1000th of the apps available. It probably won't check your emails, organise or keep you in contact with friends and family
5) probably won't have convenient protection for the tablet (especially a tablet that can go from 1-piece to 3 pieces)
6) has large vents more reminiscent of 'utilitarian' than 'sleek & convenient'
7) will more than likely suffer from far reduced battery than a typical tablet due to its emphasis on 'hardcore gaming'

For these reasons, I think the likelihood of the Switch taking a sizeable chunk of the tablet market will be just as likely as the DSi taking a sizeable chunk of the iPhone market. I don't think NIntendo is keen on re-inventing the wheel here (even though I'd love them to focus on an OS platform without NSA backdoors to build serious apps and games on equally).

Lets be honest, most people are afraid of being seen playing games out in public. But with the tablet looking like a tablet, and possible touch screens, they can hide what they are doing.
Heaps of people amuse themselves with games in public (and apps too), particularly on public transport. I think the Switch will be bigger and fatter and far less convenient to carry than the typical phone or tablet. That will be the main cause of hassle and inconvenience to most of the market. And for some, embarrassment.

TABLET / PHONE MARKET
Nintendo isn't completely stupid. They have licensed their IP for mobiles/tablets now. I think everyone at Nintendo knows they won't be displacing the tablets and phones with their hardware anytime soon. I think it's impossible for them to do it & they probably do too. So they have chosen to make some money here instead. In doing so they're probably convincing some players to fork out for Nintendo hardware after falling in love with some of the games on mobile. Either way, they are making money & plan to make more.
 

Tigran

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Your problem with 3 and 7 are both wrong. Most tablets are stupidly expensive Or at least any decent ones. As for number 7, leave an ipad on Skylanders superchargers, and it'll last about 3 hours.
 
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Yil

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Keep in mind the Switch is:
1) at least double the thickness of a regular tablet of similar size (please correct me if I'm wrong)
2) more than likely will be heavier than an equivalent-sized tablet
3) more than likely will be priced higher than an equivalent-sized tablet (and certainly won't reach entry-level pricing like we see with many tablets)
4) more than likely won't have 1/1000th of the apps available. It probably won't check your emails, organise or keep you in contact with friends and family
5) probably won't have convenient protection for the tablet (especially a tablet that can go from 1-piece to 3 pieces)
6) has large vents more reminiscent of 'utilitarian' than 'sleek & convenient'
7) will more than likely suffer from far reduced battery than a typical tablet due to its emphasis on 'hardcore gaming'

For these reasons, I think the likelihood of the Switch taking a sizeable chunk of the tablet market will be just as likely as the DSi taking a sizeable chunk of the iPhone market. I don't think NIntendo is keen on re-inventing the wheel here (even though I'd love them to focus on an OS platform without NSA backdoors to build serious apps and games on equally).


Heaps of people amuse themselves with games in public (and apps too), particularly on public transport. I think the Switch will be bigger and fatter and far less convenient to carry than the typical phone or tablet. That will be the main cause of hassle and inconvenience to most of the market. And for some, embarrassment.

TABLET / PHONE MARKET
Nintendo isn't completely stupid. They have licensed their IP for mobiles/tablets now. I think everyone at Nintendo knows they won't be displacing the tablets and phones with their hardware anytime soon. I think it's impossible for them to do it & they probably do too. So they have chosen to make some money here instead. In doing so they're probably convincing some players to fork out for Nintendo hardware after falling in love with some of the games on mobile. Either way, they are making money & plan to make more.
2) Well it might be heavier, but not enough to make that much of a difference. Wii U gamepad is light and nice to hold.
4) But most apps are actually good enough to bother with, unlike app store filled with trash.
5) My GBA has survived a 3 meter fall like nothing, without a case. Wii u was the same quality.
6) Which means it have quite good specs.
7) Thickness could also tie into battery.
I don't really put my 3ds in the pocket that much. A much bigger tablet will a) fit in my bag b) carried around.
 

dpad_5678

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Just visual quality, really. Core components are absolutely on the tablet.
I voted for Some post processing unit to make the visual better on tv, like the psvr dock since they TV will (most likely) have a higher resolution then the tablet. But I mean external GPU as in one that some games require
 

Tigran

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If there is any kind of external processor in the dock, I expect it to be similar to the PS Pro, or Scorpio processors, make it look better but all games will work regardless.
 

foob

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Your problem with 3 and 7 are both wrong. Most tablets are stupidly expensive Or at least any decent ones. As for number 7, leave an ipad on Skylanders superchargers, and it'll last about 3 hours.
All the tablets I own are $100 or less. IPS screens, 1GB ram...perfectly adequate for budget gaming for casual users. A price that the Switch will never reach anytime soon. Games will probably cost more too.

Plus half the thickness of the Switch. Plus thousands of apps to choose from in addition to games. Will Nintendo spend resources on apps to compete with tablets and phones? Not a chance. They'd be swimming against the tide.

This will be a machine primarily for games, just like previous hardware. Most people carrying phones and tablets do far more than just the one task (gaming). So really the battery can go for many hours with more 'balanced' usage. I fail to see how grabbing a sizeable tablet market share will be achievable when Nintendo has traditionally only had a small (very small) selection of apps, will never reach 'budget tablet' territory anytime soon and is a 'thick monster' size-wise. With uncertain case/protection choices.
 
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migles

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i do think it's just like the dock on the old laptops http://cdn.moneycrashers.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/laptop-docking-station.jpg

there is a connector that provides charging to the tablet, video out to tv and connection for usb ports

nothing more...
it will not have a gpu or some power enhacements, otherwise it wold be a wii u gamepad where you can't use it stand alone...
i even think the dock is completely optional
the device is probably just a custom tablet...
 
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foob

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2) Well it might be heavier, but not enough to make that much of a difference. Wii U gamepad is light and nice to hold.
4) But most apps are actually good enough to bother with, unlike app store filled with trash.
5) My GBA has survived a 3 meter fall like nothing, without a case. Wii u was the same quality.
6) Which means it have quite good specs.
7) Thickness could also tie into battery.
I don't really put my 3ds in the pocket that much. A much bigger tablet will a) fit in my bag b) carried around.
2) we disagree here. Anything that's double the thickness of the typical tablet on sale today will see little traction, even if there were no other obvious weaknesses (which there are plenty; apps being the most notable)

4) I can pick anything from clothes to supermarkets to music and say most of it is trash...and it is. The point is you are far more likely to find what you want with choice. As opposed to none. There is truly a massive choice of apps to do what you want (keep in touch, organise, tons of specialisat apps, dictionaries, medical resources, whatever) and it does satisfy a heck of a lot of users, unlike having almost no choice with Nintendo. You are far more likely to find what you want with choice. Nintendo has no plans to get serious competing with phones and tablets on this level. Personally, I don't blame them. That ship has sailed and it's not their core competency. They'd be competing with so many large & small software & hardware companies for very little reward.

5) this is a large-screened device that looks far more delicate to my eyes. Everything from the slide-off controllers to exposed edges and kickstand accidents look ripe for damage to me. We'll see. Earlier portable hardware had smaller screens and no great need to offload a lot of heat either.

6) which could mean early component death due to heat stresses and/or early battery death, probably. Li-Ion/Li-Polymer batteries degrade pretty badly due to heat too. The Switch doesn't seem half as elegant as using devices that don't require fat vents to dissipate waste heat (like phones and tablets which the masses are using daily) and no chance for dust and liquids and little critters getting inside either.

7) Thickness could mean a bigger battery, sure. But the point is it is substantially thicker than the average tablet. Which means less users likely to carry it around (particularly the non-hardcore casual user and females, frankly), even if it did have all the apps and games people wanted or needed. It definitely doesn't look like it will be competing in the apps department, so we can cross that one off. That alone is enough to relegate it to 'gaming only, for-the-Nintendo-fans' status. Sure, nobody puts tablets in their pocket, but it's still thicker and likely heavier. I can't see many casuals choosing a Nintendo tablet for all the reasons already discussed. For gaming, sure. Not for any other reason. It just won't be replacing general-purpose devices like phones and tablets anytime soon. Price. Size. Apps. All major stumbling blocks. Even if the hardware were perfect.
 
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