Hardware Why do people call the switch a handheld/portable?

[FAST6191]

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and tastes like a duck?

Also "because 2ds xl". Were you not around for the three pillars thing Nintendo did at the start of the DS? It is possible to maintain parallel lines, and also smoke all the crack and then do marketplace analysis which leads to the 2ds xl... though maybe 3d screens are hard to find, not to mention no cunt actually likes the 3d, it was a somewhat inspired way to sell a 3ds revision now they can't get screens any more.

Or are we going to have to do the "gaming device" thing again?

 

[smf]

Portable

noun: a small version of something, such as a television, that can be easily carried

Console

noun: a panel or unit accommodating a set of controls for electronic or mechanical equipment.

If you're going to argue that any word is used incorrectly then it's console, it would seem to me that portable is used correctly.

 

[sarkwalvein]

It isn't a handheld or a portable. It is a CONSOLE that CAN be used as a portable. Judging by the size and the fact that the n2ds xl is coming out it should be more than clear that this is not meant to be a 3ds successor. Its like people try to justify it's lack of power by saying its a handheld.

It is a beautiful portable.
Every portable is a console, and this is a portable console.

How can I tell?
Well, the -able suffix means something is capable of what the root part of the word states.
Let's analyse it them: portable, meaning it is -capable- of being -ported- (in the carrying meaning)
Then, let's see... I am able to carry it with me and play games on the bus all the time... YES.
So is it portable... YES.

Eat it.

 

[mightymuffy]

The

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and tastes like a duck?

Also "because 2ds xl". Were you not around for the three pillars thing Nintendo did at the start of the DS? It is possible to maintain parallel lines, and also smoke all the crack and then do marketplace analysis which leads to the 2ds xl... though maybe 3d screens are hard to find, not to mention no cunt actually likes the 3d, it was a somewhat inspired way to sell a 3ds revision now they can't get screens any more.

Or are we going to have to do the "gaming device" thing again?

This. The 3DS range is still popular so of course you keep it going until it dies off, so the N2DS means nothing here. Like Fast says Nintendo weren't putting all their eggs into the DS basket when they launched that, stating it wasn't a successor to the GBA: if the DS bombed like it might have done you can guarantee we'd have seen a 'GBA2', and it's the same thing here.
Google around if you're board for the shift in Nintendo's R&D setup, everything has moved into a unified sector instead of continuing the more costly separate console/handheld, and Switch is the end product.

 

[FAST6191]

Also forgot the GBM. Came out in late 2005 when the DS hit in late 2004/early 2005.

 

[spinal_cord]

It isn't a handheld or a portable. It is a CONSOLE that CAN be used as a portable. Judging by the size and the fact that the n2ds xl is coming out it should be more than clear that this is not meant to be a 3ds successor. Its like people try to justify it's lack of power by saying its a handheld.

Because it IS a handheld. Just because you can plug it into a TV (via an external video adapter) doesn't make it a full console. I can plug my iPad into a TV, I don't consider THAT a computer. I can plug my laptop into a TV, I don't consider THAT a proper PC.

 

[dimmidice]

It's a bit too big to be considered truly portable in my opinion.

 

[sarkwalvein]

It's a bit too big to be considered truly portable in my opinion.

Perhaps you are too small.... /s /s /s

 

[Hayleia]

Because it's a handheld/portable.

A handheld game console is a portable self-contained video game console with a built-in screen, game controls, and speakers. Handheld game consoles are smaller than home video game consoles and contain the console, screen, speakers, and controls in one unit, allowing people to carry them and play them at any time or place.

I sense some fallacy here. You say "handheld/portable" then give the definition of "handheld" only (or at least that's my feeling, maybe both these words have the exact same definition).

Yes of course, the Switch can be handheld (held in hand, literally), just like the Wii U Gamepad. But it doesn't mean the Switch is an awesome portable console to play in the bus, just like how the Wii U Gamepad is useless without an actual Wii U near it.

For example, the definition you quoted on Wikipedia lacks a battery for the "handheld" console to become an actually usable portable console.

 

[sarkwalvein]

I sense some fallacy here. You say "handheld/portable" then give the definition of "handheld" only (or at least that's my feeling, maybe both these words have the exact same definition).

Yes of course, the Switch can be handheld (held in hand, literally), just like the Wii U Gamepad. But it doesn't mean the Switch is an awesome portable console to play in the bus, just like how the Wii U Gamepad is useless without an actual Wii U near it.

For example, the definition you quoted on Wikipedia lacks a battery for the "handheld" console to become an actually usable portable console.

Well, perhaps your are right.
It may be too big for small people to use comfortably as a handheld, like dimmidice said.
But for the rest of us, it is perfect for usage on the bus.

Now considering even on Japan they use it daily on commutes, I suppose you have to be incredibly small to find it too big. /s

 

[Deleted member 333767]

Why argue the semantics of which form factor a gaming console identifies with?

 

[Risingdawn]

My phone has a dock, does that mean it's actually a Smart TV!!!

 

[sarkwalvein]

My phone has a dock, does that mean it's actually a Smart TV!!!

I don't know, but many times I feel like my 55" 4K android TV is a phone.
Specially every time it decides to reboot and show the android logo animation going on there.

 

[Kourin]

At its most simplest, it's a handheld that plugs into a gloried HDMI cable to display on your TV.
The dock doesn't work without the tablet.
The tablet works without the dock.
The internals are within the tablet.

If you were to physically mod a 3DS to enter a dock that displayed the top and bottom on a big screen, would you call that a home console?
It can be used as a home console. I use mine at home more but I think back to basics, it's a handheld.

 

[dimmidice]

Well, perhaps your are right.
It may be too big for small people to use comfortably as a handheld, like dimmidice said.

Mate, i'm a big fella. But it still doesn't fit into my pocket. And in my opinion a handheld needs to be able to fit in your pocket.

 

[RemixDeluxe]

What I don't understand is how everyone raves the portability aspect like it's the second coming of Christ. It's great to have the option but it doesn't really impact the gaming experience in any meaningful way than if the system was stationary. At least with the 3DS there was benefits of taking it out with you like streetpass (have no idea why they didn't continue this with Switch) or they could of been creative and added GPS to the system so games like Pokemon Go could be made and I would be totally behind the portable aspect to this system for it.

I also don't like how because it's filling the role of both console and handheld that in return it's an overall weaker system than the competition all for the sake of a feature I don't want and didn't ask for.

 

[Xzi]

Mate, i'm a big fella. But it still doesn't fit into my pocket. And in my opinion a handheld needs to be able to fit in your pocket.

3DS XL does not fit in your pocket unless you've got stupid big pockets. Even then you wouldn't want to actually carry it in your pocket. I still prefer that larger display size even at 240p, though.

 

[Kourin]

What I don't understand is how everyone raves the portability aspect like it's the second coming of Christ. It's great to have the option but it doesn't really impact the gaming experience in any meaningful way than if the system was stationary. At least with the 3DS there was benefits of taking it out with you like streetpass (have no idea why they didn't continue this with Switch.)

I also don't like how because it's filling the role of both console and handheld that in return it's an overall weaker system than the competition all for the sake of a feature I don't want and didn't ask for.

Guess it's a social aspect. It's a portable that has slightly better then Wii U graphics and everyone can join in.
But I totally agree with you; I would have sacrificed portable mode if it meant more power and the default controller being something like the Pro Controller.

 

[dimmidice]

3DS XL does not fit in your pocket unless you've got stupid big pockets. Even then you wouldn't want to actually carry it in your pocket.

That's a fair point, it is however a XL edition though. And why wouldn't want to carry it in your pocket? I carry my N3DS (non xl) around in my pocket all the time.

 

[RemixDeluxe]

Guess it's a social aspect. It's a portable that has slightly better then Wii U graphics and everyone can join in.
But I totally agree with you; I would have sacrificed portable mode if it meant more power and the default controller being something like the Pro Controller.

I think they should of offered a pure console version of the Switch for those hell bent on the better quality of games. It can work seamlessly like original and new 3DS models where games would use the enhanced features of the new 3DS but without alienating original owners.