I’ve been out on medical disability since '21.

I dread this possibility when I try going back to work soon.

I knew as soon as I heard about Win10 having candy crush on the start menu that it would be the last Windows I ever installed. I had been meaning to switch for years before that (actually dabbled with a dual boot of Ubuntu back on whatever version number “Edgy Eft” was-- 5? 6?). I stayed mainly on Windows because I don’t really think Wine or Proton was around yet (who knows maybe I just hadn’t heard of it yet), but I did really like how non-Windows it was.

It was always in the back of my head and I knew my time was coming. Just had to get my system cleaned up (file wise) and ready to move over.

Then I ended up making a new build first so instead of moving I just never put Windows on this machine at all.

Anyway the last time I worked I still use Windows at home. So other than attempting to set up a printer on my sister’s computer one time (which didn’t work out because I was only there for about 20 minutes total and it had some wireless pairing to do but just wouldn’t find whatever it was trying to find), I’ve never even touched 11. But the tiny bit I did see have me the same ick that moving from Win7 to 10 gave me. Things like how they fucked with the control panel and made a new, half-redundant settings app, had built-in cortana in the task bar, etc all bothered me.

But given that the awfulness that was 10 is longed for now, I really hope whatever job I get doesn’t have to use Win11.

I realize that. But that’s just for that machine, but I’m speaking for arbitrary devices.

The protocol hasn’t gotten faster in the last few years that I know of.

I’ve used several with different devices, but most of my direct comparison experience is with an Xbox series X controller paired to the Deck via BT and by dongle, and it’s very noticeably more laggy with Bluetooth. I’ve only occasionally tried others, but every Bluetooth-connected controller I’ve ever used definitely has a noticeable delay.

No one says that you have to explicitly plug it in to whatever you’re playing on.

You do if you want it to connect to the thing you’re playing on.

Unless you’re ok with a shitty Bluetooth connection. But I’m guessing few people comparatively are using that, at least as their primary use case.

You can’t tell me playing with a Bluetooth controller doesn’t actually hurt you. The constant latency is excruciating.

Then again, I use it for mostly real time- based games.

If you’re playing something like Balatro it probably doesn’t matter. But for almost everything else it sure does.

Personally that’s what I’d like to do anyway. I’m saying that to discuss the growth of the technology among the masses.

Assuming it doesn’t make me violently ill, i like tech and gaming enough to keep it around otherwise. But the potential for the issue and the committal involved off the bat are difficulties for any new, different-enough tech.

Maybe so, but you probably need to enjoy your first exposure to want to drop money on an entire setup for it.

It’s already crazy enough to drop that money just hoping you like it, but if you drop it hoping it stops making you nauseous, that’s a much bigger ask.

I’m still hoping I won’t have that problem. I do get car sick on meandering drives, but not even close to as bad as I did 10-15 years ago, but the worse the drive gets, the more I have to stay staring out the car windows.

I assume the VR effect would be similar, given it’s a similar symptom, but backwards. (In VR you don’t feel motion, but you see it, whereas in a car, you feel it, but either don’t see it from not looking, or if you have wide visibility it looks like you’re not moving as much compared to the background)

I was a pretty big enjoyer of the design of the first Steam controller, so adding a second stick and keeping the touchpads sounds great. Also mine broke, I can’t remember exactly what gave out, but it was just destroyed, and using a touchpad for a second stick felt awkward af.

I didn’t even mind the way it bent “backwards”, the fact that the stick and buttons were tiny, or its weird shape. Actually thinking about it, it was the right trigger that broke and just caved in, Spring broke, plastic tab snapped off, just basically a hole left there. I wasn’t about to attempt a repair, either. I don’t have the skill for that.

Anyway, this looks nice. A lot of people seem to call it ugly, but I don’t get it. Sturdy and functional are a good look, so this looks great. And if it functions just as well as the Steam Deck controls, (and of course it will, since it’s basically the same parts except switching out magnetic sticks instead of regular ones)

Here’s hoping the triggers are better on it. It’s definitely on my radar for next year.

The problem is to really make an informed decision you have to try it first-hand. The sensory experience unlike any other device, so descriptions aren’t super helpful, video doesn’t convey what it’s actually like, so you really have to experience it to understand it.

Also given how common it seems to be anecdotally to get sick from it, no one wants to jump in just to have to jump back out.

And unless you know someone that already jumped in and can try theirs, a lot of people like me just don’t want to commit sight unseen. (I mean I’m also broke, but this would be true anyway)

I don’t have a way to try it out, so until I do it’s not on my radar to care. I’m very curious about it. Even if I don’t like it I do really want to see what it’s like at least once. But I’m not gonna pay for that chance. It’s gotta impress me without effort on my part (more than driving to it anyway).