DISCLAIMER: I am overall very satisfied with my purchase, I just have questions/concerns I’d like to share.
The Switch and a couple other portable PC handhelds have the control sticks a bit lower from the top of the device. The way it is designed on the Deck forces my thumbs to reach up a bit causing some discomfort. Having them be diagonally apart from eachother instead of having them be symmetrical I think would increase comfort. I constantly find my self stretching my fingers up to hold the system properly, maybe my hands are just small.
Does anyone actually use the haptic trackpads? If those didn’t exist I feel as though the control sticks could be moved down and rearranged. Shoving the control sticks way to the top of the device to spare some room for the trackpads seems strange to me. Although I’m making an assumption, I believe I’m correct in saying most people don’t use them.
People do use the pads for certain pc games. It acts as a mouse. That being said. I really think that it does not need 2 trackpads. And I do agree that the joystick placement is not the best.
I don’t really use the back buttons. I wish they could find a way to put the trackpad on the back in a comfortable position. I’m not sure if this is really possible. But the trackpads do take up a lot of room.
The PS Vita had the entire back be a trackpad, and while it could be improved for sure, it was an ergonomic nightmare. Having it on the front is nice, but I agree, two might be over kill.
That said! I use both for dial menus for quick actions in games. I’d miss them if I couldn’t do that!
I’ve started setting up the back button in most games as sprint so I don’t have to keep pressing the stick in. Also feels better and easier to press. Never had a controller with back buttons/paddles but it can be useful.
I feel like the joysticks are in a good place, it’s the face buttons and trackpad that aren’t. Personally speaking, for my hands.
The face buttons are just kinda squished up the corners. The trackpads, I have to curl my thumb to use. The sticks, they’re in a place where my thumbs reach them with a neutral position.
I also feel like the device is too straight at the sides. Which prevents me from holding it with a neutral wrist position. It really should have a bit of an angle to the sides of the device imo. I’m still looking for a case that fulfils that grip position.
I rather the joysticks symmetrical it just the same as all PlayStation controller. I got a usb Xbox controller it just not as good.
I absolutely use the trackpads every day. I use my deck a lot in desktop mode and those are extremely comfortable as your mouse and scroll wheel, the joysticks are in a decent position for my hands, they could be better but not by much so I’m fine with where they are.