[earthboundkid]

> The device is nothing extraordinary (imo)

This is it: the peak Hacker News comment. A gizmo with a handcrank and a black and white screen is nothing out of the ordinary in 2021. I bet you could even make it yourself in a weekend if you just use a Raspberry Pi and an e-ink screen!

[asveikau]

I didn't read that comment as "a DIY one is just as good". More like, it's not high spec, it's pretty minimalist and low tech. The execution could still be good and the choice can still be unique.

[vr46]

How it works and what it does and what it's made of are very different things (cite: Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance) and once the novelty of how it works has worn off (yes, kudos, BTW) what is left is a mildly interesting device. The SDK and ecosystem are also mildly interesting, but the cute factor will wear off quickly and it's probably go the way of Neil Young's Pono.

[Ekaros]

I feel it's pricy novelty product. And even with SDK, I wonder will there be new games in couple years? I don't think they will actually sell enough to justify development time...

[simias]

I don't understand your comment. I feel like you're mocking the parent but at the same time you make it sound very reasonable. You can indeed make a gizmo with a handcrank with a black and white screen in a weekend.

I think here what will make or break it will be if it manages to reach a critical amount of early adopter to justify making games for the platform, otherwise it's going to end up like the Ouya, hipster version.

Personally I think it's cute and I'm vaguely interested by it, but at the current price point it seems like a tough sale. For literally $20 more you get a Nintendo Switch Lite (admittedly without games).

[coldpie]

No wireless. Less space than a Nomad. Lame.

[yaomtc]

I'm confused. Playdate has WiFi and Bluetooth, and the Nomad didn't have any storage.

[simias]

It's a reference to https://slashdot.org/story/01/10/23/1816257/apple-releases-i...

[yaomtc]

Thanks. I also forgot Creative had a Nomad, I was thinking of Sega.

[emsy]

On the other hand there’s this tendency to put down any kind of criticism as dumb, implying the person “just doesn’t get it”. No, I get it, I’m just not impressed. It’s a low-tech handheld with a gimmick. My gut feeling is that the novelty factor will wear of pretty quickly. This is completely unrelated to the fact that I’m impressed with the apparent production quality and marketing.

[edd]

> I bet you could even make it yourself in a weekend

This is it: the peak Hacker News comment.

[miguelmurca]

That's pretty funny, I never thought I'd be accused of peak HN :D

I meant it the way asveikau replied.

[mylons]

hell ya, just another weekend project. nothing to be seen here. where's the dropbox post, etc