[BoorishBears]

Teenage Engineering is literally selling a dock with a pen holder for the thing.

I feel like this is supposed to be a well-laid trap of a question, but c'mon... technically Amiibo are for unlocking in-game extras, what's my experience with those for them to end up relegated to a designer's desk?

[caconym_]

It's not a "trap". If you say something like this:

> This is another functional display piece for a designer's desk, just like the Playdate.

Then you'd better have something to back it up. And unless you're one of the few people who've actually used a Playdate (who actually had largely positive impressions IIRC) then what basis in fact, or even in subjective experience does your comment actually have?

Seems to me the answer is none. And that's worth calling out.

[BoorishBears]

The fact that it literally turns into a desk clock instead of turning off by default isn't something?

The fact the creators of it are letting you put it on double duty as a pen holder isn't something?

Are you joking?

-

The problem is you're getting upset someone dared to imply this amazing device is going to end up unused...

As if Teenage Engineering of all companies didn't realize a lot of people will treat these like an interactive desk ornament. So they made it look striking. And maybe thought of a cool way to display it.

Maybe like, a stand. With a pen holder.

As if something that's intentionally niche in functionality and divergent in design is never released in limited quantity to double as a statement piece... (Not a chance: https://www.kanyewest.com/)

I know HN users do enjoy purposefully acting like they lack basic context on things they're braying about so they can turn around and go "Cite your sources! How dare you assume I know what I'm talking about!"... but how like how does anyone with any idea what Teenage Engineering is as a company and un-ironically think:

"What blasphemy! To imply their items are aesthetically pleasing enough to become ornaments rather than be heavily used!"

[caconym_]

If you agree that you have no useful opinion on the Playdate's practical merits as a video game console, then maybe you should edit your original comment to say what you now claim to mean. Making this explicitly negative value judgment about the functionality of the PC case:

> But on the other, usually you get excellent sound absorption, clever mounting solutions etc. At first glance this is an objectively bad case by the usual measures of high-end mini ITX cases.

Directly followed by a direct comparison to the Playdate (emphasis mine):

> This is another functional display piece for a designer's desk, just like the Playdate.

Can really only be interpreted one way.

[BoorishBears]

What are you on about?

If you were concerned with useful opinions you would have sat quietly until you got this through your head before blabbing:

*The Playdate's practical merits as a video game console have zero bearing on its suitability as a desk ornament.*

It's a wonderful designer desk ornament, flashy, you can pick it up and use it as a console when you're board, limited availability, people who know what it is will immediately recognize it and see you as part of the in-crowd, great conversation piece for people who don't know what it is.

Like are you just this out of touch with the world of limited availability merch? If I say that the Balenciaga Triple S is just a way to flaunt, are you going to complain that I didn't go based on the practical merits as a sneaker?

This entire conversation arises from you wrongly assuming that calling it an ornament was an evaluation of its merit as a console, then refusing to back down on your wrong assumption.

-

And I mean, if you really want to go there...

All reviews of it are based on the promise of what it could be since the entire season of games promises doesn't exist yet...

The SDK isn't out yet... except if you got cosy with the right people in the Discord server. That sounds a lot like Nintendo? Sony? Microsoft? For a device that won't have .001% of titles they end up with? the So much for a device focused on open development lol...

Hilariously the ... Playdate... doesn't work for play-dates. Despite Bluetooth and WiFi Panic have confirmed the SDK does not support networking APIs (I can already hear the gears whirring in your head though "I don't like multiplayer so no one else can!")

No backlighting despite the fact the display tech used would have supported edge lighting without sacrificing daylight performance, and even backlighting if planned for (Sharp produces transreflective versions of the LCD in question with no reduction in daylight performance)

Games base can only be accessed on a schedule specific to your device, which is a lovely thing to do to people ordering. If you got yours first, you get more games than people who get there's later. No way this is supposed to add to the exclusivity of the early adopters though :)

Do you need me to go on? It's very easy to tear down its "merit as a console" when all that "merit" is based on potential and next to nothing in established execution that the reviewers could access lol.

The thing literally damages it's own merit as a console intentionally by limiting input and output in a bid to chase this existence as a nostalgia-fueled simulacrum of by gone consoles lol.

[caconym_]

Okay. So just to make this very clear: you very much do have an opinion on the practical merits (viz. "fun") of a game console you have never in your life seen or touched, let alone used for any meaningful length of time, and you very much did intend that meaning in your original comment.

So you may refer back to my original comment in this subthread for a succinct explanation of why your opinion, upon which you have expounded rather incoherently and at some length, is utterly worthless: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29032691

I'm sure you'll reply to this comment, but I doubt whatever you write will be worth any more keystrokes on my part. I think this ties it up rather nicely, anyway.

[BoorishBears]

Wait, let me get this straight, you're incapable of evaluating a product without holding it in hand?

Something a toddler can do, say select between two cupcakes without eating them, you're incapable of?

Your keystrokes haven't been worth much so far, but I do welcome silence from people who not only lack the faculties to make basic observations, but attempt to find fault in others for doing so...

Of course, you'll reply to this and explain why such a basic shortcoming is actually a good thing! At least that would be par for the course...