Yahoo sez: throw away your dead PS3 controllers.

[the7k]

http://www.destructoid.com/fail-yahoo-d ... 7249.phtml

I'm sorry, a little late, but holy crap this is hilarious.

"It’s all fun and games until the battery dies," claims Yahoo writer Anne Kadet. "Unlike its competitors, which use replaceable AA batteries, the PS3’s remote control is glued shut. When the battery goes, Sony customers have to blow $55 on a new controller."

[jfrost]

Like some commenters said, I don't think the author was saying that it is impossible to recharge, just that it is ridiculous to be unable to swap the batteries of a $55 dollar product when it eventually dies permanently. The fact that it won't die but in the "far-flung future" is completely beside the point.

[8-bit Legend]

hahahaha! these are probably the idiots who are on my team in COD all the time......stupid....

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

Yeah, the author on Yahoo was simply lacking in the proper vocabulary to explain that you have no way to replace the battery once it fully loses all ability to hold a charge.

[superlarz]

Firstly, you could continue to play with it plugged in regardless. Second, isnt there a battery replacement program. I know I heard around it somewhere. Yes it sucks that there isnt an easy way to replace the battery yourself, but I still prefer that to buying loads of batteries. I have a launch PS3 and have had no battery issues yet. I know eventually they will come, but I have spent more on rechargable batteries for my Wiimotes than I will replacing a PS3 controller.

I could not believe they put PS3 on the do not buy this holiday season for this reason. Is the IPhone or and Ipod on the list? Or a variety of cell phones? They all only last 2-3 years before most crap out. Kinda ridiculous.

[the7k]

Like some commenters said, I don't think the author was saying that it is impossible to recharge, just that it is ridiculous to be unable to swap the batteries of a $55 dollar product when it eventually dies permanently. The fact that it won't die but in the "far-flung future" is completely beside the point.

Then that makes it all the more hilarious. You CAN replace the rechargeable battery! It's not 'glued shut', it's 'screwed shut'!

It's all fun and games until the battery dies. Unlike its competitors, which use replaceable AA batteries, the PS3's remote control is glued shut. When the battery goes, Sony customers have to blow $55 on a new controller. Sony says there's an "environmental benefit" since gamers don't have to toss their batteries on a regular basis, but Isidor Buchmann, president of battery-equipment maker Cadex Electronics, says captive batteries are becoming common because it's cheaper for companies to eliminate the battery housing and hatch.

I searched through that paragraph multiple times and didn't see the word "rechargeable" at all. Don't you think that is an important part of the equation to leave out?

[Inazuma]

I agree that it's stupid that you can't replace the battery but like others have said, you could just plug it in and it'll work fine. Wireless controllers are nifty but I don't mind having a cord either. I can understand why Nintendo's Wiimote needs to be wireless (the nunchunk really should be wireless too, grumble grumble) but having a wire attached to a controller that just sits in your lap isn't a big deal.

[Hobie-wan]

Heh, I replaced the rechargable batteries in my beard trimmer for about $6 instead of spending $20 on a whole new one. I sure as hell would replace the batteries in a controller that cost that much.

[the7k]

Also, for those that do get dead batteries and want to replace them: RTFM.
http://playstation.joystiq.com/2006/11/ ... d-battery/

[jfrost]

Like some commenters said, I don't think the author was saying that it is impossible to recharge, just that it is ridiculous to be unable to swap the batteries of a $55 dollar product when it eventually dies permanently. The fact that it won't die but in the "far-flung future" is completely beside the point.

Then that makes it all the more hilarious. You CAN replace the rechargeable battery! It's not 'glued shut', it's 'screwed shut'!

It's still bad design. Not defending the point of the author (which is wrong, but has some merit), it's pretty ridiculous to expect your customers to unscrew the controllers and replace batteries.