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I Consider The Switch To Be Highly Portable

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Mammoth Jones said:
Personally it's too large for me to consider bringing with me on my daily commute (4 hours/day). But that's just me.
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Wow, really? My commute is three hours per day and got infinitely better due to Switch (well it already got better due to Netflix download option, but now this leapfrogged even that).
I can't imagine having a switch, that long of a commute (unless it's by car) and not trying it out.
 
Mammoth Jones said:
Well, if this is your litmus test for portability then I understand why you consider the switch to be very portable.

Personally it's too large for me to consider bringing with me on my daily commute (4 hours/day). But that's just me.

And that's not why I purchased it. It's my 'around-the-house' portable device.
Click to expand...

yeah, the only way it works for me on a commute (3 to 3.5 hrs) is because I have a backpack with a pretty big front pocket and about an hour of that commute is sitting on a bus. I sorely need a carrying case for it, though...as I'm just asking to scratch the screen or break a thumbstick between throwing it in my bag and getting squeezed by passengers on the subway.
 
Kilau said:
It is a handheld after all, but 2.5 hours battery life is rough.
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Well, if a Switch user, whose on the go a lot wants to put down $30 for an AC adapter. There are a lot of places you can charge at. In this digital age where we can charge our phones almost any where, I don't see how it's battery life should hold the console back.

Let's not forget portable battery packs too.
 
I've barely played mine in portable mode tbh, I just got done with a fairly epic moment in breath of the wild that i could not imagine experiencing on anything other than a huge tv
 
Sitting in my newborns room while he tosses and turns, requiring me to soothe him every 20 minutes or so to keep him asleep. The switch is amazing. All the better how easy it is to put to sleep for a bit while I put my baby back to sleep.
 
In my experience, the people who claim Switch isn't portable, haven't played a portable since at latest, GBA SP. Switch is easily portable, it just isn't very pocketable. Thats the same way I would describe an iPad.
 
Haven't even unpacked my dock to hook up to the TV. I only play this in portable mode, and it works fine for me. I've taken it to work to play during downtime, and I play it anywhere in the house. Sure, I'd like to try Zelda on the big screen, but have too many devices already hooked up to the TV and don't want to get yet another HDMI selector, so I just use it in portable mode. Obviously, then, to me this is a perfectly portable console.
 
The Switch fits nicely in my pocket assuming I put the Joy-Cons in the other pocket. This still gives me enough room for my phone/keys in the Joy-Con pocket.
 
TheMink said:
This is coming from someone who brings a gaming laptop with a mouse or a controller on planes to play games
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I had a 2 1/2 hour flight and played Undertale for most of it using a Hori Commander controller and headphones on my Laptop. I had a wonderful time playing it this way despite the airplane noises. It definitely helps keep me focused since I'm scared of heights.

I actually have been playing the Switch more in portable mode over TV mode. Even when I am at home. I absolutely love playing it this way!
 
Guy who carries a gaming laptop with mouse and controller around with him is not going to be my go-to for an opinion on portability.
 
Highly portable in comparison to a laptop and mouse on a plane?

:P

Less portable than a Vita, more portable than a WiiU.

It was smaller than I expected, seems like a nice fit, but not something I'd want to carry around to work.

Would be great for playing in bed though.
 
It's portable in the same way an Ipad or Ipad Mini is. The OG 3DS and n3DS will always be my gold standard for portability because of it's clamshell design and ease of pocketability.
 
Love it as a portable, just wish the battery life was 2-3 hours better. Two hours into playing I'm already worrying about the battery dying.
 
Frumix said:
Games on it aren't games that I'd like to play on the go which is why it doesn't feel portable to me personally. I get that there might be certain appeal in taking big games with you, but for me I just always ended up playing systems like DS and PSP at home, and if I wanted something on the road, I'd whip out some simple game on the phone. Might be more poignant for Japan where free space to put stuff in is not a commodity, I don't know.
Click to expand...

Shovel Knight and I Am Setsuna would be as at homenon 3DS hardware as they are on the Nintendo Switch.
 
I carry mine around in the hori case. It's not that big. It's smaller than... most the things I have to carry around during the day. I always have a vehicle nearby tho so I don't have to carry it on my person very much.
 
I pretty much always carry a backpack and the Switch fits fine in that, so in my opinion it is as portable as portable can be

I don't think I've ever put a handheld gaming device in my pants' pockets since puberty
 
It might sound pathetic but I would just feel ridiculous whipping that thing out on a public place. Portable for me is just being able to use it around the house
 
sora87 said:
I've barely played mine in portable mode tbh, I just got done with a fairly epic moment in breath of the wild that i could not imagine experiencing on anything other than a huge tv
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I think the range of activities makes the game great for playing in both portable and docked modes. Portable mode is great for shrine hunting etc.
 
Kyzer said:
Sure its portable, but "highly" might be stretching it
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Mammoth Jones said:
Well, if this is your litmus test for portability then I understand why you consider the switch to be very portable.

Personally it's too large for me to consider bringing with me on my daily commute (4 hours/day). But that's just me.

And that's not why I purchased it. It's my 'around-the-house' portable device.
Click to expand...

IvorB said:
Guy who carries a gaming laptop with mouse and controller around with him is not going to be my go-to for an opinion on portability.
Click to expand...

Dark_3nergy said:
I had a 2 1/2 hour flight and played Undertale for most of it using a Hori Commander controller and headphones on my Laptop. I had a wonderful time playing it this way despite the airplane noises. It definitely helps keep me focused since I'm scared of heights.

I actually have been playing the Switch more in portable mode over TV mode. Even when I am at home. I absolutely love playing it this way!
Click to expand...

I think that the whole point of my post is that it's about perspective.

Additionally I go through some (little) effort to play games on the go. Using the switch requires basically zero effort. Ive had all manner of portable consoles going back to original GBC but even on vita I have distinctly felt like I was sacrificing something for "portability" when clearly I am willing to bring larger things around for a better portable experience.

The Switch is the ballence of portable/full console and I think it succeeded.

To reiterate my main focus, maybe consider bringing a messenger bag or a backpack. Change your perception and you might enjoy playing on the go with less effort than you think.


I would argue that bringing my laptop on planes is really not that much effort. As a matter of fact moving my PC around wasn't even a point in my OP. And the Switch is even less.

Just a perspective to consider.

Edit:

Sorry Dark 3nergy I was responding to you separately and it got lumped in with the others!

I was just going to give you a bro fist.
 
Yep it's perfect for my commute in london - two 30 min train journeys per day.

Just throw it in my backpack - battery life is more than enough for my needs.
 
I don't. I could carry a closed up 3DS (even an XL) in my pocket. With the Switch, I have to separate the unit and put the JoyCons in one pocket (usually a jacket pocket) and the rest of the system in another pocket, which means I have to wear a jacket (I only really have two total usable pockets otherwise). And no, I don't carry a backpack or bag around, and I certainly wouldn't start carrying one just to tote around a tablet or a Switch.
 
Dark_3nergy said:
Well, if a Switch user, whose on the go a lot wants to put down $30 for an AC adapter. There are a lot of places you can charge at. In this digital age where we can charge our phones almost any where, I don't see how it's battery life should hold the console back.

Let's not forget portable battery packs too.
Click to expand...

I agree with all that, and it's not that the switch has a tiny battery. I'm just hoping for a nice revision to improve on things.
 
I personally don't consider it portable but then I don't use a tablet outside of the house either. It's too large to fit in a pocket, requires a large handbag to carry and needs a storage case at all times to protect the screen.
Phones and the 3DS are much easier to store, feel more durable for portable use and are quick and easy to pull out of a bag and then put back in again. I see the Switch and Tablets more as things to be used around the house or taken away on a journey but not used while on the journey. I'm hoping for either a 3DS successor or a mini Switch in a few years for something I'd feel more comfortable carrying around and using on the move. Clamshell designed hopefully.
 
I have played it a lot in portable mode at home but haven't really brought it outside of the house much yet. I need to get a good case first. Anyone have a specific recommendation?
 
Jacobson said:
If people can manage to bring their tablets anywhere, the switch is as portable as can be
Click to expand...

I was looking around on the LIRR (commuter train with lots of seats, different than a subway, closer to an amtrak, if you are unfamiliar) and there were 6 people JUST in my immediate are with devices bigger than mine, 5 tablets and a laptop
 
TheMink said:
I think that the whole point of my post is that it's about perspective.

Additionally I go through some (little) effort to play games on the go. Using the switch requires basically zero effort. Ive had all manner of portable consoles going back to original GBC but even on vita I have distinctly felt like I was sacrificing something for "portability" when clearly I am willing to bring larger things around for a better portable experience.

The Switch is the ballence of portable/full console and I think it succeeded.

To reiterate my main focus, maybe consider bringing a messenger bag or a backpack. Change your perception and you might enjoy playing on the go with less effort than you think.


I would argue that bringing my laptop on planes is really not that much effort. As a matter of fact moving my PC around wasn't even a point in my OP. And the Switch is even less.

Just a perspective to consider.

Edit:

Sorry Dark 3nergy I was responding to you separately and it got lumped in with the others!

I was just going to give you a bro fist.
Click to expand...

Oh don't get me wrong the switch is fantastic. But it doesn't meet my use case for portability. Plus the lack of bluetooth headphone support means I need to carry an extra wired sound solution with me then switch that out when I want to play. Too much hassle for me.

I use a messanger bag during my commute already. There's technically room for it but once I toss in my lunch it's a tight fit with other crap in my bag. (work laptop, umbrella, kindle...etc)
 
It's more portable than I thought , basically the same portability that you have with a Vita if you carry it on a backpack.
 
Jacobson said:
If people can manage to bring their tablets anywhere, the switch is as portable as can be
Click to expand...

If the Switch made the same things a Tablet does, i'd agree with this.
Unfortunately it doesn't, so that means you need the Switch AS WELL AS the tablet you were already carrying around.
 
UrbanRats said:
If the Switch made the same things a Tablet does, i'd agree with this.
Unfortunately it doesn't, so that means you need the Switch AS WELL AS the tablet you were already carrying around.
Click to expand...

Also this. I can do a BUNCH of things on my iPad. Music, Movies, Games, Books, Web browsing, etc.

Switch is *just* for games. Not gonna lug it with me when I can get by on iOS games during my commute and watch movies, read books, browse GAF...etc.

And sometimes I'm not even in the mood to game during my commute. So I'm lugging this device on the off chance I want to even bother using it? Not worth the hassle to me.
 
UrbanRats said:
If the Switch made the same things a Tablet does, i'd agree with this.
Unfortunately it doesn't, so that means you need the Switch AS WELL AS the tablet you were already carrying around.
Click to expand...

For me personally, if I'm going to be gaming for a few hours, I wouldn't really see the need to carry both since my phone can do anything my tablet can. There are cases (a flight for instance) where it might be worth it, but it feels a bit superfluous to me in almost every other case. Kind of an either/or scenario.
 
It's not "highly portable" by any previous GAF consensus. It's bigger than the Sega Game Gear with half the battery life.

I'm not telling you not to like it, or not to play it on the train, but its objectively not "highly portable".
 
Easy_D said:
It's just kinda mindblowing to me that we kind of have a portable system that I feel doesn't have to make "sacrifices" to have the games be portable, you know? Such a ginormous step up from the 3DS, it's ridiculous.
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Agree so much. Plus I HATE HATE HATE looking at that 3ds screen. It's like someone grabbed a glop of Vaseline and smeared it over my eyes.

sugarhigh4242 said:
It's not "highly portable" by any previous GAF consensus. It's bigger than the Sega Game Gear with half the battery life.

I'm not telling you not to like it, or not to play it on the train, but its objectively not "highly portable".
Click to expand...

Lol. And what are the objective requirements something requires to be considered highly portable? I don't give a shit about any gaf concensus mind you. Kind of a ridiculous thing to say. I consider my surface highly portable.

I feel like people like to throw "objectively" in their statements to make themselves sound right. You're right to say that you disagree and that in your opinion it isn't though.
 
In a bid for portability it ends up sacrificing on the power, which doesn't bode well for cross-platform releases...they might as well as replaced the DS with this...2 years into its life-cycle it'll already be last-gen doesn't have the legs for the long-run...
 
I don't think it's super portable but its nifty enough to fit in a case and into a bag I enjoy carrying around. So I'm happy ^^

I guess a lot of my appreciation for it is that it's more honest about its portability than the 3DS and Vita are. Neither fit in my pocket and to make matters worse the fact that the Vita has a single screen makes me more anxious to take it anywhere. The Switch doesn't frame itself as a "put into your pocket" experience.

And what pushes the Switch over the top is how flexible it is for portability. I can just put the tablet in the case if I want to ensure safety over convenience, tabletop mode with the Joycons acting as Wii Remote and Nunchuck is surprisingly amazingly comfortable, portable mode is great, and taking my home play sessions with me on the go is a literal dream come true. It's made all the better by the fact that I bought a Pro Controller, which means the Joycons are put on the console on the dock which means seconds saved taking them on and off if I want to use a controller :)
 
I remember mentioning that consumers have accepted the tablet form factor.

3DSes are damn tiny in today's tech landscape of bigger phones and tablets.

Nintendo made the right move.
 
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