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zorg1000 said:

I guess I don’t see how a 2-in-1 laptop is more of a “transformation” than Switch docked vs undocked. How does switching from a keyboard to a touchscreen change how you use it entirely while going from portable to connected to a TV with a controller doesn’t? I feel like based on your own description of Switch, a 2-in-1 in just a tablet with a detachable keyboard.

The Switch physically doesn't change when you drop it into a dock. It's not two different form factors.


zorg1000 said:

But do people consider Switch a hybrid simply because it can transmit its video to a TV or because it does that while also having a power source while in the dock, has improved performance while in the dock and detachable controllers that turn into a standard controller making it so that you can exclusively use it as a home console without ever having to take it out of the dock or have to buy add-ons?

If the Switch is a "Hybrid" simply because it can project it's display to a TV... Then every single phone and tablet I have owned over the last few decades has also been a Hybrid.

Most "mobile" devices have a "power mode" when plugged into mains power, this actually is a concept that has been around since Intel introduced "Speed Step" on the mobile Pentium's over 25 years ago.
- Where the CPU will run at a higher/Max clock more often (But can be overridden in software, just like a modded Switch) when plugged into mains power as it doesn't need to concern itself with conserving battery power.

So yes. Dynamic clockspeeds depending if it's battery vs mains predates the Switch by several decades, it's not a new technology... Nor does that feature alone dictate that the Switch is a hybrid.


Addons also doesn't make a device a Hybrid or Not. - You buy a Switch, chances are you -will- need to replace and buy more Joycons due to a terrible design flaw that introduces Drift anyway.
But removable input devices is not a new concept.

Again... 2 in 1 laptops that "transform" into a tablet go from a Keyboard/Mouse input to a Touchscreen.

So by your logic...

1) Device that can "dock" is a Hybrid.
2) Device with variable clockspeeds is a Hybrid.
3) Device with included input controls is a Hybrid. - Phones and Tablets have voice control when you don't want to use touch.

That literally means every single Laptop, Phone and Tablet over the last several decades is a Hybrid going by your definition... And if they aren't a Hybrid... Then feel free to explain why.

zorg1000 said:

So things like display, battery & speakers are what makes a portable a portable, but by definition a hybrid has to have features of both a portable and a console so if it didn’t have a display, battery, speakers, etc than wouldn’t it simply be a console? It seems like you’ve created a scenario where the entire concept of a hybrid is impossible to create.

Correct.

By my argument... If your device features 100% mobile hardware (Even with a shift in form factor) then it is a portable device.
That is literally been my entire argument.

The "Hybrid" scheme is literally a marketing gimmick.

You still have a fixed device and a mobile device. - And there are instances where a device can do the other role, but it's less than ideal/optimal.
I.E. The Switch is actually a very shit fixed-home console due to it's tiny Joycons (Pro controller is superior) and inferior hardware capabilities as it's using a mobile CPU/GPU/SoC.

But it's actually a very good portable console.

Last edited by Pemalite - on 29 November 2023

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