Why is it dissapointing or a step backwards? I don't think anyone ever came up with a better, more precise and comfortable solution, so why ditch something that works. Try to make it even better, exactly what Sony and MS did.

Digital Foundry

All in all, both Microsoft and Sony have clearly taken note of the shortfalls in their current-gen controllers and make amends without over-stepping the mark - inevitably arriving at a similar middle-point in ergonomic design. Microsoft is no stranger to the process of evolving its pad design with every generation, going from the mighty Duke on the original Xbox, to a minimised S version which formed a basis for the more streamlined 360 pad. The Xbox One continues that tradition of refinement with gentle tweaks across the board - plus the addition of rumble features which make a surprising difference - though the result is one that should be warmly familiar to existing Xbox fans.

Meanwhile, Sony's DualShock 4 shows a more radical departure from the Dual Shock form factor it's held onto for the last three generations. With the revelation that neither the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One offer compatibility for current-gen pads, it's just as well that these new controllers bring enough incremental tweaks to every facet of their designs, each adding up to a broader sense of overall improvement than we'd expected going in. Certainly, controller comfort will always be a strict matter of personal taste, but between the two, the balance between conservation and evolution has been judged with care.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-next-gen-joypads-a-true-evolution

Anyone using the expression "Gen 4" needs to have their gamer card revoked before being shot at dawn.

As for the DS4, the biggest pro for me are finally concave analogue sticks! That was pretty much the only thing that I really disliked about the DS3. Great that they are aligned as well. I never had much problems with triggers in the DS3, but maybe I'll appreciate the new ones when I'll try them. Also the size was good, with the way I am holding the DS3 and my hands, it's a very good fit, so we'll see how will it turn out in this regard.
Anyway, I'm very eager to try it and hope it will feel better than the DS3.

never had a problem with the DS3 DS2 or even the DS1, hell after nearly 15 years of the same design this new design looks reminiscent of the first analogue controller for the PSX (name most gamers called the first playstation), most controllers i found cumbersome were the n64, DC, GC and first xbox and the wireless 360 controllers were a pain with that battery pack in the middle, maybe the xbone controller can redeem that issue as it looks like it has a flat back.

I'm actually probably one of the few people on this board who have actually held both because I got to go to E3.

The new PS4 pad is an improvement over the old DS3 design, but the XBox 1 controller is still the most comfortable with the analog in the primary position IMO.

PSMove and the Wiimote are better in my book; pointing obliterates analogue for aiming, and motion has been shown to have the capacity to add greatly to a game. It just doesn't really feel that new when I'm playing with a controller design dating back to 1997.

Games like Watch Dogs uses pretty well the touch pad

And now everybody is biased lol... the press, the devs, the people at E3... because everybody is praising the DS4 .

ethomaz said: And now everybody is biased lol... the press, the devs, the people at E3... because everybody is praising the DS4 .

Not everybody is praising it and especially not everybody sais it's better than Xbone-controller :) But of course it is bias and personal likings. At least they changed the DS3 and I am looking forward to get a grip on DS4.