Buttons in cars better than touch screen

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rommelrommel

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2002
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The more you use a control the more it should be physical IMO. I don't mind touchscreens to cut down on having a mass of scarcely used buttons.
 
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Captante

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
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Touch-screens are fine for systems you set once or twice and then occasionally adjust plus are not "mission-critical". (unless it's a small "dedicated" touch-screen with a single function)

Every control that does anything related to controlling the vehicle or seeing out of the vehicle should have its own DISCREET and easy to use "by feel" control.

Placing 95% of all controls on a huge tablet stuck on the dashboard (often 2-3 menu-taps deep!) is freaking stupid, lazy design and nothing else.
 
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MrSquished

MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
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There are some things a touch screen can do well, replace as many physical buttons as possible just because they can is not one of them.

Another reason not to buy Tesla. That's the direction they seem to be going
 
E

Exterous

Super Moderator
Jun 20, 2006
20,557
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Yeah I am not a fan of the removal of dials for touch only or majority touch interfaces in cars. Seems to be a fad that no one other than the car designers wanted. (Although I think the head designer of Kia or something said they would keep most of them)
 
nakedfrog

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
61,564
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Lost_in_the_HTTP said:
There should not be 'screens' at all.

Wassamatter with dials?
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Why not both? My 2015 VW has a good mix, I can do everything I need to do (HVAC, wipers, basic stereo controls, etc) without the screen, but the screen serves useful functions as well.
Captante said:
Backup camera's come in pretty dang handy and provided the screen can be turned OFF at night they're helpful for entertainment.... otherwise I agree.
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The Jeep I rented in May was terribly stupid about that, the onboard GPS didn't automatically go into a "night mode" the way literally every other GPS I've used does (and I couldn't find a setting to turn night mode on), the brightness couldn't be turned down as much as I wanted, and even when you turned the screen "off" the freaking backlight was still on. All this from a $45-55k SUV.
 
Captante

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,339
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spaceman said:
I agree have had 3 vehicle with touch screens and it’s annoying af
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The best I've had was in a decked out 2016 Camry XLE I had as an extended rental while my Scion was getting fixed.

It had large easy menus and a physical "on/off" button on the bottom left edge in easy reach of the driver ... it even had a tiny "location" light on the button for when the screen was dark. (plus since it was a Toyota it was made of the same "industructium" as the rest of the car!)

I'd still prefer a plain old dial and buttons though. :(
 
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M

Motostu

Senior member
Oct 5, 2020
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As has been said, and I agree, a combination is fine. I think that buttons/dials should absolutely stay for frequently needed items (eg, temp controls). My wife's car (a newer Volvo) took it too far and does almost everything on the touchscreen; I hate it. Funnily enough, I see the winner was an old Volvo. Hopefully they will address it in their newer models.
 
Lost_in_the_HTTP

Lost_in_the_HTTP

Lifer
Nov 17, 2019
13,206
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When did this crap start, so I know which model years to avoid? I had an '89 Cougar with a digital dash, but it was just bars and gauges, no screens.
 
Captante

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,339
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The first cars to have touch-screens were GM's in the late 1980's and early 1990's believe it or not but it was nothing like today.

The real "madness" didn't start until after 2009-2010 or so and now we've reached the point where it's harder to avoid a screen in your new car then it is to find one with a manual transmission!
 
H

HoleInTheEarth

Member
Jun 18, 2022
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I don't mind the two touch screens in my car, but I too like buttons for the most used buttons. I feel like I have the best of both worlds because the AC/Heat still have buttons and there is a volume knob. I really don't use the volume knob often because the steering wheel controls are more convenient.

I will say, I tried to go the whole iPad as a remote for my Home Theater. Worst decision ever. It's freaking horrible! Not having physical buttons on a "remote", in the dark, sucks. You have to turn on the screen and look at it. I gave that up real quick and moved on to URC remotes. They are amazing if you have the software to program them. They won't give it out the software and want you to use an installer, screw that, I can program my own remote and save a thousand dollars to have someone program my dang remote. The software isn't too hard to find though.
 
nakedfrog

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
61,564
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Captante said:
The first cars to have touch-screens were GM's in the late 1980's and early 1990's believe it or not but it was nothing like today.

The real "madness" didn't start until after 2009-2010 or so and now we've reached the point where it's harder to avoid a screen in your new car then it is to find one with a manual transmission!
Click to expand...
The Buick Reatta's touch screen was kinda neat.
 
Captante

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,339
10,858
136
The Rise of Touch Screens in Cars Explained

Riviera1en.jpg
 
S

SaltyNuts

Platinum Member
May 1, 2001
2,398
277
126
Every button that could ever conceivably be in a car is better as a button rather than some dumb touch screen crap. And there should be like a max button limit for cars as well. Like over 10 or 15 or some shit the car markers owe some extra tax to the government.
 
Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
69,993
13,484
126
www.anyf.ca
Not a fan of this trend of everything being touch screens either. In newer Teslas you actually have to drill through touch screen menus just to put it in reverse! Like how dumb is that.

Important functions absolutely shouldn't be touch screen, what happens if that touch screen dies? 20 years down the line chances are that part won't be available. But if it was a mechanical button at least you can jerry rig something if the button breaks.
 
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