BASED ON EXPERIENCE which is more comfortable X360 controller or DualShock

[McKay]

Me personally I prefer an Xbox controller, purely because it feels like it was actually designed for the Human hand.

[ichi]

i have two of those with the docking station and they have been going for 5 years strong and work as good as the day i bought them...

That's what I was told: they charge if you buy a dock or charge station, but I find that to be inconvenient. They were charging OK for a whole year just connecting the controller with the usb cable, after that they would seem to be charging but even while the light went green they died in a couple of seconds after unplugging the cable.

The play and charge kit is a NiMH battery pack, so most people who have issues with them most likely do because the charge them wrong.

What do I have to do to charge them right?

[raghavny80]

Looks like there are too many MS fanboys here. IMO Sony controller is much more accurate and sensitive. I hate the R2 L2 in the 360 controller and the lack of USB rechargeable battery. MS might be the leader in software but Sony rules in Hardware..

[philcruicks]

The play and charge kit is a NiMH battery pack, so most people who have issues with them most likely do because the charge them wrong.

What do I have to do to charge them right?

Yeah, most NiMH batts have issues if you don't run then to flat/near flat (under 20%ish) and then charge them fully in one go to 100%...if you do small charges for say an hour or charge it when its still got a decent ammount of charge left, they'll lose the ability to hold charge over time.

Best bet (and what I do) is to run it flat...or at least until the 1st controller auto shutoff, then plug it into my PC or a USB mains adapter (iPhone charger or similar) as these are left on...this way the controller gets a 100% charge rather than a semi-chrage from the hour or 2 I'm playing my xbox...I've had my play and charges for 3 years both still work fine...I'd guess I get at least 10 hours from 1 charge.

[compl3x]

Yeah, most NiMH batts have issues if you don't run then to flat/near flat (under 20%ish) and then charge them fully in one go to 100%...if you do small charges for say an hour or charge it when its still got a decent ammount of charge left, they'll lose the ability to hold charge over time.

Best bet (and what I do) is to run it flat...or at least until the 1st controller auto shutoff, then plug it into my PC or a USB mains adapter (iPhone charger or similar) as these are left on...this way the controller gets a 100% charge rather than a semi-chrage from the hour or 2 I'm playing my xbox...I've had my play and charges for 3 years both still work fine...I'd guess I get at least 10 hours from 1 charge.

See, at that rate, you may as well buy a charger with batteries, charge all 4, use 2, have 2 on hand to change over when the other 2 die and then charge the dead ones.

A charger with 4 rechargeable batteries is also probably cheaper than that kit. And less of a hassle.

[Salutary7]

I prefer Sony's design in many instances, but if we're talking only about physical comfort, I have to give it Microsoft.

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

i have two of those with the docking station and they have been going for 5 years strong and work as good as the day i bought them...

Cool story. Sorry, I am all out of Gold Stars.

The play and charge kit is a NiMH battery pack, so most people who have issues with them most likely do because the charge them wrong.

Every single time I charged them because they were dead/almost dead. Would let it go until I got the message from the console about my battery being low.

How else is one supposed to charge batteries?

Because if that is wrong, then I have to say NiMH are not very good, as I do the same thing with the DS3 controllers, wait until they blink, and I am on my same controllers since launch.

I literally have 4 of them. 2 are useless. Even purchased the charging dock hoping it would help.

And let me add, since I have owned the 360, I have also owned no less than 5 other devices that have rechargable batteries.

DS3 being one of those items, iPad, iPhone, 2 Macbook Pros, 1 HP Laptop, countless iPods, 2 Droid phones, a PSP, now a Vita, a DS, and none of these other devices ever had the same issues I have had with the 360 plug and play batteries. If somehow these fancy NiMH batteries operate in a different one than all of these other devices, then not sure what to say other than perhaps they should have incorporated batteries like these other devices. If some of these devices do operate the same way, then not sure what to say other than the ones used for the 360 plug and play must not be the greatest.

[Xypro]

I like the xbox controller, much better hand positioning, but dpad is another story.

[satukoro]

Personally I prefer the DS3 controller because of the joysticks' position and convex nature (I use the flatter parts of my thumbs to control the joysticks rather than the tips). Also, I find the controller more comfortable due to it's symmetrical design and ease of d-pad use.

The advantages of the DS3 controller are the easy-to-control d-pad, primary buttons (cross, square, triangle, and circle) being on a flat plane, and the light, symmetrical design.. The drawbacks of using the DS3 controller are the convex triggers and it's small handle architecture making it a bit of a jump from holding an xbox controller. The advantages of the xbox controller are it's ergonomic design and the trigger buttons (joysticks and d-pad positions are personal preference); disadvantages include primary button positions (a, b, x, and y) and how they wrap around the controller and the sloppy d-pad.

I own both an xbox 360 and a ps3 and use both frequently. Remember to take all of these opinions with a grain of salt. Might I suggest you hold one of each controller (either at a friend's house or best buy, etc.) so that you can get a feel for each?

[Nashy]

Looks like there are too many MS fanboys here. IMO Sony controller is much more accurate and sensitive. I hate the R2 L2 in the 360 controller and the lack of USB rechargeable battery. MS might be the leader in software but Sony rules in Hardware..

Fanboys because we think the Xbox controller is better? All of my mates who have PS3s prefer the Xbox controller over it, are they fanboys too champ?

[ZeroFearX]

I was a big fan of the Playstation controller (PSX/PS2) but I have a hard time with the new design of the PS3 controllers (L2/R2 Trigger). It hurt my fingers after 30 minutes of play.

X360 controller for the win !

[compl3x]

Fanboys because we think the Xbox controller is better? All of my mates who have PS3s prefer the Xbox controller over it, are they fanboys too champ?

Did you admit to being a fanboy earlier?

[x-scratch]

360 all the way its easy on the hands

[rajputwarrior]

Cool story. Sorry, I am all out of Gold Stars.

or you can sound like a butt hurt child because i added my personal experience with said gaming accessories the OP is asking about... :cry:

[HawkMan]

If somehow these fancy NiMH batteries operate in a different one than all of these other devices, then not sure what to say other than perhaps they should have incorporated batteries like these other devices.

They do, since all those other devices use lithiun( io to be exact) batteries.

And lithium batteries would have been preferable, but then they'd probably have to make them non removable for safety. Which is a crap design and against regulations.

And lithium has its own problems, like limite charge cycles (about 300), dying if they go flat, not to mention the explosive power.

[Nashy]

Did you admit to being a fanboy earlier?

Massive XBOX, Android and Windows fanboy.

I admit it though. What I don't get is others being labelled fanboys just because of their opinion.

[compl3x]

Massive XBOX, Android and Windows fanboy.

I admit it though. What I don't get is others being labelled fanboys just because of their opinion.

I think there is a difference between being a hopeless fanboy who would side with their preferred device regardless of any alternatives or info and someone who honestly prefers something. I guess sometimes it is just hard to differentiate the two. And, let's be honest, most people wouldn't try. Labels are much easier.

[ichi]

Yeah, most NiMH batts have issues if you don't run then to flat/near flat (under 20%ish) and then charge them fully in one go to 100%...if you do small charges for say an hour or charge it when its still got a decent ammount of charge left, they'll lose the ability to hold charge over time.

Best bet (and what I do) is to run it flat...or at least until the 1st controller auto shutoff, then plug it into my PC or a USB mains adapter (iPhone charger or similar) as these are left on...this way the controller gets a 100% charge rather than a semi-chrage from the hour or 2 I'm playing my xbox...I've had my play and charges for 3 years both still work fine...I'd guess I get at least 10 hours from 1 charge.

Hmm then it's weird. I've always plugged them when the controller stopped working, and kept them plugged until the light went green.

Also I didn't even plug them to the Xbox but to the usb port of my desktop PC so they kept getting juice even if I wasn't playing (and because the front xbox usb ports are annoying to plug to). I do the same with both of my DS3.

I don't know if it might be relevant, but they stopped recharging after I got my Xbox back from MS technical service. The DVD tray wasn't reading any media so I sent the console to get that repaired, and after getting it back I kept the console in the box unused for several months.

Do those batteries go bad if you don't use them for a long while?

[Draken]

Xbox 360, best PC/console controler ever and supported by all modern games :D

[philcruicks]

See, at that rate, you may as well buy a charger with batteries, charge all 4, use 2, have 2 on hand to change over when the other 2 die and then charge the dead ones.

A charger with 4 rechargeable batteries is also probably cheaper than that kit. And less of a hassle.

Yeah but I find the Play and Charge kits last longer that AA's for me...even If I use NiMH AA's

They do, since all those other devices use lithiun( io to be exact) batteries.

And lithium batteries would have been preferable, but then they'd probably have to make them non removable for safety. Which is a crap design and against regulations.

And lithium has its own problems, like limite charge cycles (about 300), dying if they go flat, not to mention the explosive power.

Exactly, Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries work differently to Li-ION batteries (what's in most laptops and iDevices)...

Li-ION also provides a lot more power...this is why its used in high consumption devices like laptops smartphones and tablets...an xbox controller doesn't need that much power so they opted for NiMH

Also Li-ION is also a lot more expensive than NiMH.

Do those batteries go bad if you don't use them for a long while?

Yeah NiMH will lose about 30% charge per month, Li-ION about 2-3% per month.

Did a bit more reading, and the method for charging batteries that I said earlier is best for Li-ION

NiMH idealy should be fully discharged before charging, and a lot of the NiMH chargers you buy will have a discharge function...(my Uniross one does)

source:http://batterydata.com/

[profane]

Controller S for Xbox 1 :D. Nah, in all seriousness, I've had a PS1, PS2 and used a DS3 before. Xbox 360 is hands-down without a shred of doubt, better. But my first statement still stands true, that was the best during xbox 1 era.

[ichi]

Yeah NiMH will lose about 30% charge per month, Li-ION about 2-3% per month.

Wow, then I think I won't be buying a xbox battery pack ever again :s

[HawkMan]

Wow, then I think I won't be buying a xbox battery pack ever again :s

I think he's mis quoting quite bad, or you're misunderstanding his quote.

If you charge the battery fully and then leave it alone it will lose 30% of it's "charge" every month. However, a NiMH battery is very little affected by age, whereas age and charge cycles is the primary reason for capacity reduction on Lithium. NiMH batteries primarily lose capacity from wrong usage. And even when they've gone bad, they can often be revived to higher capacity by cycling. though it's hard on these kind of batteries or without a special charger,

[Wakers]

I've got both a PS3 and a 360 and have no allegiance to either.

360 controller is far, far superior to the old fashioned dual shock. Both in terms of comfort and responsiveness.

Oh and NimH batteries all the way. Those battery packs are rubbish - not only do they last only a few hours after a few months of heavy uses, but I've had to replace two of them because they would no longer charge.

[ichi]

I think he's mis quoting quite bad, or you're misunderstanding his quote.

If you charge the battery fully and then leave it alone it will lose 30% of it's "charge" every month. However, a NiMH battery is very little affected by age, whereas age and charge cycles is the primary reason for capacity reduction on Lithium. NiMH batteries primarily lose capacity from wrong usage. And even when they've gone bad, they can often be revived to higher capacity by cycling. though it's hard on these kind of batteries or without a special charger,

Ah ok, that's far more reasonable :D

What was I doing wrong? I always charged them fully (through the usb cable, with the battery attached to the controller) and used them until the controller stopped working.

I think I'll rather keep playing with the usb cable instead of spending money on new batteries or trying to fix these ones, but learning how to do things right never hurts :blush: