Switch Dock With Lan Port Launches In December

Cybergadget, a Japanese accessory maker has announced a new slim Switch Dock that has a built in Lan Adapter. The dock allows for easier Lan play, has three USB ports ( 2 x 2.0, 1 x 3.0 ) and lets you play in table-top mode while charging.

[EddieNX]

I'm expecting some dock redesigns from Nintendo themselves as well as the Switch bit this is cool.

[PhoenixUp]

Why didn't Nintendo themselves just put an Ethernet port into the Switch dock? Do they really enjoy nickel and diming their consumers with an Ethernet adapter that much?

[Neonridr]

then they would have to revise it. Then early adopters would complain. It doesn't need it as the wifi works perfectly fine. I have a USB LAN adapter kicking around from my Wii U that I can use if I really want.

[PhoenixUp]

So? That's really a poor excuse not to do so. PS2 got a built in Ethernet port 4 years after it released and you didn't see any outrage.

In fact any complaints from early adopters for later revisions is really meaningless in the grand scheme of tech advancements.

When Nintendo themselves admitted in SSB4 advertising that you'd want to use a wired connection for better stability, you know that they're just pouring salt on the wound. There's no excuse for them to continue lacking such a basic port for 16 years now.

Just because you have an adapter doesn't mean everyone will. There should be nothing stopping Nintendo from just putting the port there unless they want to continue nickel and diming consumers

[DwightSchrute01]

I don't see the need for it in the 21st century. Hasn't everyone got good fast stable WiFi now or are people still using dial up Internet lol.

[PhoenixUp]

Well you clearly live in a bubble because various people use Ethernet and they shouldn't be forced to buy an adapter for a device that should already be with the times by now

[CyrusLemont]

@dwightshrute01 great name but wifi will never be as good as lan. You’ll always have a lower ping via cable than wifi.

[DwightSchrute01]

No one is forcing you to buy anything.

@CyrusLemont thanks, and yeah I agree cable is more stable. But there's good WiFi available to.

[Eidolon]

Well well, Wi-fi doesn't inherently ADD more latency.. though a lot of environments would have lower latency and dropped packets with ethernet, due to wireless interference.. But majority of people have shitty basic/ISP provided routers. I for one, do not see a difference with my PS4 Pro and 5GHz connection compared to an ethernet connection.. in fact, I prefer the convenience of having a wireless connection. BUTTTTT Yes, Ethernet should have been an option from the get-go.

[PhoenixUp]

You pretty much are being forced if you want a more stable connection.

It's best to give consumers the option to use whatever connection they prefer right out of the box rather than telling them what they should be using and making them pay a premium for access to the other option.

For example it was ridiculous when Microsoft asked Xbox 360 consumers to buy an expensive WiFi adapter for wireless connectivity, but at least they fixed the issue by integrating it into the later slimline model. Nintendo on the other hand continues to ask its consumers of four generations of consoles to get an Ethernet adapter.

Why are you even defending this folly & shortsighted decision?

[Neonridr]

@Phoenix - you mean like Sony not allowing the use of external drives until what.. just a few months ago? Or a Processing box for their VR that doens't allow for HDR passthrough? Seems like not every company is impervious from shortsightedness..

[PhoenixUp]

I never said Nintendo is the only company with flaws. Every company is guilty of shortsighted decisions.

Nintendo is however one of the few companies who'll acknowledge these flaws and not do much to correct them. For example in addition to not having an Ethernet port for four generations of consoles, they still have yet to have an effective voice chat system on their consoles for the entirety of the 21st century.

[Eidolon]

We're defending Wi-fi, brah.

[PhoenixUp]

Defending Wi-Fi against what? I'm not against Wi-Fi since I use it a lot.

I'm against a company intentionally cutting corners for as long as possible just so they can make a quick buck on the inconvenience. That's something I don't get why anybody would defend.

[Prince_TFK]

A built in lan port would have made the Switch more bulky and would look very ugly on the handheld itself.

As for putting it in the dock, that I would agree. But ain't we all using WiFi now? I don't think it is as much of an inconvenience as most people here claim it to be. I don't usually see Switch owner complaint about it except the ones that don't own it.

[PhoenixUp]

Who said anything about putting an Ethernet port into the NS itself? I was always talking about the dock. That's the main purpose of this article.

Not having an Ethernet port has been an inconvenience with four generations of Nintendo consoles. It didn't ever stop being an inconvenience

[Theknightofnights]

I think the reason why Nintendo didn't put an ethernet port in the Switch dock is due to the docking/undocking feature. I think they wanted to ensure that downloading or online play isn't interrupted when taken out of the dock.

I'm not sure, but that's the only legitimate reason I can think of besides lowering the cost. Which ethernet ports don't cost much to begin with, so I'm not sure why that would be the defining factor for Nintendo.

[blawren4]

It's about time someone got it. I read all of the comments and was about the say the same thing. Thank you. Too bad it will be way below all of this pointless arguing.

[Xerneas]

"Do they really enjoy nickel and diming their consumers with an Ethernet adapter that much?"

Not to say they should sell an ethernet adapter separately but you can buy a 3rd party adapter that Nintendo doesn't make a cent from. Being hardwired is the minority, considering how convenient Wi-Fi is. None of my consoles, PCs, or coffee makers are hardwired.

[Bronxs15]

No one screws their own loyal fans worse than NINTENDO. This should have been there day one in the official dock.