What is your favorite controller(s) to use with a laptop?
What is your favorite controller(s) to use with a laptop?
I have a Razer wolverine V2 that I like quite a lot. But it's not perfect though... I'm wondering what everyone else likes to use.
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Gulikit KingKong 2 (Pro). Mostly same layout as an Xbox controller and is recognised as one by the computer, works wirelessly or wired (true wired, not just charging while wireless) and is in line with prices on the usual brands while having hall effect sensors so it'll never suffer from stick drift (by human life standards, not literally never so it might be your great grandkid's problem but who cares about that sniveling little brat, right?). It typically comes in "Nin Switch mode" but it has onboard settings for Xbox and you can buy a pack of face buttons to swap them to Xbox visual layout (they aren't required for function, just better for those who have to look down to remember where this X button is or simply for aesthetics). Sometimes you can get the face button kit included with the controller either in-box or as a purchase bundle. If you live in the US, I believe the same controller is sold at Target as the Zen Pro. There are other bells as whistles such as motion controls and input recording features but they aren't all that useful to most people. The company also sells replacement parts for the face button mechanisms so they're easily repairable after typical wear and tear unlike most companies that expect you to bin it and buy a new one. Feel free to ask if you have any questions.
Edit: I'm not sponsored or employed by Gulikit, I'm just a really pleased customer who wants to see potentiometer-based sticks that suffer from stick drift to go the way of the dodo and any company who lies about the difference in pricing to go with them.
Any idea how well it works with Linux?
^asking the important questions!
As someone who doesn't use Linux, I can't comfortably weigh in here. That said - and I know this is a bit gauche to post on Lemmy - here's a Reddit post that can give you so much more detail than I possibly could but a good summary like with most things Linux is "it depends on your distro".
I can not handle their website XD
Their controller does seem pretty good. I like the (seemingly good) repairability aspect too.
A few features that I've grown accustomed to on my current controller are the additional buttons (this one has m1 and m2 buttons on the shoulders, though that isn't really my favorite position for them), and the other thing would be the tactile switches in the face buttons. The switches in the face buttons for the Gulikit do look interesting, but I really like the tactile clicky switches that are in the Razr. I do wonder how they compare.
One of the main features that I feel like I'm lacking right now is definitely wireless. Using a ~10' cable when you're on a laptop is really no fun.
Another thing that I really like to see in a controller is an easy way to take screenshots, though, that can usually be remedied with a software solution as well.
Luckily their website is only for showcase purposes. The controllers are on sale on Amazon and Aliexpress.
If rear buttons or paddles are important to you, Gulikit is bringing out their new KK3 Max (let's get an eyeroll for modern naming conventions) which has four paddles on the back. Supposedly it's more or less the same controller as the KK2 Pro but with some refinements and some additions that people have been screaming for (paddles among them), new vibration motors and supposedly an upgraded version (whatever that means) of the face buttons. On the subject of the face buttons, I just looked up your Wolverine V2 to be sure what you meant by the tactile feel and I have to say that's not something I've encountered on controllers since the early digital ones on PC-specific controllers back in the 90s and sad to say that the Gulikit has the ever-so-slightly mushy feel not unlike Playstation or Xbox controllers you will have already encountered though they are mechanical. They just chose to do some interesting tweaking to make them feel like the silicon kind. I have to say that I didn't like the feel when I first got my KK2 but I quickly got used to it.
I can relate to the unwieldly feeling of 8-10' of cable from back when I gamed on a laptop but I'm a wired man at heart. That said, a controller that does both is nothing to be sniffed at. It's always good to have options.
Both the KK2 and KK3 have a screenshot button but I believe it only works when it's in Switch mode. What you can do though is press the home button to bring up the Xbox Game Bar and use that to take a screenshot. Not ideal and personally, I just use good old PrtSc with a clipboard manager that I've set to keep 50 entries so I don't accidentally overwrite the potential many of things I wish to keep from a gaming session.
I'd really prefer to order directly from the manufacturer whenever I can. Mainly because I prefer not to use Amazon anymore...
Anyway, that controller looks fantastic! I may be looking at that one as a serious contender for the next upgrade, thank you for sharing. I really like the fact that the paddles are similar looking to the xbox pro controller ones. Those seem like really good quality, form, fit, and function.
The switches, on the razr controller, are so good (in my opinion) that I really am not sure if I could go back. Lol. I've had other people not get it though, when I tried to show them how amazing they are.... They just commented that they are noisy compared to normal buttons. Totally missed the point.
I'd be super interested to see a review of the KK3 Max (mandatory eyeroll of solidarity).
I really dislike the xbox gamebar. There are workarounds though. My currently preferred method is to disable the xbox gamebar, and then use joytokey to setup a hotkey for screenshots. I have steam setup to use (F12) as my hotkey to save uncompressed copies in a folder that I use for my background images on my desktop. :)
Thanks for the good convo, and recommendation!
In which case, Aliexpress is the way to go as that's their official storefront and where I bought mine from. I completely understand and relate to not wanting to buy from Amazon as I'm doing the same, I just know a lot of people prefer to buy from the "local" company.
Those mechanical switches are extremely subjective. I can appreciate the intent of having both precisely physical and acoustic feedback for a button press but I already type on a mechanical keyboard - for context - and when I unearthed that same 90s controller I alluded to of mine that had been hiding in my attic not too long ago, pressing them made me immediately feel the arthritis I'd end up with if I chose to use it full time. I don't mean that as an insult, it's a satisfying feedback but there's just something so aggressive about it too, if that makes sense.
According to the Aliexpress page, the KK3 Max will be released on Jan 5th so give it about another week or two for reviews to be out. I'd imagine you already have someone you like to watch/read for controller reviews but just in case, I recommend Gamer Heaven on youtube. I've found him to be pretty good with descriptions and comparisons when explaining the feel of each product as well as the level of general depth he's willing to go to compared to the usual "this is what it looks like and it feels pretty good in the hand". Like expect latency and circularity stat tests.
No problem, always happy to help where I can and it was good having a nerdy conversation over controllers considering my best friend just brought me much shame by buying a Dualsense when he doesn't even own a PS5 and how much I've already preached about stick drift.
Looks like KK3 Max got pushed back a bit, or it just released for preorder from the 5th. Goddamn preorders. NO. I'll wait for the reviews, thanks.
#frustrated
Understandable though I have no idea what happened there. Last I heard one of their distributors was saying they'd have it by release date. Must have been some screw up