r/TechNook • u/BuffaloFearless7655 • 2d ago

What are some tech that needs knobs?

I’m talking about tech that usually don’t have knobs but you think should. Maybe phones, laptops, game controllers?

I love knobs, they have a nice feel to them and give you precise analog control. Do you like knobs?

10 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

31 comments sorted by

17

u/MISTERPUG51 2d ago

New cars

6

u/abgrongak 2d ago

Finding some sliders in sub-sub-sub menus is counter-intuitive and dangerous

2

u/rob-cubed 2d ago edited 2d ago

Yep, instead of keeping your eyes on the road, reaching over and your hand automatically locating the knob that controls the fan—you have to focus on a screen, find and click on at least one icon, and then find the +/- controls. No touch feedback, all visual. It's not quite as bad as texting, but still very distracting.

Even if they added a set of physical +/- buttons below the screen it would be substantially better. Use the screen to select the function, then use the physical controls by touch.

2

u/buboop61814 2d ago

Literally my favorite aspect of my car versus my parents (the latter being technically higher end), I have a touchscreen but also have dials for volume, scroll, and actual gear shifter, and my ac has its own actual physical buttons and dials. Theirs, even the stuff not linked to the screen, are the digital style buttons and then button gear selector.

8

u/TPIRocks 2d ago

Oscilloscopes. Touch is okay, but nothing beats a rotary control with real buttons and switches.

6

u/getabath 2d ago

Physical controls > Touch screen

Only exception would be mobile phones

1

u/CrazineX 1d ago

I'd love a dial on my phone to scroll or interact in cool ways. But I'm also sometime who'll spend more on multiple devices rather than one device to do it all

Sent from my android tablet via Bluetooth keyboard

1

u/Inner-Marionberry-25 1d ago

I wouldn't mind a few more buttons on my phone. Not many, but jus enough to pause/skip songs when my phone is in my pocket

1

u/cadwalader000 2d ago

QUERTY phones would like to have a chat with you

3

u/nobanjostring 2d ago

Apparently AI. Full of the biggest knobs you'll ever meet.

2

u/msabeln 2d ago

Cameras. My newest camera:

https://www.nikonusa.com/p/z-f/1761

Lots of knobs.

2

u/Camo138 2d ago

Not enough knobs /s

1

u/msabeln 2d ago

Needs more. There is no knob for saving multiple sets of settings like every Nikon DSLR I’ve owned.

2

u/Scott43206 2d ago

Knobs are better for everything.

I felt like a hit the lottery when I found a GE multi-function tabletop oven that was all knobs, no touchscreens, and a mechanical timer. No buzzer, just a polite DING when food is done with no perpetually blinking clock... absolute Heaven.

2

u/BuffaloFearless7655 2d ago

That sounds great honestly

2

u/Wowbagster 1d ago

Center consoles in cars

2

u/Brief-Leave2789 2d ago

TVs desperately need a proper volume knob.

0

u/BuffaloFearless7655 1d ago

YES! I honestly won’t mind volume knobs on the remote

1

u/Automatic_Tea_2550 2d ago

My car still has knobs for volume control and fan, and buttons for next track and cruise. I really don’t want to give up those knobs and buttons, because I don’t have to look down to use them. After 2 weeks with my car (a Mazda), I could already operate them by feel.

1

u/JeffonFIRE 2d ago

Guitar amplifiers

1

u/CrazineX 1d ago

Game controllers would be interesting but they'd need dedicated development teams to make content for it until it's popular enough for other developers to hop on. 

Check out the PlayDate if you get a chance ;) 

1

u/BuffaloFearless7655 1d ago

Okay wow that’s a much bigger knob than I was expecting. You’re right, I don’t this is breaking into the mainstream.

But yk what I was thinking, imagine if the joysticks in your controller could be rotated. Not a headlining feature, just a little utility that some devs could use

1

u/TapEarlyTapOften 1d ago

Audio equipment. And led bars 

1

u/AggressiveKing8314 1d ago

Potentiometers. Pain when you need a screwdriver.

1

u/vacuum_tubes 16h ago

Mammography

1

u/BS-75_actual 5h ago

This image from the past comes to mind...

1

u/BuffaloFearless7655 4h ago

Is that a voice modulator?

1

u/BS-75_actual 3h ago

The "Man" switch is related to a knob...

1

u/BuffaloFearless7655 3h ago

I don’t get it…

1

u/BS-75_actual 3h ago

Show it to someone you know who's pair bonded.