Topic: The Best Infotainment Systems of 2018

[mlin32]

With a touch screen it's look and touch. If it takes more than a couple of pokes, it's likely something you shouldn't be doing in traffic, but that's the same with any of the screen bases systems.

With a controller it's look, grab the puck, look where the cursor or hotpoint is, twiddle with the puck as it bounces around the screen and then click.

I've not found that to be the case for me with mouse's I've used. Once you know the menu, I just feel for the haptic feedback and count the spaces. Eyes not even on the screen. Like if the icon defaults to the top left corner, you just feel the bumps to the icon you want. And these weren't even my cars, so I'm guessing I'd be even better if that were the case.

YMMV.

Correct. The haptic feedback helps a lot. Like if I need to go to a side menu 2 steps right, I'd just instinctively move/click my hand 2x. Scroll down to a destination 4th on the list ? Twirl wheel 4 clicks right. Instinct by feel.

That said, it is cheaper to source simply a screen and/or a flat panel instead of moulding individual buttons, etc....

I tend to do things on the move, so I prefer to have systems that allow me to do that easily. I'll get most of the way to my destination, and then type in the exact address as I approach. Or I'll change/scan for radio stations- way easier with a rotary knob than a touchscreen slider.

[rrocket]

^ Which nobody does in practice. People look for the cursor, then twiddle until it's over the icon they want. It's more distracting, and why these systems are on the way out.

Well I must be the brilliant minority who's figured this "trick" out. Seriously..it wasn't hard and made sense to me.

Of course many people thought MyFordTouch was difficult and I didn't in the least.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

People have told me this before. A friend had a BMW 528 with it. He likewise insisted that he could navigate it without looking. As we're driving along I could see he was looking at the thing while navigating the menus. It's human nature, we're visual creatures.

[mlin32]

One still needs to look at the screen but it is a momentary glance to see we've landed on the right menu. And often with systems like iDrive or Audi's MMI, the screen is higher up near the level of the road vision. With a touchscreen, you have to stare down multiple seconds at your finger while you punch in commands or an address. Plus, you have to reach forward.......

I know with iDrive they've had handwriting possible on the puck for a few years now. So it's even easier to input without constantly looking down.

Of course, it's everyone's personal preferences. I have to deal with a touchscreen and almost no buttons on my Peugeot- the only hard buttons are the central locking, defrost front, rear, hazard, and air recirculate. Often I *miss* when I punch climate or radio or navi and have to look down again. I've learned to deal with it. But a rotary + screen menu setup is easier to manipulate in my books.

[OliverD]

With a touch screen it's look and touch. If it takes more than a couple of pokes, it's likely something you shouldn't be doing in traffic, but that's the same with any of the screen bases systems.

With a controller it's look, grab the puck, look where the cursor or hotpoint is, twiddle with the puck as it bounces around the screen and then click.

Not really. iDrive is quite intuitive to use and I find it much easier and less distracting than using a touchscreen, and I definitely don't have to look at the controller.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

You don't have to look at the controller, but you still need to look at the screen to locate the cursor or hotspot. It isn't any less distracting than a touch screen.

[OliverD]

There's no cursor unless you're manually scrolling the map. As for the hot spot, even that isn't necessarily true depending on what you're doing.

[DriverJeff]

Having had recent experience with both, I think I'd swap out Volvo's system for Acura's new one in the RDX; and I'd move iDrive up higher on the list.  I have no issue with Honda, Chevy and Ford's systems either -- they've all worked well in my experience. 

Carplay and Android Auto can make up for a lot of the OEM system's ergonomic deficiencies too.

[rrocket]

You don't have to look at the controller, but you still need to look at the screen to locate the cursor or hotspot. It isn't any less distracting than a touch screen.

No, you don't (on the one I used). The cursor is always in the same spot when you activate it/push the home button. It's not like it's floating around at a different spot on the screen every time.

Always in the same spot to start.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

With the Lexus system in particular, and you move the mouse thingy, it jumps almost at random around the screen. It, and the Mazda system are about the worse implementation of a flawed system.

[rrocket]

With the Lexus system in particular, and you move the mouse thingy, it jumps almost at random around the screen. It, and the Mazda system are about the worse implementation of a flawed system.

I had no such issue with any mouse jumping around on the Lexus system.  After the home press, cursor was in exact same spot every time...not a random spot on the screen...and it only goes on the icons.

TBH, the only systems I had an issue with, truly, were the early i-Drive and CUE.  Other than that, I've not had much issue with most systems.

**Shrugs**

[Sir Osis of Liver]

It is a pretty common complaint with the Lexus system.

We all agreed that the console-mounted “mouse” needs to step into a mousetrap. For those blissfully unaware of Lexus’ Remote Touch infotainment controller – and we envy you for that – it’s a joystick-and-button affair that mimics a computer mouse to access functions on the non-touch screen. That’s fine when you’re sitting at your desk computer, but when you’re driving over bumpy roads and paying attention (we hope) to traffic, it’s annoyingly difficult to first get the cursor to the right spot, and then make sure it stays there while you select the function.

As Lesley put it, “Seriously, critics and drivers have complained about the mouse controller long enough that surely it should have found its way to the bottom of the Mariana Trench by now.”

http://www.autotrader.ca/expert/20180814/comparison-test-2018-luxury-mid-size-3-row-suvs/

[Ex-airbalancer]

It is a pretty common complaint with the Lexus system.

We all agreed that the console-mounted “mouse” needs to step into a mousetrap. For those blissfully unaware of Lexus’ Remote Touch infotainment controller – and we envy you for that – it’s a joystick-and-button affair that mimics a computer mouse to access functions on the non-touch screen. That’s fine when you’re sitting at your desk computer, but when you’re driving over bumpy roads and paying attention (we hope) to traffic, it’s annoyingly difficult to first get the cursor to the right spot, and then make sure it stays there while you select the function.

As Lesley put it, “Seriously, critics and drivers have complained about the mouse controller long enough that surely it should have found its way to the bottom of the Mariana Trench by now.”

http://www.autotrader.ca/expert/20180814/comparison-test-2018-luxury-mid-size-3-row-suvs/

If you read the manual, you know the book that comes with the car, there a section to change the   Sensitivity of the mouse just like on a computer  , amazing 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

^ Not required on a touch screen.

[Ex-airbalancer]

^ Not required on a touch screen.

So, you have reach for a touch screen, don't need to do that with a mouse , you can wear gloves even
Really it comes down to what you are use to
It easy to use while driving

[rrocket]

^ Not required on a touch screen.

Boo hoo....a one time adjustment that takes 5 seconds is brutal, eh?   

[Sir Osis of Liver]

That and the fact it offers no advantages over a touch screen mean it's a dying technology.

[Ex-airbalancer]

That and the fact it offers no advantages over a touch screen mean it's a dying technology.

Just like radio ? 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

More like 8 track. 

[OliverD]

That and the fact it offers no advantages over a touch screen mean it's a dying technology.

To me it offers very clear advantages over a touchscreen.