Planned obsolescence and lasting a lifetime

[SearFerret]

I hope Scout has lots of physical buttons so when the screen breaks, I won’t be left to rely on it. Also, I hope they make the vehicles easy to repair for the owner. That way you don’t have to take it to a dealership every time you need to do an oil change or fix something minor I just hope they don’t add lots of bloat to the car to make it trendy and try to keep the vehicles as reliable as they can

 

[R1TVT]

Physical buttons are mutually exclusive from a working infotainment screen - especially in an EV truck. You need the screen for many things that a button does not do. A button will not show you your SOC, and a button will not navigate you to the nearest charger, and a button will not show you a playlist or the map of your surrounding charger infrastructure (for example)

 

[speedrye]

Physical buttons are mutually exclusive from a working infotainment screen - especially in an EV truck. You need the screen for many things that a button does not do. A button will not show you your SOC, and a button will not navigate you to the nearest charger, and a button will not show you a playlist or the map of your surrounding charger infrastructure (for example)

But can I still drive it if the infotainment system craps out? I don't need any of those things to drive a vehicle any more so than I need a gas gauge to drive an ICE vehicle. Not ideal, sure, but will it still work? I'm guessing not if it's an actual module and not just the screen. Hopefully the zonal architecture will allow the drive systems to disregard a CANBUS error in the entertainment/display portion.

 

[Logan]

Physical buttons are mutually exclusive from a working infotainment screen - especially in an EV truck. You need the screen for many things that a button does not do. A button will not show you your SOC, and a button will not navigate you to the nearest charger, and a button will not show you a playlist or the map of your surrounding charger infrastructure (for example)

SOC should hopefully be in the driver display, not just the infotainment screen (there are definitely cases where both go out, but just stating that in most vehicles other than single screen vehicles, the driver display/gauge cluster is a different display from the "infotainment" screen in the center of the vehicle).

In a pinch, a smartphone will do the other things you discussed. The route to the charger using something like ABRP, plugshare, etc), the playlist is probably on your phone first (especially for carplay/android auto users), and plugshare/etc for chargers nearby.

But the hardware button for your AC settings, pressing "next track", or turning on/off heated seats should still work, even if the infotainment screen is inoperable for some reason. Which I think is the point of the post.

 

[R1TVT]

But can I still drive it if the infotainment system craps out? I don't need any of those things to drive a vehicle any more so than I need a gas gauge to drive an ICE vehicle. Not ideal, sure, but will it still work? I'm guessing not if it's an actual module and not just the screen. Hopefully the zonal architecture will allow the drive systems to disregard a CANBUS error in the entertainment/display portion.

Yes, you can still drive.

In my case, this happened to me once back in 2022. I had the screen go blank while driving due to a SW bug (screen didn't "die" or "break", but I did get the black screen of death with no functionality while in the truck). The truck did not miss a single beat. I did a hard reset and that worked to bring my screen back to life, and Rivian then released an update to address an uncommon issue that could lead to the screen not working.

I'm just being realistic. Can screens "DIE"? Sure, but buttons can break and gauges can stop working too. It's just unlikely to be the case (in a modern EV) that your "screen breaks" suddenly, and that goes for any screen - a driver display screen, OR the infotainment screen.

Reminder: there are also excellent warranties on all EV's, and you can also elect to go into DETOX mode and simply not use your screen (based on what Scout has shown us). Buttons are great, so are screens... Until you've owned an EV with really good SW, you probably don't realize how much data and functionality is available through your infotainment screen, how much you will use it, and how convenient it can be to access to stuff that buttons won't provide - or that you would need 1000+ buttons for.

These are just a few examples (not to mention the ability to stream video:

 

[speedrye]

Yes, you can still drive.

In my case, this happened to me once back in 2022. I had the screen go blank while driving due to a SW bug (screen didn't "die" or "break", but I did get the black screen of death with no functionality while in the truck). The truck did not miss a single beat. I did a hard reset and that worked to bring my screen back to life, and Rivian then released an update to address an uncommon issue that could lead to the screen not working.

I'm just being realistic. Can screens "DIE"? Sure, but buttons can break and gauges can stop working too. It's just unlikely to be the case (in a modern EV) that your "screen breaks" suddenly, and that goes for any screen - a driver display screen, OR the infotainment screen.

Reminder: there are also excellent warranties on all EV's, and you can also elect to go into DETOX mode and simply not use your screen (based on what Scout has shown us). Buttons are great, so are screens... Until you've owned an EV with really good SW, you probably don't realize how much data and functionality is available through your infotainment screen, how much you will use it, and how convenient it can be to access to stuff that buttons won't provide - or that you would need 1000+ buttons for.

These are just a few examples (not to mention the ability to stream video:

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That reminds me... I drive with my screens off 75% of the time since the bulk of my driving is in the dark and most screens don't dim enough for me (my eyes are very light-colored and sensitive to light). Hopefully Scout offers a legit 0-100% dimming on their screens with a good dark mode so I can leave them on. I've only had one car where the screens had enough dimming range to leave on while driving at night. Disclaimer- almost all of my night driving is country and backroads with minimal traffic and not-so-minimal wildlife. If I'm driving in town, the screens are fine in most al vehicles.

 

[cyure]

That reminds me... I drive with my screens off 75% of the time since the bulk of my driving is in the dark and most screens don't dim enough for me (my eyes are very light-colored and sensitive to light). Hopefully Scout offers a legit 0-100% dimming on their screens with a good dark mode so I can leave them on. I've only had one car where the screens had enough dimming range to leave on while driving at night. Disclaimer- almost all of my night driving is country and backroads with minimal traffic and not-so-minimal wildlife. If I'm driving in town, the screens are fine in most al vehicles.

Did you see some of the videos from the 2025 CES? One of them showed their mode that turned off the majority of the screen and just showed what was necessary. I can’t remember off the top of my head what it was called? They had a name for it. Anybody remember?

 

[speedrye]

Did you see some of the videos from the 2025 CES? One of them showed their mode that turned off the majority of the screen and just showed what was necessary. I can’t remember off the top of my head what it was called? They had a name for it. Anybody remember?

No clue how I missed those! I know what I'll be watching soon.

 

[cyure]

No clue how I missed those! I know what I'll be watching soon.

There’s a bunch of them. And let me know what it’s called because for the life of me right now I can’t remember. It was like detox mode or something like that.

 

[RodorW]

There’s a bunch of them. And let me know what it’s called because for the life of me right now I can’t remember. It was like detox mode or something like that.

Detox makes the screens red and only gives important information, speed and range and such, making it easier on the eyes, the last galaxy watch I had had the same feature turning red at “night” to make it easier to look at the time without blinding light

 

[cyure]

Detox makes the screens red and only gives important information, speed and range and such, making it easier on the eyes, the last galaxy watch I had had the same feature turning red at “night” to make it easier to look at the time without blinding light

That’s what it showed in the CES video so I bet it’s that.

 

[R1TVT]

Did you see some of the videos from the 2025 CES? One of them showed their mode that turned off the majority of the screen and just showed what was necessary. I can’t remember off the top of my head what it was called? They had a name for it. Anybody remember?

Clearly you didn't read my post and only looked at the pretty pictures! LOL.

 

[cyure]

Clearly you didn't read my post and only looked at the pretty pictures! LOL.

It’s been a busy day today! I’m sorry I should have not just looked at the pretty pictures.

 

[R1TVT]

That reminds me... I drive with my screens off 75% of the time since the bulk of my driving is in the dark and most screens don't dim enough for me (my eyes are very light-colored and sensitive to light). Hopefully Scout offers a legit 0-100% dimming on their screens with a good dark mode so I can leave them on. I've only had one car where the screens had enough dimming range to leave on while driving at night. Disclaimer- almost all of my night driving is country and backroads with minimal traffic and not-so-minimal wildlife. If I'm driving in town, the screens are fine in most al vehicles.

I'm with you 100% (and that also goes for boating / navigating by instrument at night when you also want to see better into the surrounding darkness). Amazing what lights and glare can do to your night vision. I have barely enough brightness on my screens to navigate effectively and pick-up echos on my radar.

Driving a truck with bright screens in the darkness is the worst!

 

[speedrye]

I'm with you 100% (and that also goes for boating / navigating by instrument at night when you also want to see better into the surrounding darkness). Amazing what lights and glare can do to your night vision. I have barely enough brightness on my screens to navigate effectively and pick-up echos on my radar.

Driving a truck with bright screens in the darkness is the worst!

Let's not forget the excessively reflective signs that are now mandated by the feds... Out in the country, you're blinded by every sign if you have your high beams on.

 

[speedrye]

Detox makes the screens red and only gives important information, speed and range and such, making it easier on the eyes, the last galaxy watch I had had the same feature turning red at “night” to make it easier to look at the time without blinding light

Finally got to watch some of the CES videos, and that detox mode looks perfect. Has there been mention of whether Scout is keeping the shiny gloss screens, or if they'll go with something more user-friendly?

 

[R1TVT]

You can add a screen protector (with different finishes), and they help with fingerprints, cleaning and protection from scratches or other damage.

 

[RodorW]

Needs the Samsung anti reflective screen, it can be nearly impossible to see my backup camera at times in my bolt

 

[speedrye]

You can add a screen protector (with different finishes), and they help with fingerprints, cleaning and protection from scratches or other damage.

Does anybody actually want the gloss? Fingerprints, being blinded by the sun, being distracted by endless reflections... Sure, it looks nice in pictures, but I don't understand the idea in a vehicle meant to be used.

 

[J Alynn]

Does anybody actually want the gloss? Fingerprints, being blinded by the sun, being distracted by endless reflections... Sure, it looks nice in pictures, but I don't understand the idea in a vehicle meant to be used.

Good point-wonder if SM could change that or make it a factory/accessories option that gets done before delivery. Putting the safety glass cover on my cellphone (with no air bubbles or minute crumble is a hellish nightmare-can’t imagine my OCD is going to enjoy doing it hunched over a dashboard. I’ll go $65 just for the convenience