GBA SP buttons

[googlefest1]

i used use a regular GBA

i just got an SP in that game crasy deal and was disapointed with the D-pad. It feels like it has Tactile switches instead of the traditional pad with the conductive carbon buttons.

my question is directed to people that use thier GBA SP very often.

have any of you had your D-pads die on you. I've taken a look at those kind of tactile switches (the kind i suspect the SP has) at work. Ive spoken to distributors (of switches) and they all said those buttons are popular becasue of the nice feedback you get from them but they do have short lifespans.

I have not been able to find any info on the "guts" of the SP so i am still going with my impression that the d-pad is a set of tactile switches. Does any one know if im right? Has anyone had thier d-pad die?

there are a few kind of tactile switches, the ones im thinking of are board/panel mount not the membrane type

Yes i can take it apart to check but i just got this thing and my GBA use has been rekindeled. I don't exactly want to risk breaking it since it looks like it has a few snap fit sections.

this is the regular sp not the new brighter screen version

[PentiumMMX]

Not sure, It always felt like the Motorola Razr Keypad and My PC's mouse to me, so it might.

[davidbrit2]

I've never had an SP or DS button fail on me, and it's certainly not for lack of use, either. Heh. In fact, my DS is about a year old, and the hinge is in worse shape than the buttons, which still work as well as the day I got it.

[neuropolitique]

I've had an SP since launch, and the D-Pad has seen Heavy use. I've also accidentaly sent the SP through the washing machine. The D-Pad has always worked fine. If anything, the shoulder buttons are a bit flaky. I had trouble a long time ago with them, but after a cleaning they have worked fine.

[googlefest1]

do you think you have clicked the d-pad buttons more than 100,000 times?

its good news hearing the positive replies

basicaly i was trying to determine if i should store a bunch of SPs to last me through the years after its end

[Necromutant]

I have played the hell out of my SP and have never had a problem with the buttons... :D The only problems I have had with it are the battery losing most of its charge (won't store a full charge anymore) and oil from my hands wearing at the paint a little bit. I wouldn't be concerned about the buttons/d-pad going out any time soon.

[Mianrtcv]

I have heavy use on my sp. It also has not been handled kindly. No problems thus far and it is still under goodly amounts of use.

[CosmicMonkey]

I don't think anyone needs to worry about stocking-up on Gameboys. There's enough GBs in various guises to last until the end of time. In fact, there's probably enough GBs of all variations on the face of the planet to create a new island.

[DonMarco]

Anyone here own the regular and back-lit SPs? Someone told me the L/R butons on the new back-lit ones were better or responded better than the old SPs. I figured this would be a good thread to ask in.