This is brilliant. An article on Yahoo! Finance about Christmas gifts has claimed that PS3’s pads must be replaced after running out of charge.

“It’s all fun and games until the battery dies,” said author Anne Kadet. “Unlike its competitors, which use replaceable AA batteries, the PS3’s remote control is glued shut. When the battery goes, Sony customers have to blow $55 on a new controller.”

You’re right, Anne. That really is a glaring design fault.

The frantic hole-digging continues: “Sony says there’s an ‘environmental benefit’ since gamers don’t have to toss their batteries on a regular basis, but Isidor Buchmann, president of battery-equipment maker Cadex Electronics, says captive batteries are becoming common because it’s cheaper for companies to eliminate the battery housing and hatch.”

Spectacular. Merry Christmas. Thanks, mart.