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Joysticks

RubberEagleRubberEagle What's a rubber eagle used for, anyway?
I'm thinking about getting a new Joystick for my PC and was wondering what everybody else was using, and wanted to ask for any recommendations.

I've been using a Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Pro, but since it's plugged into the midi-port, i can't use it on my new PC (doesn't have a midi port).

What I'm looking for:
[LIST]
[*]not too expensive
[*]not to complex
[*]good for large hands
[*]it can be specialised for right-handed people)
[*]since i live in europe, i'd prefer if i didn't have to import it from the us
[/LIST]

The games i'm playing (and like to play) are more in the wing-commander control realm than I-War or realistic flight-sims.

Any help would be appreciated.

Comments

  • E.TE.T Quote-o-matic
    [QUOTE=RubberEagle;169935]What I'm looking for:[LIST][*]it can be specialised for right-handed people)[/LIST][/QUOTE]Aren't all Joysticks that at default?

    And at least joysticks of CH Products and Thrustmaster HOTAS Cougar are good for big handed people... Also some Saiteks should be adjustable.

    [url]http://geizhals.at/eu/?cat=joy[/url]
  • RubberEagleRubberEagle What's a rubber eagle used for, anyway?
    [QUOTE=E.T;169938]Aren't all Joysticks that at default?
    [url]http://geizhals.at/eu/?cat=joy[/url][/QUOTE]

    What I meant was that i don't care if it's not adjustable ;)

    currently i'm thinking about either the [URL="http://geizhals.at/eu/a277238.html"]Thrustmaster T-Flight Stick X[/URL] or the [URL="http://geizhals.at/eu/a166635.html"]Logitech Force 3D Pro Joystick[/URL].

    At first i was leaning more towards the Logitech one (because of the force feedback, and it's widely available here in stores), but i don't like the throttle on it, and from the reviews i've read it seems that it's prone to develop a large dead-zone, which is a problem i've had with logitech sticks in the past.

    But i do love the stick with the thumb-button on the side...
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    Didn't your sidewinder precision pro come with the joystick port to USB adaptor? Mine did.

    I'm considering one of the high-end Saitek joysticks (can't remember the model, Sanfam probably does), or the Thrustmaster Hotas Cougar.
  • RubberEagleRubberEagle What's a rubber eagle used for, anyway?
    [QUOTE=Biggles;169944]Didn't your sidewinder precision pro come with the joystick port to USB adaptor? Mine did.[/QUOTE]

    Yeah, it did, but i have no idea where it is... it's soon... 10? years and at least one move since i bought it...
  • I use a logitech extreme3Dpro. It has lots of programmable buttons. I had a CH one and Thrustmaster and they were good too but not as much bang for the buck.

    [url]http://reviews.cnet.com/game-accessories/logitech-extreme-3d-pro/4505-10110_7-30600508.html?tag=also[/url]
  • E.TE.T Quote-o-matic
    [QUOTE=Biggles;169944]I'm considering one of the high-end Saitek joysticks (can't remember the model, Sanfam probably does), or...[/QUOTE]Probably Saitek X52
    [url]http://geizhals.at/eu/a123297.html[/url]
    [url]http://geizhals.at/eu/a234289.html[/url]
    I wonder how those are going with Windows Fatty because Saiteks use driver/software emulation for everything above standard joystick behavior.


    [QUOTE=PSI-KILLER;169946]I had a CH one and Thrustmaster and they were good too but not as much bang for the buck.[/QUOTE]I don't know about low end Thrustmasters, what I know those haven't been very popular, but full metal construction HOTAS Cougar definitely has lot of "bang" if you drop it to floor or on your toes. :D
  • SpiritOneSpiritOne Magneto ABQ NM
    I have the Saitek x52pro, and I have used on Vista with Flight Sim X. With the exception of the fact that Flight Sim X, a game specifically designed to run on Vista repeatedly crashes like no ones business, the joystick itself works great and can be mapped to nearly any function of your hearts content.

    I use it in my XP install too, when I used to play Aces High, and did it just fine there too. Love my Saitek.
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    Ah yes, it's the X52 Pro I'm considering. It sounds like an awesome joystick, has been getting great reviews, and is a good alternative to the coutar (at a more reasonable price).
  • RubberEagleRubberEagle What's a rubber eagle used for, anyway?
    I've just returned home with the X52 (not pro). I've decided that, since i only buy a joystick every 8-10 years, i can actually get one that's a bit more expensive...
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    Mind you, don't mix up the pro with the non-pro. The Non-pro has pots with a nasty tendency to get dirty and spike. It also has a plastic shaft on the joystick that is very easily broken. It may look like it's metal, but it's only a thin wrapping. But I have one that is only slightly broken in half and it's really quite comfortable. :D
  • RubberEagleRubberEagle What's a rubber eagle used for, anyway?
    NOW you tell me :-P
  • StingrayStingray Elite Ranger
    ROFLMAO, I think you should be alright, the Decathlon days are over, where you have button mashing, stick breaking action. I still use a Thrustmaster Fox 2 Pro for most of my flightsim games and it's good enough for most tasks.

    I never cared for a separate throttle and pedal set as it would just take up space and be another dust trap. The Fox 2 has twisting action and a throttle lever, which should be good enough for most people.

    Of course there is no joystick on the market that I know of that will survive a hard fall or a toss in a corner of your room when you throw up your hands in frustration. :D
  • RubberEagleRubberEagle What's a rubber eagle used for, anyway?
    And it gets better: I just found the USB-adaptor of my Sidewinder :)

    But no, i'm happy with the X52, the Pro would have been to expensive anyway, and i kinda wanted a new joystick :)
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    [QUOTE=Stingray;169996]Of course there is no joystick on the market that I know of that will survive a hard fall or a toss in a corner of your room when you throw up your hands in frustration. :D[/QUOTE]

    The cougar would. It'd probably put a hole in your wall and be perfectly usable afterwards. :D
  • E.TE.T Quote-o-matic
    [QUOTE=Biggles;170002]The cougar would. It'd probably put a hole in your wall and be perfectly usable afterwards. :D[/QUOTE]At least those cardboard walls in US would have hard time in stoppping it...
    Now where did I saw that home video of dog running and jumping toward wall and nearly going through it! :p

    There are also user made mods for it including replacing pots with hall effect sensors and changing it to pressure sensitive like real one.
  • StingrayStingray Elite Ranger
    [QUOTE=Biggles;170002]The cougar would. It'd probably put a hole in your wall and be perfectly usable afterwards. :D[/QUOTE]

    I'd forgotten about those, yeah, those are tough and just as pricey.

    [QUOTE=E.T;170003]At least those cardboard walls in US would have hard time in stoppping it...

    Now where did I saw that home video of dog running and jumping toward wall and nearly going through it! :p[/QUOTE]

    And not to mention the walls made of rice paper in (medieval) Japan. :D
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    the X52 base ain't bad. My only real usability complaint is the intense blue lighting and the incredible difficulty of locating the software for it after having bought a pair of damaged ones for repair and parts on ebay.
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    [QUOTE=Stingray;170004]And not to mention the walls made of rice paper in (medieval) Japan. :D[/QUOTE]

    What do you mean, "medieval"? I have rice paper screens in my flat. :)
  • StingrayStingray Elite Ranger
    [QUOTE=Biggles;170019]What do you mean, "medieval"? I have rice paper screens in my flat. :)[/QUOTE]

    Seriously? I'm stunned. I guess with all the earthquakes it's a reasonable thing to have light materials around you, but still. Wow. I will have to travel to Japan one day.
  • RubberEagleRubberEagle What's a rubber eagle used for, anyway?
    [QUOTE=Sanfam;170011]the X52 base ain't bad. My only real usability complaint is the intense blue lighting and the incredible difficulty of locating the software for it after having bought a pair of damaged ones for repair and parts on ebay.[/QUOTE]

    with the current software you can change the brightnes of the lights.
    (and you can get the software with less than 10 clicks on [url]www.saitek.com[/url])
  • E.TE.T Quote-o-matic
    And now before I forget it...
    Biggles, you might want to test Saitek before getting one because centering springs of those are very light.
    I once tried Saitek X-36 in one airshow some years ago and at least that felt completely like there wasn't any centering spring and using it was very hard because it moved from slightest touch, even old Logitech Wingman Extreme with countless hours of abuse in TIE Fighter and Freespace 2 had stronger resistance.

    I don't know about their newer versions but what I remember reviews have always mentioned them to have light centering spring.
    [i]The stick is very, very light - the pressures required to move it are miniscule. It's lighter than the Cyborg Evo and, compared to the Thrustmaster F-22 I used almost a decade ago, it feels like a toy. An optimistic estimate would put the spring pressure at about 2lbs.[/i]
    [url]http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/ch_products_saitek_x52_review/page4.asp[/url]

    [i]Immediately, one who has monkeyed around with the X45 will spot that the centering spring is much lighter on the X52. Very, very, light compared to the X45.[/i]
    [url]http://www.simhq.com/_technology/technology_040b.html[/url]

    While lighter centering spring is good in certain kind fast paced games I would prefer stick to at least automatically center and stay there when you slacken force... even less one which might move with slightest airflow hitting it!
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    I don't think it's quite as bad as you make it out to be, E.T., but I do agree that it is soft. Whatever happened to the days of adjustable return springs, eh? :pI love my CH 2+4 with its adjustable spring tension (from "Floppy free" to "Rip parts off of desk") and four buttons.
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