rec.autos.simulators

thanx

             UIN:22673388

if you want my full review go to:

http://www.mpog.com/reviews/hardware/controls/microsoft/forcefeedback...

http://www.force-1.com/ offers some unbiased comparisons of FF hardware on
their site.  The Logitech Wingman Formula Force offered a number of
compelling features, especially USB support.  I also like their profiler
which makes mapping buttons on your wheel a snap!

Regards,

Steve

<SNIP (comments regarding the Logitech WingMan Formula pedals)>

I believe that ALL pedals come with a learning curve -- I've reviewed
several wheel/pedal combos, and I'm in the process of reviewing
several more, and everytime you change from one setup to another, you
have to get used to a different "feel."  The steering wheels
themselves take a bit of learning, too -- they seem to vary in
sensitivity, etc., but since they all pretty much work the same from
an ergonomic standpoint, the need to "learn" how to use the wheel
itself is more transparent (although you still have to learn to adapt
to different shifter/button placement).

Overall, I think people who sit down with ANYTHING -- be it a driving
wheel and pedals or a new piece of software -- and make snap
judgements are just cheating themselves.  Analyze, learn, compare,
then decide if you like something -- first impressions are often
right, but not always, and you always have to consider that everything
comes with trade-offs.

-- JB  

Gotta agree there John, I was one of the first to *** about the LWFF pedals
when they first appeared last November. I believe my quote was something real
original like"they suck". Now that I've used them daily since then , I've grown
accostumed to the pedals and see no reason to give them up.

Like you say, it just takes some time to get used to anything new, although JP
Montoya seems to be the exception to that rule<vbg>.

-don

The first time I realized that the Saitek pedals didn't really suck
was the first time I managed to beat one of my own long-standing lap
records that I'd set with my TSW2 setup.  At first, I complained all
the time while evaluating the Saitek setup, but after a week or so of
constant use, I discovered that I'd adapted quite nicely and the
pedals didn't really "suck" anymore -- they were actually pretty
decent after all, in fact.  Then, when I returned to the TSW2 wheel
and pedals, I found myself having to re-learn how to use them again in
order to get back up to competitive lap times.  THAT taught me not to
be too quick to judge.  

Montoya IS pretty amazing -- too bad we're not watching him go
head-to-head with Zanardi this season in matching Reynard/Hondas.  

FWIW, I've heard rumors that Zanardi's F1 ride may be in danger.  His
contract reportedly states that he must have 16 championship points by
the third or fourth race of the season in order to retain his ride.
Unfortunately, I don't follow F1 points that closely, but I do know
that he was in the single-digits after race #2.  

-- JB

I sure hope that this rumour remains just that. Zanardi's still on zero points after
3 races... and the next round in Monaco hasn't actually been a happy hunting ground
for Williams in recent history...  He has been going well in testing, but has been
plagued with the worst possible luck in recent races. His bad karma should be
running out soon...

  Zanardi hasn't actually even looked like scoring a point yet.
However, I don't think your information can be correct.  16 championship
points is a hell of a lot in 4 F1 races (the points system is
10-6-4-3-2-1) especially for a new(ish)-to-F1 driver in a middle of
the grid car.

  I'd be surprised if Zanardi was on 16 by the end of the season if he
doesn't buck up.

--
Richard G. Clegg     Only the mind is waving
Dept. of Mathematics (Network Control group) Uni. of York.

www: http://manor.york.ac.uk/top.html

As you can see, no points for Zanardi.

Scott
PA-Scott
G.T.S. Racing - http://www.GTS-Racing.com

--
Scott B. Husted
ICQ# 4395450