rec.autos.simulators

1) As far as I could read the main critics against the AL are the
"breakability issues" so I gather that the "feel" is "identical" when they
are functioning properly, is that correct ?

2) Is there any plan at TSW to make some USB pedals, I think that selling
the pedals, and then selling the 15 pin adapter is a bit of a ripoff and
then my PC does NOT have a 15 pin connector anymore....

Thanks for the input.

PS : I've just emailed AL to ask them about reliability issues on their
performance pedals and if they did a design change since the first release
and if they planned another modification...

--
The first ever pinball ezboard !!
http://www.racesimcentral.net/

If they "build it in" they will increase the price to cover their costs and
it would limit their inventory. Now if you want a peddle set with a 15 pin
connector they have one. If you want USB, they will sell you the adaptor.
Your vision would have them stocking two types of peddle sets and guess
what? Up goes the price again to maintain the inventory. Lets leave their
business model to them. <g>

ck

Well, their "business model" is just a "let's***the buyer" mode !!

You pay 185$ for a 3 pedal which is already a HUGE sum of money if you
compare that with the price of the parts involved in building it (no the
famous DK pots are not THAT expensive) and on top of this they charge you
35$ for the DB15 or 25$ for the USB "adapter" which is of course only
CABLE....and definitely NOT worth 25$ or 35$.

Act labs has (at least in my Force RS) a twin USB/Serial connector, for free

And then the most funny of it all, these thieves charge you 175$ for
shipping to france, HA HA HA.

Even if the quality of the product is good I would like to remind the people
here that Act-Labs is charging 25$ for shipping of the performance pedals to
Europe, and NO I don't believe that the TSW pedals are 7 times heavier than
the Act-Labs pedals thus requiring a 7 fold shipping cost increase...

Bottom line is (are) :

1) As Far as I could read here the Act-labs are "as good" as the TSW but
break more often.
2) For the price of one USB 3 pedals unit from TSW (185+25+175=385) you can
get 4.5 Act labs pedals at 84$ (59+25=84) (provided you already have a Force
RS and get the 59$ upgrade price).

I think that TSW is another typical "good quality" but "overpriced" company,
I won't pay 4.5 times more for a 10-15% quality increase (okay the 10-15% is
totally subjective, but even so, I'm sure you see my point), on top of this
this is usually a very common practice for the US online vendors to try to
*** the foreign customers...I tried to buy a Nomad Jukebox earlier this
week, and they wanted 55$ shipping, went to the USPS site and found it
should have been 26$, I'm not really down to 29$ more or less but I hate to
be f.....d by some "wiseguy" thinking that just because I'm not living there
he can tell me whatever bullshit he wants...

I know and realize that for some people here the issue of buying 85$ pedals
or 385$ pedals is not really relevent, but I'm quite sure that the TSW are
NOT 4.5 times better than the Act-labs, and therefore the quality/price
ratio is TOTALLY in favor of the Act-Labs, plsu I've always (until then) had
a VERY VERY satisfying experience with the Act-Labs support, I broke one
dented plastic wheel on my normal pedals last year and in 3 weeks (including
FREE shipping) I got 2 plastic wheels, 3 springs and 1 pot from them
although I never asked for the extra parts, since then I never broke
anything again but I like a company that treats his customers like that.

TSW-disappointed (and still an Act-labs believer) Txl

--
The first ever pinball ezboard !!
http://www.racesimcentral.net/

http://www.racesimcentral.com/articles/reviews/speedway/speedway.shtml

and visit the Speedway Joysticks website here:

http://speedway-joysticks.com/

At least being a French company, the shipping should be less plus the wheel
and pedals look really well made.

As an alternative, have you considered the excellent BallRacing Speed7
pedals?  They are more expensive than the TSW pedals but are USB as standard
and made in the UK which once again means lower shipping costs.  You can
read about them at:

http://www.interactiveracing.com

I have a set and think they are superb.

Phil
---
Race Sim Central Administrator
http://www.racesimcentral.com

Dave

If your issue is money, then no one can convince you of what to buy, but
look at my wheel progression and I'll think that you'll agree that Quality
is worth the money.

In Three plus years I went thru these wheels:

Thrustmaster T2
MSFF Sidewinder
Logitech Wheel  (Red FF One)
Andretti Wheel

Act Labs (The wheel still works great, but the original pedals are shot and
the performance pedals are junk to use, I could have replace them, but why
spend the money over and over)

TSW2 Custom (Yea, it cost me over $800 for the set, but the quality of the
wheel reminds me of when I drove in Barber Dodge, real to life and sturdy as
hell.)

The phone call was worse. The attitude of the guy on the other end stunk
outright and I'd had enough. But, you know, human nature... I really needed
a quality wheel and our conversation kept revolving in my head over then
next few days and I convinced myself that the man was merely confident,
couldn't afford to build his controllers for less and wished people would
quit giving him shit about the prices, and was not very good with people on
the phone. So I called back and got a whole different company. After sorting
out more than a few details I was convinced that I was going to get the
wheel I wanted.

I bought a wheel in the class of the TSW because I wanted a wheel that was
consistently accurate among other things. The TM I was using developed play
in every moving part and the *** bands constantly changed. Replacing pots
in the TM was a major pain and always ended up in more deterioration of the
wheel. I was going through pots at about 4 sets per year. The buttons on the
TM wore out every few months and replacing them was a pain. The pedal
springs on the TM were too loose.

After my second phone conversation with them, I  believed the TSW would
address these concerns.

When it came in the mail I was disappointed. I'm not going to lie, I
expected more. Not sure what, but based on looks alone, the lower line TSW
is not a winner. The molded plastic cover does not scream quality. But, I
set it up and had a race with it.

I have owned a TSW Sport with single/dual switch since November 20, 1998. I
paid $550 US for that sucker. I can, at any point I choose, add anything I
want to the wheel. That's one of the great things about TSW. Absolutely,
completely modular. You know what though. Nothing. I have added nothing. I
don't need anything more. The wheel is simple, and that was part of the
shock when I first opened the box, but it's also my salvation. The last
thing I want to do is goof around with my wheel. The switches are brilliant.
In over three and a half years I have not missed one single shift. The
switches are foolproof. I haven't even cleaned them. I am using the Spec
pots and I replace them once a year whether they need it or not. The entire
system hasn't developed any play that I can notice AT ALL. None! It feels
like the day I got it.

After I'd had it a few months the connecting blocks on my pedal levers
cracked. When I called Thomas they informed me that they had manufactured
new blocks out of better material and I had them within two days, free of
charge. In three years the blocks have not changed at all. I call them when
I buy new pots, so once a year... whenever I talk to them I ask them about
this and that. New stuff I see on the web site. They're still a little weird
on the phone but I get the distinct impression that the prices they charge
are for good reason. So far I have gotten my money's worth, and them some.
There is a lot of cool stuff out there. I look, I'm no idiot, but even
though the market is getting better every day I am *not* looking for a
wheel. I won't be looking for a wheel until there is a major revolution in
controllers. That's another thing Thomas has to contend with. No return
customers. Unless I build a LAN, they won't see me for a wheel purchase
again. My TSW Sport is perfect in every way. Except for when I read posts
like this, I never *ever* think about it.

It's just there, a transparent extension of my will - forced upon my
computer.
--

"Boy! You've got to have really big attachments to try a pass there... and
make it."
- David Hobbs

mark

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