Force Feedback Wheel

Im considering buying a new Force Feedback wheel because my T2's are starting to fall apart. But I was wondering maybe someone could tell me what would be best for me to buy ? Microsoft or Thrustmaster ? or Logitech ? Help me.. . Frank

Logitech or ACT Labs. -- Header address intentionally scrambled to ward off the spamming hordes. cisko [AT] ix [DOT] netcom [DOT] com >Im considering buying a new Force Feedback wheel because my T2's are >starting to fall apart. But I was wondering maybe someone could tell me what >would be best for me to buy ? Microsoft or Thrustmaster ? or Logitech ? Help >me.. . >Frank

I just bought a MS FF wheel and VERY happy with it, especially using it to play GPL Revvin

Quoted text (18 lines)

> Logitech or ACT Labs. > -- > Header address intentionally scrambled to ward off the spamming hordes. > cisko [AT] ix [DOT] netcom [DOT] com > >Im considering buying a new Force Feedback wheel because my T2's are > >starting to fall apart. But I was wondering maybe someone could tell me > what > >would be best for me to buy ? Microsoft or Thrustmaster ? or Logitech ? > Help > >me.. . > >Frank

Unfortunately, the Microsoft Sidewinder FF wheel comes up short in the most important area - force feedback! The ACT LABS FF USB is concidered by many to be THE greatest force feedback wheel on the market. Unfortunately for those of us in the UK, it's a bummer to get hold of. I'm concidering whether or not I should order it by mail, and pay the huge air fee, or if I should go for another wheel instead. Although the Microsoft Sidewinder wheel may not be the best on the market, I'll most likely end up buying it myself. At least it comes with CART Precision Racing and Monster Truck Madness 2.

Unfortunatley the ACT LABS uses the I-Force technology which in all the reviews I have read looses out on the subtle effects available through the MS FF API. I did give alot of thought before buying a wheel the replace my TM F1 wheel and for me the Logitech's pedals were too small and looked fragile, the MS pedals are a little soft after the TM ones I am used to but the wheel is very nice, I tried them both and plumped for the MS because I liked the feel of it even though the pedals were a bit soft I might customise them some how as they feel pretty well made. The USB connectivity was a defiante lure for me but decided that as I play alot of sims I would be moving the damd sticks round anyway so removing one connector was not much more to have to tolerate. The shifter looks pretty cool but while I used my TM F1 wheel I very often found myself re-defining the two wheel mounted buttons for the gear shift instead of using the shifter so I could keep both hands on the wheel like a real F1 driver would..again thisis down to the sims you play, I suppose if you play GPL then the shifter would add that extra bit of immersion but I play mostly F1 or Indy sims so I would'nt get much use out of it. Revvin

Thanks for your help but I still not sure what to buy... some say MS, some say ACT and some say Logitech... btw I have never heard of ACT... I live in Norway... So I think I'll buy MS or Thrustmaster... or maybe Logitech hehe... Just cant decide can I ..

Just dont buy the force feedback from thrustmaster LOL! 1) There outta business 2) their ff wheel sucks, many,many poor reviews on it

>Unfortunately, the Microsoft Sidewinder FF wheel comes up short in the >most important area - force feedback! >The ACT LABS FF USB is concidered by many to be THE greatest force >feedback wheel on the market. You know, I keep reading this about the great force feedback of the ACT LABS FF USB but I've got to tell you... I own both of these wheels and I'll take the MS any day. I guess it's all pretty subjective but I think the MS wheel has much better force feedback and is subtler. The ACT wheel has a lot of friction in its action which may be why it loses out in terms of subtlety. Also, the ACT LABS pedals are terrible IMO. True, the MS pedals could use heavier springs but they are as smooth as silk and have good travel - I love them. For the time being I've placed the ACT LABS aside. I'll give it another go when the RS shifter comes out but I'll have to do something about the pedals. In GPL I can have both wheels set up and use the MS pedals with the ACT LABS wheel, etc. Unfortunately, GPL is the only game I've found that can recognize both and allow you to mix and match.

hehe... sorry... But I dont like MS... seems like I have to buy one anyway... :/

On Wed, 8 Sep 1999 22:19:51 +0200, "Frank Roger Vangen" >Thanks for your help but I still not sure what to buy... some say MS, some >say ACT and some say Logitech... btw I have never heard of ACT... I live in >Norway... So I think I'll buy MS or Thrustmaster... or maybe Logitech >hehe... Just cant decide can I .. ACT are a Canadian company. IMO, it's always best to buy from a company you know you can get in touch with easily - this is why the ACT LABS wheel is becoming less appealing to me and the Microsoft FF Sidewinder is becoming all the better.

Anything but Thrustmaster, their FF product blows. Apart from anything else it places a ridiculous load on the CPU. Joe McGinn ========================================== Staff Writer for the Sports *** Network [link lost in import: /***.com/] ==========================================

In that case the Logitech is your only choice :-) -- Header address intentionally scrambled to ward off the spamming hordes. cisko [AT] ix [DOT] netcom [DOT] com >Thanks for your help but I still not sure what to buy... some say MS, some >say ACT and some say Logitech... btw I have never heard of ACT... I live in >Norway... So I think I'll buy MS or Thrustmaster... or maybe Logitech >hehe... Just cant decide can I ..

>Unfortunatley the ACT LABS uses the I-Force technology which in all the >reviews I have read looses out on the subtle effects available through the >MS FF API. I did give alot of thought before buying a wheel the replace my >TM F1 wheel and for me the Logitech's pedals were too small and looked >fragile, the MS pedals are a little soft after the TM ones I am used to but Yep the logitech pedals do indeed look fragile. However after I bought the wheel *AND ACTUALLY TRIED THE PEDALS*, I found that they were fine. For me... This was in GPL, SCGT, F1RS and IndyCar Racing II. -- Header address intentionally scrambled to ward off the spamming hordes. cisko [AT] ix [DOT] netcom [DOT] com

But if you could choose between Logitech or Microsoft ? You would still go for MS ? Frank

[snipped] Thanks for making a great point. I kept reading about the strength of the ACT motor in all of the reviews, and I was wondering what the big deal was. Feedback from a real car is subtle, particularly a modern sports car with power steering. Brute motor strength seemed (to me) to be a low importance issue assigned high importance by computer reviewers who didn't have much grasp of comparing computer control to actual "real car" feel. All of the wheels are a compromise in some department right now, but I ended up going with the Logitech. I didn't like that I couldn't do a hands-on test of the ACT, and as someone who values function over form, I'm embarrassed to admit that the look of the wheel really turned me off. I'm not especially crazy for the red grip on the Logitech either, but at least I know it's a Momo copy, and has a great feel. I liked the Microsoft pedals, but I didn't like the button shifters (the Logitech paddles are superb), and thought the Logitech had a slightly smoother, more carlike feel when powered. Remember, that you can compare them without really using them. It's tough to do. Most stores around me don't have a powered demo out. I mention that because I thought the Logitech felt hideous when I initially tried it out by just moving the controls around in an unpowered display. It has a gritty feel to it, and makes sounds like the distant scraping of hands across a chalkboard. That all goes away when you fire it up and use it in a game. The pedals are the issue with the Logitech, and basically I've just learned to live with them. Some guys put stiffer springs in them, but I just drive without socks and work the pedals with my toes or the ball of my foot. It sounds silly, but works pretty well. I'd still love some burly metal pedals that I could stomp on while wearing my shoes. <g> On the plus side for the pedals, the "pivot down" design that limits their travel works great for the typical PC seating position. Mine have never moved unless I intentionally moved them. I was also able to get the Logitech for under $110, which was a screaming deal. No regrets given that price. -- http://www.users.fast.net/~fusion1 (dirt bikes, rat bikes, rental car abuse...)

>I liked the Microsoft pedals, but I didn't like the button shifters >(the Logitech paddles are superb), and thought the Logitech had a >slightly smoother, more carlike feel when powered. Remember, that you >can compare them without really using them. Sorry about this... that last line was supposed to read CAN'T. I didn't catch it until after I sent. Sorry. Tim

> But if you could choose between Logitech or Microsoft ? You would still go > for MS ? > Frank If you want to use it with GPL the only way to go is: LWFF. Please read the posts in this newsgroup about FF in GPL: LWFF is the winner. Jan. J.H.Hovius.vcf < 1K Download

I just ordered a Logitech Wheel. Thanks for your help :) Frank

Quoted text (9 lines)

> >I liked the Microsoft pedals, but I didn't like the button shifters > >(the Logitech paddles are superb), and thought the Logitech had a > >slightly smoother, more carlike feel when powered. Remember, that you > >can compare them without really using them. > Sorry about this... that last line was supposed to read CAN'T. > I didn't catch it until after I sent. Sorry. > Tim

So did I. Cant wait. C'mon Fed-ex truck! Krusty

Quoted text (18 lines)

> I just ordered a Logitech Wheel. Thanks for your help :) > Frank > > >I liked the Microsoft pedals, but I didn't like the button shifters > > >(the Logitech paddles are superb), and thought the Logitech had a > > >slightly smoother, more carlike feel when powered. Remember, that you > > >can compare them without really using them. > > Sorry about this... that last line was supposed to read CAN'T. > > I didn't catch it until after I sent. Sorry. > > Tim

hehe Where I ordered from it said It would be here in a week so it seems like I have to wait a while :/

Quoted text (26 lines)

> So did I. > Cant wait. C'mon Fed-ex truck! > Krusty > > I just ordered a Logitech Wheel. Thanks for your help :) > > Frank > > > >I liked the Microsoft pedals, but I didn't like the button shifters > > > >(the Logitech paddles are superb), and thought the Logitech had a > > > >slightly smoother, more carlike feel when powered. Remember, that you > > > >can compare them without really using them. > > > Sorry about this... that last line was supposed to read CAN'T. > > > I didn't catch it until after I sent. Sorry. > > > Tim

Me and a friend who *DID* actually try the MS and Logitech wheels thought the Logitech one really did feel nice but we both found the Logitech wheels a bit fragile and questioned how long they would last. I am sure there are many Logitech sets out there still going but at the end of the day it was my money, my point which I made i nthe original post was that I *DID* try both sets and gave Frank my own honest opinion and the choice I made not so long ago. Revvin

You guys won't regret your decision to purchase the LWFF. I've had mine since November of last year, used it daily...well except for that week with Samantha, but that's another story<g>...and I'm still very happy with it. The first thing you will probably notice is how weak the pedal springs feel, replacements can be easily found at your nearby hardware shop. I eventually replaced the Logitech pedals with my old CH pedals, a combination I greatly prefer, but the stock pedals are not as horrible as some would lead you to believe. There are a couple of sites out there that have excellent tips for setting up the LWFF: Ricardo Nunnini's site; go to the Force Feedback page: http://website.lineone.net/~richardn/ And Alison Hine's GPL site; go to Help/Controllers/Readers Reports and read Steve Blankenship's tips for the LWFF: http://simracing.com/alison/gpl/ Have fun! don [|]-(_)-[|]

Quoted text (18 lines)

>hehe >Where I ordered from it said It would be here in a week so it seems like I >have to wait a while :/ >> So did I. >> Cant wait. C'mon Fed-ex truck! >> Krusty >> > I just ordered a Logitech Wheel. Thanks for your help :) >> > Frank

I got mine (LWFF) today. I love it. GPL is like a whole new experience. I used Alison Hine's set up and it worked flawlessly. And the pedal arent as bad as they sound, but they have done better. Now I'm just waiting on N3 and DTR. Krusty > You guys won't regret your decision to purchase the LWFF. I've had mine > since November of last year, used it daily...well except for that week with > Samantha, but that's another story<g>...and I'm still very happy with it. > The first thing you will probably notice is how weak the pedal springs feel, > replacements can be easily found at your nearby hardware shop. I eventually > replaced the Logitech pedals with my old CH pedals, a combination I greatly

Quoted text (10 lines)

> prefer, but the stock pedals are not as horrible as some would lead you to > believe. > There are a couple of sites out there that have excellent tips for setting > up the LWFF: > Ricardo Nunnini's site; go to the Force Feedback page: > http://website.lineone.net/~richardn/ > And Alison Hine's GPL site; go to Help/Controllers/Readers Reports and

read

Quoted text (11 lines)

> Steve Blankenship's tips for the LWFF: http://simracing.com/alison/gpl/ > Have fun! > don > [|]-(_)-[|] > >hehe > >Where I ordered from it said It would be here in a week so it seems like

I

Quoted text (16 lines)

> >have to wait a while :/ > >> So did I. > >> Cant wait. C'mon Fed-ex truck! > >> Krusty > >> > I just ordered a Logitech Wheel. Thanks for your help :) > >> > Frank

>Im considering buying a new Force Feedback wheel because my T2's are >starting to fall apart. But I was wondering maybe someone could tell me what >would be best for me to buy ? Microsoft or Thrustmaster ? or Logitech ? Help >me.. . >Frank Frank, Anything other than a the Thrustmaster. Personally,I use a MSFF and love the damn thing. Previously,I used a T2. So you're going to have a learning curve,but stick with it,as it's certainly worth it. JA Willstein

I also have a MSFF wheel. I used to drive with a Thrustmaster wheel, but after I got the M$ wheel my laptimes have gone up, but it's more fun with FF and that's what counts or what? -Jan Otto

Got my Logitech Wheel today... the pedals look a little...hm... but the wheel seems good, havent tried it yet, gonna do that now ! :) Frank

Quoted text (11 lines)

> > Anything other than a the Thrustmaster. Personally,I use a MSFF > and > > love the damn thing. Previously,I used a T2. So you're going to have > a > > learning curve,but stick with it,as it's certainly worth it. > I also have a MSFF wheel. I used to drive with a Thrustmaster wheel, > but after I got the M$ wheel my laptimes have gone up, but it's more > fun with FF and that's what counts or what? > -Jan Otto