Replacement for Thrusmaster Tacticalboard?

[Jeff7]

The upgrade to Windows 7 64-bit has claimed another victim: the Thrustmaster Tacticalboard.
Evidently it doesn't have any 64-bit support - or much of any support, for that matter.
Sucks, as it was a very nice gamepad. So nicely programmable, well set up, comfortable....*sigh*


So, I'm in the market for a new and excellent gamepad.
I had some Nostramo gamepad, or some such thing, maybe 6 years ago. I remember that it had some notable problems, such as occasional input lag, and I don't think it dealt well with events such as pressing more than one button at a time.


Are there any clear champions out there in this particular market segment?

 

[Elcs]

As far as gamepads go, after reading your post I was about to wade in and suggest my personal favourite, the Logitech Cordless Rumblepad 2 which is a PS2 styled controller which is fully customisable and exhibits no wireless lag or to suggest the common recommendation when it comes to gamepads, an XBox 360 controller.

After checking out your link I realise that you are looking for a different type of gamepad and something I've only seen in random Sci-Fi TV series. I would have no idea where to even start looking for a replacement for that contraption.

 

[Bryf50]

The three similar devices out now are the Belkin n52te, Logitech g13. and Saitek cyborg.
I own an n52te. I think its alright i don't use it as much as i thought i would. I don't notice any input problems either.

 

[uli2000]

If money isnt any object, the CH multi function panel is an option. It has 64 bit support, and not only can you customize the keys, you customize the placement. It comes with 25 keys and you can add another 25 if you like. Pricy, though. $190 plus another$75 if you want the additional keys.

http://www.chproducts.com/retail/mfp.html

Review:

http://www.simhq.com/_technology2/technology_105a.html

 

[Bill Brasky]

The learning curve must be pretty steep on that guy.

 

[Jeff7]

The learning curve must be pretty steep on that guy.

No worse than trying to use a QWERTY keyboard instead.

All I did with it was just assign some random key to each key on the Tacticalboard, then set up each game for whatever configuration I felt was easiest. The actual mappings weren't terribly important, I'd just open up the configuration for the game and press the keys I felt were most natural for the given functions - pretty much like might be done with a QWERTY keyboard anyway. Except the Tacticalboard was much better in terms of ergonomics - the central buttons were arranged well, and were large enough to be easily pressed while playing something like a quick-fire first-person shooter game.


It looks like a tossup then between the Logitech G13 and the Belkin N52TE, though the N52TE looks like it was designed with ergonomics in mind; the G13 looks like it wasn't made with a normal human wrist in mind. It'd be nice to be able to try them out before buying.

Some reviews on Newegg of the G13 say that it has ergonomics issues, and that the N52TE's keys may be a bit hard to press.