Originally posted by WOWZY
Maybe MS will bring out their own version of a TRUE wireless controller with rechargable battery packs. At this point I don't care if it costs $100 as long as it is completely wireless!!!

Last week we took a look at the Mad Catz Lynx wireless controller for Xbox. The pad was nicely designed and the RF technology worked like a charm, but the pad only earned a 7.0. The problem was that the controller didn't have any memory card slots. The two slots were set into the transceiver base, which sits next to the console. Anyone who's used Xbox Live, or even looked into it, should know that the headset, which is necessary for in-game communication, fits into an open memory card slot. It follows that you couldn't really use the Lynx with Xbox Live. Now I have Logitech's pad in front of me and it suffers from the same problem as the Lynx: no slots. However, the Logitech still deserves your attention. While you can't take full advantage of Microsoft's online service with the Logitech -- I guess the headset pulls too much power to draw from a wireless controller -- it performs extremely well and is very cleverly designed.

One of the most difficult things about designing a wireless controller is power management. Rechargeable batteries are convenient and environmentally friendly but affordable ones can't match the longevity of their alkaline counterparts. For this reason Logitech and Mad Catz both opted for alkaline. This Logitech pad houses four AA batteries. Another consideration is rumble feedback. The vibration you feel comes from rotating motors, which eat up power like nobody's business. With the WaveBird Nintendo forewent vibration in favor of longer life. The Mad Catz let the user pick from three vibration settings: on, low, and high. Logitech was so confident in their power management system that they don't let the user disable the rumble. It is always on during normal play. When the battery level gets low, however, they turn off in order to conserve and warn the user that new batteries are in order. I still find the Mad Catz approach the most sensible, and I would have a gripe with Logitech if it weren't for the fact that this controller can last about 50 hours from four new batteries. Again: 50 hours of battery life with vibration on. (Speaking with one of the nice folks at Logitech I learned that without vibration they were achieving somewhere around 100 hours without rumble.)

Unfortunately, for this review I couldn't accurately test 50 hours. I don't even know if I could track that anyway. However, I've been playing a few days with one set of batteries and it's as sharp as it was when I started. Additionally, other editors have been using it without changing the batteries. It's probably been through 30 hours of use. If the battery claims turn out to be totally inaccurate I will post an amendment to the review. (We did the same thing with the WaveBird and nobody complained, so shut the lip!) I should say that Logitech's claims are, in general, highly accurate.

Thanks to the snappy 2.4GHz communication, the Logitech pad ran as quickly as a wired controller. I detected no lag whatsoever during my testing. Further, I played mostly THPS4, a game with which any latency or dropouts are immediately noticeable. I can say with confidence that the wireless performance is fast enough for any type of gaming. As far as wireless range, I played up to about fifteen feet away in a high interference area without interruption. Logitech claims 20 feet, which I find reasonable so long as the environment is cooperative.

It was at this point in the review of the Logitech wireless PS2 pad that the wheels fell off - great wireless performance, terrible game performance. Thankfully, Logitech took their time and came up with a very, very impressive design. It's a pad that actually works as well as it looks. Further, it's probably the best-made third-party peripheral I've ever used. The construction quality and attention to detail are on par with, and excel in some cases, first party manufacturers. Every little bit of the pad is carefully designed and meticulously assembled.

In hand, the pad feels very natural. It has a healthy, somewhat heavy feel and is well balanced. The only people who might find it uncomfortable are people with very small hands. If you're a little kid or are thinking of giving it to a youngster, think twice. Most of the people in the office found it comfortable, but a few found the spacing too much. I didn't agree, but the point was well taken. Probably the hardest control to reach is the D-pad, which doesn't look too far toward the middle, but the width of the pad tricks you. You do have to reach a bit for the D-pad, but I didn't find it inconvenient.

And then there is performance?

It's not perfect, but many of its elements are. For starters, Logitech arranged what I think is the best main button area on any Xbox controller - yes, including the Controller S. The A, B, X, and Y buttons are set in a traditional diamond pattern. The black and white buttons sit below them in two asymmetrically recessed nooks. As you can see if you enlarge the image, the areas above the black and white buttons are slightly scalloped, but the areas below are flush with the pad. In this setting, the buttons fit perfectly under the inside of your thumb knuckle, which means you can access them very quickly, but it's also difficult to hit them accidentally. All six of the action buttons also feel very, very good. The offer good resistance, sit comfortably high, and are very fast. I really like the Dual Shock 2, but these are now my favorite main buttons.

The triggers are designed just as well as the main buttons. Imagine my surprise when I fired up Rally Fusion and discovered that not only is the resistance set almost perfectly, but also that the triggers actually work throughout their range. All the way out is zero and all the way in is 100%, with the middle range spaced correctly throughout the entire arc of travel. You driving fans will find this extremely convenient, as regulating gas/brake is very natural feeling.

Things get a little iffy with the D-pad, but it's still one of the most responsive and accurate among third-party controllers. It has a little too much of the one-big-button feel, but it's very fast and very solid. I favor the Controller S's D-pad, but Logitech's is damn nice. I actually found it easier to pull off diagonal moves in THPS4 with the Logitech pad than with the Controller S. Sharp stuff.

The weakest parts of the controller are the analog stick. On another third-party pad they would be more than acceptable, but on the Logitech they are the obvious weak links. The problem is that they are too loose, especially the right one. They should be a little shorter and have tenser springs. They were extremely accurate throughout the full swing, though. Logitech also used a very comfortable rubber coating. It feels good and keeps your thumbs in place.

Lastly, there is the question of value. As things are, you have two options for Xbox wireless controllers - this one and the Mad Catz. Both are expensive as hell. Until Microsoft decides to take care of it themselves, you're stuck. That said, the Logitech offers high relative value.

Conclusion

Like I said in the Mad Catz review, if you plan on playing online a lot, then this pad isn't for you. However, if you don't mind switching to a normal pad when you're online, and want to enjoy wireless the rest of the time, buy the Logitech. It performs extremely well, feels great, and is fairly (for now) priced.

Highly recommended.

Originally posted by jiggyblau
Check the hot deals forum for a logitech giveaway. Just enter once, you'll lose, and then you'll get a coupon for a 20% rebate on any wireless product (including this controller) by mail. Makes it much more affordable.

Oh, and by the way, if you keep trying you may win the wireless mouse/keyboard.