Are all gamepads the same?

I need to buy a new USB gamepad for someone who want's to spend as little as possible. She is considering purchasing a generic $5.00 gamepad sold at Fry's. Will she notice a difference if she spends $10.00 for a bottom of the line Logitech? Will the Logitech last a lot longer? Are there any other inexpensive brands?

KLA

 

If you're going cheap, then go way cheap. No point in paying extra for a half-decent item when a cheaper alternative exists.

 

yeah I agree... if you want better quality though you'd need to spend around $30(?) probably

 

no the xbox360 controller is the best and probably will have the best compatibility with games than other controllers from now on. Other pads might not work with the games and/or you would have to map out the buttons

 

The cheaper controllers are exactly that cheap. They break, they don't last and are poor on the batteries(wireless models). Its worth the money to buy the logitech controllers. A lot of them are on sale if you look around. I bought my wireless rumble pad for $25 at circuit city on sale. I get ridiculous battery life and the thing takes a beating and still works perfectly. I also get excellent range. Spend a little more and get far better quality. BTW I seriously doubt any xbox controller will work in the pc environment...don't quote me though. Besides compatibility comes from software not hardware, and the ability to map buttons is one of the versatile features of a 'PC' based game controller. To conclude my long diatribe...if you set any Logitech hardware against a similar Microsoft device, I would bet all my shells on logitech. Better build, better quality, better design....need I say more?

 

The 360 controller was designed for both the console and windows PCs. They work flawlessly, without the need for drivers (built into Vista), though some games don't support them natively. The 360 controller is arguable the best built, most ergonomic controller ever built, much better than anything I've seen logitech come out with. However, it does come at a premium $39, worth every penny though.

 

I stand corrected about the 360 controller compatibility but I am and will always be skeptical of any hardware built by Microsoft.

 

Ok, you do that. I do hear Microsoft kills anything that brings happiness and Bill Gates sold his soul to the devil.

 

Really? The Devil you say? That's why he created that charitable foundation right? lol

 

I think the 360 controller is the best controller I have ever used for a PC period, The only thing that its not good for so far is playing Nintendo 64 games on my PC, for that you really need a adapter to use a N64 controller.

Just so you know adapters exsist for nearly any video game controller out there, from dreamcast, to nintendo/super nintendo. So maybe she/he already has a controller they would like to use and you can just get an adapter instead wich usually run in the 15$ range wich is not that bad.

 

apparrently youve never used an xbox, xbox360, or and xbox 360 controller

 

Let's see here...
1: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/07/xbox_snags.html
2: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/09/xbox_capcom.html
3: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/08/xbox_gamers.html
4: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/08/xbox_gamers02.html
5: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/xbox_suit.html
6: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/xbox.html

Need I go on here? But I am not a Microsoft basher, I just said I am skeptical of them.

 

The Xbox overheated and died. Not the controller's fault. The Xbox S controller and the Xbox 360 controller have been touted as the best. More ergonomic than the dual shock and whatever logitech puts out.

 

Logitech Cordless RumblePad user review 4.5 out of 5 stars:

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Cord...8?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1192333938&sr=1-1

Microsoft Xbox 360 wireless controller user reviews 4 out of 5 stars:

http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Cont...8?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1192333977&sr=1-4

 

Ooo, lemme give my arbitrary ratings:

Xbox 360 Wired Controller: i8werprew8ww5438745trkjh8o7i54e.2
Logitech Cordless RumblePad: fdp4tfgf999543854fudge.1

And now lets refer to IGN:

Xbox: http://gear.ign.com/articles/673/673178p1.html
Logitech: http://gear.ign.com/articles/317/317472p1.html

Not saying my reviews are any better, just proving that you can use reviews to prove anything.

 

To each his own. If I had to get a controller that is not a 360 controller for a computer I would go with Saitek's stuff they are well known and great controllers.

 

lol...my point is they are actually too close to call. You like pears, I like apples its all good. Variety means all consumers win. On a side note what is the battery life on the 360 controller like though? Also I was also referring to the cordless rumblepad not the wingman cordless rumblepad in your review.

 

I use the wired one. Who the heck sits that far away from their computer when playing games? Plus the wireless one is $59 (v. $39).

Quite frankly, most of the time I use a mouse and a keyboard. Only time I pull out the pad is for Madden.

 

I use the wired aswell. with a notebook I dont see you being far enough away to justify wireless plus you would have to worry about caring around the wireless adapter too and the batteries need to be charged.

I use my pad alot tho for anytime I play an emulator for n64, playstation, or snes, or arcade.

 

I have had my logitech since January and I have not changed the batteries once. I have played and completed quite a few games too and I am still waiting for them to die actually. I understand the wired vs wireless thing but i actually hook up my laptop to my TV when i want to play games so it makes perfect sense for me. To each their own...

 

Wireless is just more convenient. Like Wi-fi, bluetooth, and wireless mice.