Joystick/control recomendations?

[Noodles123]

Any recomendations for joysticks/controlers?
I have ordered a new laptop with windows vista, and would like any user recomendations.
By the way, I have not flown yet, because my current system is ancient.

[Latrobe]

X52 is a good one. Little pricey, and gives you some troubles of the bat, but 30-some buttons you can put every function on your controller and almost never have to look down at the keyboard!

There may be an even better one to use than the X52 out there though.

[Krusty]

Laptops often have trouble playing games (including Aces High).

For a medium-range stick I'd go for maybe a Saitek Cyborg EVO, maybe.

You need a USB stick, keep that in mind. I doubt your laptop will have a gameport. (at least, none I've seen have 'em!)

[Newman5]

X52 is a good one. Little pricey, and gives you some troubles of the bat, but 30-some buttons you can put every function on your controller and almost never have to look down at the keyboard!

There may be an even better one to use than the X52 out there though.

Does anyone else have a problem keeping the throttle and stick plugged in together on their x52?  My plug keeps slipping out of one or the other, causing me to spin violently out of control sometimes, and then having to re-calibrate once i get it plugged back in.

[Ghosth]

Saitek for lower cost solutions.Starting with the 20$ ST-290, Aviator(40$), Cyborg(??), X-52(80$), X52Pro (?).

CH for lifetime gear, durable but the most expensive as well.

And then some of us buy old MS sidewinders off ebay. Possible the most trouble free stick of all time.

My advice, pick up a Saitek Aviator at Worst Buy for 40$, play AH for a year with that.
At the end of that time you'll know if your sticking around for the long haul. If so then buy CH or full X52 HOTAS & peds.

[Fleksta]

I use a Saitek Aviator ($40 at Best Buy). It takes a few sorties to get used to, but I love it. The flip up protected and LED lit secondary fire button is a cool touch. I like how the dual-throttle was implemented as well. The toggle switches are awkward at first, but I like them now better than regular buttons as each toggle is mapped to two functions (up and down).

[BaldEagl]

You need a USB stick, keep that in mind. I doubt your laptop will have a gameport. (at least, none I've seen have 'em!)

I've got a gameport PCI card for mine.  Not sure if they still make them though.

[captain1ma]

Does anyone else have a problem keeping the throttle and stick plugged in together on their x52?  My plug keeps slipping out of one or the other, causing me to spin violently out of control sometimes, and then having to re-calibrate once i get it plugged back in.

maybe you just need a new cable that connects the 2. my old one was loose. i just bought another X52 and it works great. cables stay tight

[Spikes]

Starters? ST290

[nimble]

If you can get a saitek x45 I would. The x52 is rather garbage compared to it in my opinion and I only use it because I didn't want to drive another hour to the store where I bought it.

[Widewing]

I would like to place some emphasis on a simple fact of life in AH2. A $25 stick will return $25 results. You get what you pay for. Higher-end hardware offers higher precision. Higher precision results in smoother flight and less bounciness, which translates into better E retention and better gunnery.

Another fact is that the quality of high-end hardware offsets the increased expense due to superior reliability. I would go through 3 or 4 x45s over the life of a Single CH Products FighterStick.

Buy the best hardware your budget allows and you'll have a better AH2 experience.

My regards,

Widewing

[EvlPrsn]

saitek cyborg evo.  cost liek $40 if u can find one.  best stick i've ever used.  plently of buttons, left of right handed, and is adjustable.  no jumping or anything on it.  i've been using mine for multiple flight sims for over 2 years now.

[Gman]

I've used the TM Cougar, x52, x45, and CH stuff in the past few years.  I'm stuck with the x45 right now.  Spend the 100$ and get the CH USB Fighterstick.  You won't regret it, and you'll likely never need to replace it.  IMO it's the Caddy/Ferrari all rolled into one of sticks.  Plus you can upgrade as you get $$ and get the throttle and peds, which work perfectly in AH in my experience.

[uberslet]

Does anyone else have a problem keeping the throttle and stick plugged in together on their x52?  My plug keeps slipping out of one or the other, causing me to spin violently out of control sometimes, and then having to re-calibrate once i get it plugged back in.

not a problem here, have like a 2' cord, and i only need like 3/4 of that, make sure its plugged in fully.

[LYNX]

Anything but logicrap.  2 ways of looking at it.  Cheap stick is ok for the beginner but you can get through 2 or 3 a year.  If you get into the game then the money you would spend on 2 or 3 sticks would be best invested in 1 quality stick, that would last a few years ....Like CH products.