Customer Reviews

Saitek PS40U Aviator Joystick for use with PC or PS3 Game Console

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

The Saitek ps40u is a great joystick when you need both a pc and ps3 stick. As for the pc it is very good for use in fighter type games and has lots of features. You can assign buttons action and in some games others have files already set up. Be careful not to buy the older ps33 model as it is not usable on the ps3.

This joystick is a replacement for my Logitech which was getting pretty sloppy. It feels precise, and the dual throttles with toggle-like switches are perfect for flight simulation without the bulk of a yoke/rudder pedals. More buttons wouldn't hurt, and perhaps a quad throttle setup would be even better. There's no Mac software for the "multi-function" capability, but the large red two position toggle switch can be used as another set of buttons (I use it to toggle spoilers and run full thrust reversers after landing.)

Overall this joystick works well. I don't like it as much as the Thrustmaster T-Flight series, but if you are in the market for a joystick that will work well on both the PS3 and PC, this will meet your needs and is good as an entry-level stick. It handles games like HAWX and Freespace pretty well and should serve you pretty well for the upcoming Ace Combat. What I would say is the biggest, most important part is that this stick has an ambidextrous design, making it suitable for both left and right handed play. My brother is left handed and has long lamented about the difficulty he had trying to play HAWX on my T-Flight HOTAS, so I bought him one of these for Christmas and now he too can get in on the flight stick club.

Pretty much all of the regular playstation buttons, however notably absent are dedicated R1 and L1 buttons. Instead, you get an option switch that allows you to change between "M1" and "M2" button layouts. M2 re-arrages the layout so that the trigger and all of the buttons on the stick's top represent the shoulder buttons and triggers instead of the face buttons. The face buttons are present in both modes in the form of an additional HAT stick on the unit's base. It might seem a little odd at first but it works. You also get a swiveling action on the stick for the rudder controls, and a little throttle that moves forwards and backwards (it controls the L2 and R2 triggers in standard mode).

The stick is not without drawbacks, however I find them forgivable due to the unit's price point (I got it for $20). First of all, this stick does not have much weight to it. The base very light, and it most certainly feels like something made of plastic. I would have much preferred the base be made out of metal, because that would make it feel much more sturdy and stable, but on the other hand, it probably be more expensive. I would have also preferred that all buttons be physically present in both operational modes, and the seam in the middle of the stick can be a bit annoying after long play sessions (you may wish to fix this by wrapping some kind of material around it). Lastly, the stiffness of the stick was a little more than my typical preference. The T-Flight series allow you to adjust the stiffness manually, and I prefer a looser feeling flight stick, especially when the base is so light. However, this is a matter of preference, and I got used to it after a while. If you like a stiffer feeling spring, this should please you quite nicely.

Overall though, these are only minor issues for a stick in this price range. If you have an occasional interest in flight sims, space shooters and the like, this stick will serve your needs well. However, if you're a hardcore flight sim nut and are fine with using your right hand, you may want to spend a few bucks more and get something a bit beefier. Overall though, I like this stick and I think it's a good choice for console gamers who want something that is friendly to left handed users.

These are some nice LONG reviews, simply put, DO NOT BUY THIS FOR BATTLEFIELD 3. It does not work, I read a few of the very very long reviews, and wondered who was being paid to write these, but thats a different story.

-Very light (no weight to base)

-MUST be on a table of some sort (uncomfortable in your lap)

-no suction cups or anything to keep it firmly on the table (that you have to keep it on in order to use)

Looks cool, would probably work well for the other games mentioned, BUT does not have the option to re map button layout for flight on battlefield 3, wish someone would of told me

The joystick is okay but hard to control. It's very sensitive. It takes awhile to get used to it. For the price, this item is a good purchase.

Holds up very well for the price. I've used it heavily and it is still accurate and tight in its fitting. I looks like it has two throttles. They do come apart and move independently, however only one of them works. I took it apart and sure enough there is only one that has the transducer on it. Most people would never need two throttles...It just looks slightly misleading

I bought this joystick based on the product description and was very excited to get it to be able to use it with MSFS9 which i also bought to replace the copy i left behind when i moved here to South Dakota from California. i had also left behind a Logitech extreme 3D Pro joystick. I bought this unit thinking i would be able to program one throttle control to control the prop but that did not work as neither of the throttle controls ever worked to control anything and the rest of the stick gave only minimal control of the planes i ended up giving it to my son for his gaming console as amazon would not take it back as the package had been damaged getting it out to use it. i replaced it with another Logitech extreme 3D Pro joystick which has given me 100's hours of great service over the two years since i bought it. Hope you head my review and buy the Logitech and save your self the hassle of finding out for your self that this one is junk and that you cant return it because you had to cut it out of the bubble pack to use it. Saitek PS40U Aviator Joystick for use with PC or PS3 Game Console

The Saitek PS40U Aviator Joystick is THE best joystick I have ever owned. It is very simple to use. The buttons and switches are solid, unlike most of the competition. My computer seamlessly identified the joystick as a device allowing me to go right into operation. This stick is the choice for any serious gamer!

I received this unit 2 days ago and I still cannot get the x or y axis' to work-AT ALL on my Windows XP based flight game. The Saitek website does not offer the driver, as the instructions say. Nor is it sold through the MFR at all. (yes i like to say 'at all')

Guess what? When I called Mad Katz/Saitek(same company), they told me there was some sort of 'misprint somewhere' and the item doesn't need or get a driver, but only the standard joystick driver that comes with your computer. FURTHERMORE, they admitted that the unit ISN'T REALLY MADE FOR THE PC!!!

What the what?!

That's nice, huh.

Anyhow, I am in the process of returning it to Computer Geeks.

I heard Logitech's joysticks suck too, so I don't know what to get next....so sad, I just wanted to fly the helo like a champ.

This review is for using it with a Playstation 3. It works great as long as you don't need the throttle. I have Hawx, Hawx 2, Il-2 Sturmovik Birds of Prey, Heroes over Europe, Top Gun and Afterburner. On every game the throttle works but when you push it forward to use the throttle it doesn't register almost every time and it ends up stalling the aircraft. You have to pull it all the way back again and then push it forward to get it to work and even then it will maybe work half the time if you're lucky. The throttle is not a DUAL throttle as advertised. It's a SINGLE lever which says L2 and R2 so they are LYING and the description is FALSE ADVERTISMENT. Also the joystick rattles and is so light you have to velcro it to a surface or it will tip over unless you hold it down with your hand. It also claims to be left handed but that would make the missle guard almost useless unless you're double jointed or something in your left thumb because it's extremely hard to flip up and down with your left hand because it's positioned on the left. There are a few other bad qualities with this controller but I think I've listed enough. For PS3 users unless you're stupid don't buy it.