Saitek ST290 Programmable Joystick with Throttle

by Saitek

Product Details

Product Manual [98kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 9.3 x 10.1 inches ; 1.9 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000AW9RE
• Item model number: ST290
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #13 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Game Hardware > PC Game Hardware > Controllers > Joysticks
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 29, 2004

Product Description

Radical design and styling to provide gamers precision and style. 3-position Handle Adjustment fits all hand sizes. Adjustable Palm Rest and central level throttle for left- or right-handed gaming.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, Stable, Beginner's Joystick, October 25, 2006

By 

Ethan D Van Vorst (Salisbury, NC USA) - See all my reviews

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Saitek ST290 Programmable Joystick with Throttle (Personal Computers)

There are few games I play that require a joystick. I love playing flight sims but am typically more attracted to other types of computer games that seldom require them, so when I hooked up with my old buddies on "Aces High 2" I needed a decent, working joystick to replace my old Gravis Blackhawk analog stick that stopped working on my PC years ago. I drove down to the local ubiquitous low-cost super store (you know it's name) and this was the *only* joystick that they had in stock. This made me a bit nervous as I like to browse through any potential gaming-related hardware I purchase for my computer, but the price was right (under $20) and my experience in the past with Saitek products hasn't been bad. Ultimately I'm pleased with the purchase and despite a few shortcomings this has been a reliable and sturdy joystick.

The joystick itself is, as pictured, largely comprised of hard black plastic mounted on a spring base. There are 6 programmable buttons, a POV hat switch, and an adjustable hand rest to give you a more comfortable grip. At the bottom is your throttle adjust, basically a large plastic flap, and the stick itself can be twisted left or right to act as one's rudder. There's also a clear, blue plastic piece on the top that lights up, but serves no other purpose but for looks. Neat-O.

I have two problems with the stick. The first revolves around the throttle control. This may be more due to the setup of my desk...I have no place to hold the joystick but on my lap and that presents a throttle problem of its own. Its positioning on the tail end of the stick makes it tricky for me to cut throttle in mid flight since leaning forward to hit buttons on the keyboard will usually push the thing back up. Bad idea when you're making a dive bombing run or an approach for landing. My second issue has to do with the style of the stick's rudder. Dogfights are fast paced and intense affairs and usually involve a lot of frenetic jinking and weaving, and lots of use of the rudder. The rudder turns well and responds fine but the problem is that when yawing left you're liable to accidentally push a button with the area of your palm nearest the thumb. Depending on what you've programmed into that area of the joystick this can have disasterous results in a pitched dogfight, and not something that reprogramming buttons is going to fix.

Still this joystick has been well worth the meager investment involved and has proven itself of great value to me. Definitely a must-buy for anyone looking for a good, solid starter joystick.

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Scary Warning Label, September 9, 2004

By 

Zippedy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Saitek ST290 Programmable Joystick with Throttle (Personal Computers)

I really like this joystick. I bought it for use solely with FS 2004 on Win XP SP2. I installed the latest drivers from the Saitek website before I even tried using it. Fired up FS 2004 and joystick worked like a champ.

My one complaint is the scary warning label on the USB cord: "Warning! Handling the cord on this product will expose you to lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer, and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling." It seems this has to do with IBM's agreement between a large number of manufacturers and the state of California to meet the requirements of California's Proposition 65 law. Here is an article on the subject from Harvard's Environmental Health & Safety web site: http://www.uos.harvard.edu/ehs/pr/pr18052004.shtml

I am guessing that all USB sticks will have similar PVC wrapped cables whether they provide the warning or not...

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best for a Low Price, December 28, 2006

By 

Craig A. Sheffield "Headspin" (La Crosse, Wisconsin) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Saitek ST290 Programmable Joystick with Throttle (Personal Computers)

In this joystick, you combine some of the top controls at a very affordible price. I use it for flight simulators like Fly II and MS Flight Simulator 2004, and driving games such as the Need for Speed line, and a number of other EA racing games. You can program every button and switch to your specific liking. The throttle is the ideal feature on this joystick for flight simulators, along with the yoke. I've been using it for quite a while, and I don't plan to give it up for any type of upgrade. Don't let the price fool you. It is a quality piece of gaming equipment.