Saitek ST90 Joystick

by Saitek

Product Details

Product Manual [662kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 7 x 9.5 x 6.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000AW9RQ
• Item model number: ST90
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #18 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Game Hardware > PC Game Hardware > Controllers > Joysticks
• Date first available at Amazon.com: August 28, 2003

Product Description

Joystick with futuristic retractable tripod legs for maximum stability and convenient storeage. USB "plug and play" simplicity. Unique design and styling to provide gamers with the winning formula at any level. Stick acceleration is aided with dual mode digital throttle complemented by visual LED indicators.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Throttle, August 25, 2006

By 

Jacob R. Sullivan "irish_lord99" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Saitek ST90 Joystick (Personal Computers)

I see a lot of gripes about this hoystick's digital throttle here. Just so that everyone knows, if you HOLD DOWN on the throttle buttons instead of tapping them, then the amount of throttle will change at a slower rate. The "20%" resolution exits for when you want to greatly increase your throttle in a hurry, but there is a method for getting 27% throttle when you need it.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Digital" Throttle?!, July 14, 2005

By 

I. Hayles (Seattle) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Saitek ST90 Joystick (Personal Computers)

This stick was an excellent price and worked great out of the box. However, it's got two buttons (+,-) for a digital throttle. It's implemented per throttle stick protocol, too, so Windows will make you run through a calibration routine for a Z-Axis and games will pick up on the presence of a throttle control. However, some games (Jane's F-15), will eliminate keyboard control for a throttle when it senses throttle control on the stick. I don't know why - pretty bad implementation idea there. Thus, the ONLY throttle control was on the stick...and it's digital! That'd be fine if it had, say, 0.9901% resolution (101 positions, 0 to 100 in steps of 1), but it doesn't - it's only got 20% resolution (5 positions). Thus, when landing an F-15, if I couldn't bring it down with 25% thrust, then my only two other options were 0% or 50%.

Good stick for the short time I had it! Hence, 5 stars. But make sure you understand what your games will do in the event of throttle control. Make sure they still allow keyboard control or make sure they allow you to disable the throttle input. Don't get stuck in a landing pattern with your only options being "off", "low", "medium", and "high", etc.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent joystick overall, April 8, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Saitek ST90 Joystick (Personal Computers)

A very nice joystick. The tripod legs give it exceptional stability. I can't remember it ever tipping over when I spin ridiculously in my Jane's USAF (A very good game, by the way).

The only serious problem I have with it is the throttle. It was a great idea, but it's one of those things that looks good on paper but doesn't work in real life. It isn't very precise in adjusting. A quick tap will send you up or down roughly 30%. This is a problem when my flight instructor (in the game, of course) says, 'You'll need about 80% thrust to get it moving.'

Of course, if you can control your throttle with your keyboard, it isn't really a problem at all.

Pros:

Excellent stability

responsive

looks cool

folding legs

Cons:

Bad Throttle

Only 3 buttons