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Freedom 2.4 Cordless Joystick Review - Hardware

The Logitech Freedom 2.4 Cordless Joystick is the perfect way for you to enjoy the performance of a corded joystick… without the cord. The 2.4GHz cordless technology that you can find in today’s best cordless phones allows the Logitech Freedom joystick to act superbly when playing games. Not only does it have a very sleek design, but the button coverage on the Freedom joystick are unmatched with any other joystick on the market today.

We’ve used this joystick to play Microsoft’s Flight Simulator 2004 and it is a sheer pleasure to control. The throttle and the twist handle make it even more believable that you actually have control of the different planes, flying over the entire world. Joysticks are basically designed for games like Flight Simulator 2004, but you can use them for an array of games – although people may call you weird. There are buttons all over the joystick, but they are all in convenient places and easy to remember.

The other games that you would most likely use this Freedom joystick for are mech games. Control your mech in your lap with no cords attached like never before, and fully utilize all of the buttons to make the game so much more enjoyable. The sleek brushed aluminium design along with the metallic highlights make using the award winning joystick very, very cool. Logitech have used an efficient power management system too which ensures your battery will last longer than any other joystick on the market today.

Buttons worth mentioning include the throttle button as mentioned before, the durable metal trigger, the hat switch (which is basically a mini analog stick, and is more often than not used to rotate the camera), and the joystick itself. Down the bottom of the joystick is a soft material which helps with absorption and “wear and tear” as you use your joystick throughout vigorous battles. The fact that it can twist is just a bonus for flight games as it allows you to take control of the flaps of the plane like never before.

Features

• PC Compatible
• Mac Compatible
• USB Twist Handle
• 2.4GHz Cordless
• Efficient Power Management for batteries

Installation

With your joystick, you also get a receiver which you must plug in to a USB slot. This little black rectangle has a green flashing light which stops flashing when your joystick is turned on. To turn on the joystick, all you need to do is push one of it’s buttons and a red light will turn on which then turns green for a couple of seconds telling you that the joystick is ready for use. Installation is as easy as putting the CD into your PC and then following the instructions on-screen, plugging everything in when it tells you to. The joystick itself requires three AA batteries.

Overall

If you’re shopping for a joystick and really want to go (continued next page)