Hardware & Technical Thrustmaster Hotas X or T16000M ?

[Hooplah]

I love my Saitek X-55 Rhino. I know too expensive per what you are looking for but it works on so many games without the need for a profile and all the buttons, hats, and switches anyone could ever need. ED has built-in support for it which can be tweaked to your personal preferences in the game without a profile needed. My previous stick was a Saitek Cyborg Evo 1st edition from many years ago which was great. But upgrading to me was like going from monochrome CRTs to full color! Many also like the Saitek X-52 which many of the Devs seem to like and I think FD was selling them at a discount per some other posts.
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When the X-55 was first released there were some issues. One was the squeaky sound when using yaw on the stick. One person even made a You Tube video on how to fix it. I had the same issue but just kept playing. Once it was broke in the squeaky sound went away. It has been perfect ever since.
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Anyway if you are into PC gaming then you might want to check it out. Yes it is not cheap but what price does one put on the enjoyment value of the games one plays while playing with hardware that might make you work harder to get the same results? I've dialed in the X-55 and am much better at every PC game I play. I cannot go back. Just my opinion of course.

 

[Philip Coutts]

I have the Thrustmaster HOTAS X and for the money it's a brilliant stick. Pretty robust but still responsive and it has a fair few buttons as well. It is quite large though so that's something to bear in mind but I've been using mine for a year with no issues and it's still perfect.

 

[Monarch Black]

I have always been a keyboard+mouse user for almost every game I've played - but when I tried the same tactic with Elite, it totally failed.

I bought the T16000m after it was recommended by a friend, and I have to say - it is pretty damn awesome. It has a throttle slider, and 6 buttons on each side - you can configure it for left-handed or right-handed use.

Personally, I don't use any of the buttons or the throttle slider - I use it in conjunction with a Nostromo N52. I use the "Pov" button at the top of the joystick for strafe left/right/up/down. It has 3 buttons beside this POV button, which I use for "Target hostile", "Next Target" and "Fire Secondary". (So for me, all the extra buttons and throttle slider don't mean much.)

All in all - it is very sensitive and responsive - reacting to the slightest pressure and weight-shift of my hand - I'd recommend it indeed

I use this combination myself and love it. I've sung the praises of the t16000m in some other threads the last couple weeks, so won't go overboard here. I'll just say that it feels great for the money and I never feel like I am fighting the stick when I am playing, rather the stick helps me play better. Pair it with a left hand gamepad like the Nostromo or Tartarus, and the sky's the limit. I do map mine a little different than you Ninja. I use the hat for headlook, then have left and right on the n52 direction pad with throttle, and up and down on the 1 and 6 keys of the pointer finger. I've gotten used to it and it works really well, or I would try your's out. It does sound like it would feel good too, although my brain likes axis rotations and strafe directions being on separate hands.

 

[Starbuckz]

I got both an returned the HOTAS X mainly because it feels as cheap as it is. Everything is loose and imprecise and oh is it ugly
If you really want that throttle, go get it. I would not recommend it.

The T16km is just as cheap and the buttons are horrible but holy cow is it tight and precise. The hall effect technology or whatever you wanna call it is just awesome.
It registers the slighest movement, no deadzone at all and is perfectly linear in all directions.

Get.The.T16000m!

Edit: I have a tartarus in my left hand but normal keyboard will suffice just fine.

 

[Henkka77]

I have to say that im a bit concerned now after reading this thread as my Hotas X arrives today. Its my first stick since C64 so i really dont have any expectations for better or for worse.
But still, im quite confident that the separate throttle stick gives so much better immersion that i wont be bothered about the T16000 being better stick.