Microsoft Xbox 360 Controller

Summary: This controller is fantastic. Although I use it mostly for my 360 it is nice to take a break from keyboard mouse and do this. Nicest of all it is ...

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Summary: This controller is fantastic. Although I use it mostly for my 360 it is nice to take a break from keyboard mouse and do this. Nicest of all it is extremely comfy, very light, very well built, and all around easy to use. I have to say as the owner of a PS2 and Gamecube that this is by far the best conventional controller ever made. Dualshock 3 is still behind, they even took most of what makes the 360 controller awesome and emulated it.

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Summary: I agree with most points listed in the review of the Xbox 360 contolller, but I wanted to add a couple more (for both wired and wireless).
As a point
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Summary: I agree with most points listed in the review of the Xbox 360 contolller, but I wanted to add a couple more (for both wired and wireless).
As a point of reference, I've had an original Xbox with 2 wired "S controllers" for a few years, and a 360 with one wired and one wireless controller for several months.
As a side-note, I play every night, and know these controllers well, so don't "push my buttons."

The 360 wireless controller works amazingly well, even when I am a good distance from the console (such as, in the next room). The battery life is great. I can go several days before charging it (and yes, I highly recommend the Charge & Play Kit). There are only a couple of complaints I've had:
1) The wireless controller's battery pack gets in the way of my middle fingers, causing my fingers to cramp after extended play (more than an hour). This it not a problem with the wired controller, as there is no battery pack under the controller.
2) It is white. I am really hoping Microsoft releases a green, silver, or black controller. The white controllers get really gross looking, and quickly. Don't agree with me? Run your fingernail down one of the grooves on the side. Exactly. Not that a color change would prevent the build-up, but at least it wouldn't be as visible.
3) The headest is sub-par. I purchased a Plantronics headset to go with my original Xbox, and I liked it much better than what came with the 360. The 360 headset seems cheap, and I often have trouble hearing people. I could use my old Plantronics headset, but there is no volume control without using the 360 headset.
4) Charge! This is more a recommendation than a problem... If you want to charge your wireless controller, you have to plug it into a USB port. The 360 console will only charge the controller when the console itself is on. If I am playing and charging at the same time, this is fine, but if my 360 is off, I just charge it on my PC's USB port. It is that easy! (And yes, my PC is always on.)
And now for the 360 wired controller:
Since the wired controller is esentially the same as the wireless, there is really little to add here, but here is what I've found.
1) Don't be a fool. Microsoft actually sells two versions of the wired 360 controller. One is a few dollars more than the other because it comes with a driver for PCs. Save your cash. You can purchase the cheaper wired controller and download the driver for free from Microsoft.com. Sneaky, aren't they? I've played Halo on the PC with the wired 360 controller, and once properly configured, you can really convince yourself you are playing on a 360.
2) As mentioned above, due to the battery pack on the 360 wireless controller, the wired controller is actually the more confortable of the two... if you don't mind being wired.

Finally, as far as comfort goes, I still believe the S controller was easier to hold, but the 360 definitely has improved button layout and an impressive wireless connection. I look forward to seeing what Microsoft does next with the 360's accessories.

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