Microsoft Sidewinder USB Gamepad

AnandTech Controller Rating

Performance

The Sidewinder Game Pad Pro performed pretty much as advertised, so it gets an average performance rating of 5.0

Price

The Sidewinder Game Pad Pro is priced around the same as it's competitor, the Gravis Xterminator (Logitech doesn't yet offer an all-in-one product).

Quality

Microsoft's name usually means a quality-built product, and the Sidewinder Game Pad Pro is no exception. It is light while still solid-feeling and the buttons all sit at the same height and have the same throw.

Features

There is no other game pad on the market with the dual-mode D-pad (Gravis' Xterminator actually has two D-Pads side by side). It also has as many buttons as any pad out there, and more than most.

Availability

Hey, it's Microsoft… market penetration is not an issue. The Sidewinder Game Pad Pro is widely available at the majority of computer chain stores, and from almost any online vendor.

Documentation & Software Bundle

The written documentation is almost non-existent, but that isn't a problem because the online docs are quite good. The software bundle includes flawless drivers, a decent set of utilities and a huge number of schemes.