This means that you can assign keystrokes to buttons during game play, and the stick remembers the key assignments even after it's turned off. You simply hit a switch to enable keyboard emulation mode, select a button, and assign a key. The Talon is well made and responsive, with four fire buttons and two four-way hat switches. The buttons are too hard, though, with sharp edges that might cause some discomfort. The wide grip and spread of the buttons also may make the stick tough on small hands.
Suction cups keep it place during heavy use, and the base is adequately weighted.
The action feels a little loose compared with the tight action of the Thrustmaster sticks, but this is a matter of personal taste. The fact remains that a flight stick this well designed and with such a novel method of programming is a rare find in the medium price range. Update your software and make your PC run better. 810, the high-tech dream machine. ZDNet and ZDNet logo are registered trademarks of ZD Inc. Content originally published in Ziff Davis Media publications is the copyrighted property of Ziff Davis Media.