The Logitech Cordless Rumblepad 2 looks very much like a typical console controller, so PS2 fans will feel right at home.

The design is solid, relatively lightweight, and comfortable enough for hours of game play, which may be good or bad news, depending on how difficult you normally find it to tear yourself away from your favorite game. The receiver has a range of up to 30 feet, which means that even if you manage to get out of your chair, you can keep playing until you're finally out of range.

Installing the drivers and Logitech Profiler gaming software is a fast and easy process. The software is simple to use, and it allows you to set X- and Y-axis sensitivity, set control button functions, and load the supplied game profiles. Several hundred additional game profiles are available for free downloading from the Logitech website.

The Cordless Rumblepad 2's layout includes an eight-way D-pad on the left, four programmable buttons on the right, and two 360-degree analog sticks in the middle, topped by additional programmable buttons. Force Feedback lets you feel every bump, rattle, explosion, and other vibration in games that support this feature. A vibration control button in the center of the game pad lets you adjust vibration sensitivity on the fly.

The main thing that sets the Cordless Rumblepad 2 apart from other game pads is wireless connectivity. If you have more than a few peripherals, you're probably a typical victim of cable clutter. The Rumblepad 2 almost sets you free from this curse, although you will have to find a small spot for the receiver (which does, alas, require a cable to connect to your computer). If you're lucky enough to have a large display, you can kick back in a comfy chair, put your feet up, and play games from almost any location where you can still see the screen, with little or no delay in reaction time.

The receiver uses two AA batteries that Logitech says should provide up to 100 hours of game play, based on Logitech's proprietary power management system. The package includes the Cordless Rumblepad 2, a 2.4GHz wireless receiver, batteries, gaming software, and a user guide.

Pro: Comfortable, relatively lightweight design. Highly customizable.
Con: Batteries are not rechargeable. May interfere with some other wireless devices.

Warranty
1 year limited