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IN SHORT:
I use this as a WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL for itunes and media players as well as for gaming. The receiver, when plugged directly into your computer, tends to have issues with interference unless you are very close; this is resolved easily by using the expander and placing it away from sources of interference. Overall, a fantastic controller and (almost) fully programmable although some minor setbacks exist.
PROS:
-Can program different commands for EACH program! I use this gamepad as a wireless "remote" for iTunes, my media players, etc when I am away from my computer. (I output to my tv so this functionality is VERY useful)
-Programmable (EXTENSIVELY)
-Force Feedback
-Supports XInput and DInput (XInput = new standard, "auto detects" game settings; DInput = "old" standard; use this mode to program the buttons.
-Nice solid feel, buttons are crisp
-Good range, IF clear of interference (see cons)
NEUTRAL:
-When in DInput mode, it IS the rumblepad2 (or whatever Logitechs old "famous" controller was).
-In XInput, it detects as the F710 and is not programmable. (Must use the DInput to program)
CONS:
-Range suffers drastically from interference. When plugged into my pc directly, the signal failed when I was 3 feet away. However, I used the extension (that comes with it) and put the receiver on my desk and it works flawlessly from over 20 feet away in my kitchen now.
-Not all programmable functions seem to work right. In particular, I set the L/R triggers to CTRL+Up/Down in Itunes so that I could alter the volume. Although this works if bound to a different button, and the triggers work when bound to a different command, oddly enough the triggers would not work when bound to ctrl+up/down.
Unique Issue: I played "The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom" with this controller in Windowed mode and apparently windows does not recognize any input as going in. Don't get me wrong, the game worked fine, however every 5minutes my screensaver would kick in unless I moved the mouse or keyboard!! This has ONLY happened in this one game though so I am assuming it is a unique issue and not the fault of the gamepad.
Overall, highly recommended if you are looking for a gamepad for your PC; especially if you output things to your TV so you can use it doubly as a remote.
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program This new Logitech game controller is a natural evolution of my Logitech Cordless Rumblepad 2. While the older model was mimicking PS2 controller style, F710 is a blend of current Xbox 360 and PS3 models.The overall build quality is what's expected from a good Logitech product. It feels sturdy and heavy enough, while provides comfort with soft plastic grips. The buttons and sticks are responsive, and miniature wireless receiver is a great plus. My only complaint is that the controller is slightly small for my hands, and I'd prefer Xbox 360 Controller as a better fit.
However the major feature in this new F710 model is neither the programmable buttons, nor the great looks, but the ability to emulate both older controllers and the Xbox 360 wired controller with the flip of a switch. If you've a collection of both older and newer games, you'll know my pain. Most Games for Windows titles would only accept the Xbox 360 controller as a keyboard alternative, on the other hand that would not work with slightly older ones (like the original Prince of Persia trilogy). Then you'd have to switch controllers every time you switched between the games (keeping them both plugged at the same time unfortunately causes more issues).
Thus, if you leave your PS3 or 360 from time to time, and come back to the PC, you'll find yourself at home with F710. No more switching controllers between games!
Pros:
+ Xbox 360 emulation on the fly
+ Ease of installation (default drivers on Win7 works)
+ Good ergonomics
+ Small wireless receiver
+ Responsive controls
Cons:
Slightly small for larger hands
Analog / digital pad placement (I find the 360 way more natural)
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INITIAL IMPRESSIONWhen I first plugged in the controller, it seemed sluggish to respond. I ran it through Super Meat Boy & Rayman Origins, and it just didn't "feel" right. For those of you that don't know, SMB and Rayman Origins are two recently released platformers known for tight controls (SMB especially). The controller was cutting out periodically as well, so I installed the range extender that came with it. That fixed everything it no longer cut out, it was extremely responsive, and I was nailing Meat Boy times in the top 1%. So, use the range extender with this guy.
The controller is very precise and should work with the most challenging games except ones that require bumpers, triggers, or fast button presses. More on that below.
ERGONOMICS
I played some more Super Meat Boy. In that game, you have to hold down the trigger to make Meat Boy run faster. After a few minutes, I realized that I wasn't going to be able to hold down the trigger for long it's very stiff, and my fingers were growing fatigued. I train my grip strength using the "Captains of Crush" grip strengtheners, so my grip is by no means weak. The 360 & PS3 triggers are very soft, but these are too stiff to hold down for an extended period of time. It just doesn't work. So I remapped "run" to the bumper buttons.
I'll do my best to describe the problem with the bumpers. When you press the bumper, there's a nice "click" and the controller reports to the computer that the button is pressed. There's also an "unclick" that occurs when you let up the button. The issue is that you have to press the bumper hard enough while it's "clicked" for the controller to continue reporting that the button is being pressed. So the controller reports that the button isn't pressed if you're not holding it down hard enough, even if you haven't unclicked it yet. The bumpers are supposed to be digital, not analog. This makes it very frustrating to play a game where you have to hold down the bumpers to run it keeps letting off, even though you're holding it down! This affected both the L/R bumpers, so I assume it's a design flaw of the controller, and not a problem with my particular model.
Finally, the A/B/X/Y buttons are a little mushy. Not too bad, but you'd have a hard time nailing them rapidly. It's about on par with a 360 controller, but not quite as responsive, and it's nowhere near a PS3 controller.
SUMMARY
I think most users will enjoy this controller. However, be aware that the triggers are very stiff. This affects you if you want to play platformers or driving games with it. Additionally, the issue with the bumpers is a deal breaker for me. I'm sending mine back this is the first Logitech product I've ever returned. It's still pretty darn good, but it needs to be tweaked. It doesn't work for my needs. I plan to get the 360 controller for Windows.
Other than the issues mentioned above, it feels very similar to a 360 or PS3 controller and is of excellent quality. I had no problems with dead zones reported by other users; I ran several tests in the Windows config to be sure. If you breathe on the joysticks, it registers. Everything was very tight & responsive.
Honest reviews on Logitech Gamepad F710
Quick review of the Logitech F710 Wireless Gamepad. I got this to use on a Windows7 PC with Steam (digital game distribution/library software) and their "Big-Picture" mode that can be used to play games on a TV or away from a tradition mouse/keyboard. Windows7 found the driver and installed it quickly with no fuss. Games detect this as a Xbox360 controller(tested with Borderlands2, Dead Island, Need for Speed and Blur), while the style is closer to a Playstation controller, the X Y A B buttons are closer to an Xbox controller and it works great in that regard(no extra setup in game needed).
Like:
-Back of controller had a nice smooth/soft feel plastic
-Buttons and Sticks have nice weight/resistance
-Windows7 Found the drivers and installed with no fuss, ready to play quickly
-Comes with name-brand batteries (2x AA) already installed
-Comes with USB extension cable to locate wireless receiver away from computer (I did not need to do this however).
-Games recognize it as an XBOX360 Controller, no setup/binding needed
-I have used it with a range from 3-6 feet with no issues
-Sticks have a textured rubber on the top that is really nice, feels great and fingers don't slip off.
Dislike:
-The buttons have a good feel but sound very plastic (loud click-clack sounds when playing)
-Package (plastic clamshell) is easier to open than some, but still a pain and easily cuts your fingers on the edges
-Has an 8-way dpad but while UP-DOWN-LEFT-RIGHT work great and have a nice feel, NW/NE and SW/SE directions take some work to get right and have it actually register...almost feels like it is only supposed to be a 4-way dpad (not a big deal for me as my games mostly use the sticks).
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I bought this controller primarily to use with Steam Big Picture and games. Both the internet at large, and Valve reccommend this or the 360 controller. I've used the 360 controller fairly extensively, and from reading reviews this had some additional features, to I decided to give it to try. I'm very glad I did. This is an excellent controller. I'll give a quick highlights, then if you want to know more read on!Pros-
Beautiful well designed hardware
High build quality
Plug and play (for the most part)
DirectInput and Xinput support makes it very compatible
Sport mode is handy to easily use the D-PAD in place of the Analog stick or vice versa in any game.
Potentially battery saving feature to toggle vibration
DPad is much nicer than 360
Great for Steam Big Picture
Nice small receiver
Neutral-
Heavier than Xbox 360 controller. I like the heft, others may not.
Triggers are stiffer than 360 controller. Nice for shooting, may be not as nice for racing.
Cons-
Home/Center button doesn't do anything in directinput mode
It's not perfect, but it is the best, so 5/5. IMO the only reason to get the 360 controller instead is if you want to use it with a 360 as well.
Hardware/Build Quality
The first thing I noticed when I got this out of the box is it's beautiful. The silver/black looks really nice, and the button colors are vibrant. The matte black back and non glossy (don't know if it qualifies as matte) silver front don't attract fingerprints like some controllers. Next I noticed it's weight. It's got a good weight to it. It's heavier than the 360 or PS3. I like the heft, gives it a bit more of a high quality feel. It's also well designed. The matte back, and rubberized gribs make it comfortable to hold. The shape is perfect, your hands wrap around it just right. The triggers are stiffer than the 360 controllers or ps3s. Makes it feel a little more snappy and responsive, it's super nice for shooting. Some people report it tiring them out for games you have to hold it for a long time (like racing games). The rubberized tops of the sticks are rounded and textured for grip and feel much nicer than the 360's controller. I didn't notice any deadzones.
Drivers/Software Support
Overall the support is great. For most features it's pretty much just plug and play. It works flawlessly as a replacement for the 360 controller and has additional features. The sport mode is handy for anytime you want to use the dpad instead of the stick (or vice versa) in any game, in either mode. Being able to turn off vibration is a feature many might find useful. Also being able to use directinput or xinput with the flip of a hardware switch makes it compatible with nearly any game easily. The provided software makes it easy to use as a remote to control any program on windows.
For linux it's as simple as plugging it in. LSUSB and games call it "Logitech, Inc. Cordless RumblePad 2" in direct input mode. LSUSB reports it as "Logitech, Inc. F710 Wireless Gamepad [XInput Mode]" and games normally call it generic xbox pad in xinput mode. Both work without a hitch. If you want to test or calibrate it there are various tools. jstest-gtk for one.
Windows is just as simple for many. Others, myself included have had to manually tell windows to use the xbox 360 controller drivers for xinput mode. If it doesn't seem to work out of the box, you may have to as well. Go to device manager find it and right click to "update drivers" choose to find your own, select from drivers on the PC and find the 360 driver to install. Once you do that it works great. Logitech provides a profiler for direct input mode to program the buttons to any shortcut for each program individually. It's a handy tool.
Steam big picture works flawlessly in xinput mode. It's almost the same story in directinput once you set the buttons. The only problem with it in directinput is the home/center button doesn't do anything. Steam uses this for it's overlay or to take screenshots by default, so if you plan on using this for steam games that don't support xinput you might need to find a new shortcut. It's a little frustrating. I imagine they did it because the Rumblepad 2 (which it basically is in directinput) didn't have the button, but I can't imagine it would be hard to add a button to the drivers. At the very least it seems like it should report the button, and let the drivers handle it or not, which would make it work on Linux at least. But that's a relatively minor complaint since most games will use xinput, and it's so easy to switch.
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