iFX 4000 by Dan Radmacher If you're looking for a simple joystick that matches your Bondi Blue iMac -- right down to the translucent plastics and cords -- the iFX4000 is a good bet. But it is a simple joystick -- four buttons, a throttle wheel, and no hatswitch. That makes it almost useless for any flight simulators and for most first-person shooters -- though I'm becoming a mouse/keyboard convert on those anyway. The iFX4000 works OK for Carmegeddon, which doesn't need that many buttons. And there are probably other, simple games for which it would be suitable. Unlike the other Suncom joystick reviewed in this issue, the iFX 4000 doesn't have a particularly solid feel . It's got a lot of play in the stick, and feels like it could come apart in your hand during particularly intense gameplay. The curved design is supposed to be isometric, but if you hold the joystick the way that feels right -- resting on your palm with your thumb curled around one side and your fingers around the other -- you can't reach the throttle wheel, which is located in front of the stick.. That, combined with the ambidextrous placement of the buttons and the symmetric shape of the stick itself, makes the iFX4000 a decent choice for lefties. While good for that, the throttle wheel placement is otherwise a disaster. It's very difficult to reach, and throttling all the way stresses the thumb. The joystick also features four decent suction cups for securing it to a desk. Unfortunately, doing so only emphasizes the cheap feel of the stick. If your joystick needs are simple, and you're more interested in a joystick that matches your computer than one that has a dozen buttons and a hat switch, the iFX4000 might be for you. Serious gamers and flight-sim enthusiasts should look elsewhere. Pros • Suitable for lefties • Will match your iMac beautifully Cons • Poor placement of the throttle wheel • Four buttons inadequate for most modern games • Lack of hat switch limits usefulness • Works only with games that use Input Sprockets