I noticed a couple of annoyances after installing the drivers. While checking out the buttons in the control panel, I noticed that the #2 and #4 buttons were switched. If I hit the #2 button the #4 would light up and vice versa. I tried to recalibrate the controller but...hmmm...where's the recalibrate tab? There is none...not good. I guess Gravis figures the controller shouldn't need any reconfiguring. To their credit though, when I went to a game to test it out, button #2 was button #2 and #4 was #4 -hmmm kinda strange eh? The other thing I noticed was that the precision button when activated cut the directional pad (D-pad) action in half -which it's supposed to do allowing you to turn at a slower pace for more precise movements. But the D-pad movement was now calibrated to move further left than it does right. -with no recalibrate tab-arrrgh

Everything else seemed to check out fine.

Gravis introduces a kewl configuration tool called the Gravis Xperience. Aside from it's graphical smile enducing interface, which by the way graces any monitors screen, it's a very functional utility indeed. You're able to assign keystrokes, mouse button functions, or DirectX commands to any button on the controller. If one set of commands for each button is not enough to tame your tweaking desires then go ahead and select a button as your "HotSet" button to switch over to a whole different set of additional button commands. Once your finished setting up all the commands for each button for that certain game, you then save it as a "GameSet" file and Gravis Xperience will automatically load the correct GameSet the next time you play that game. pretty kewl huh?

If going through all the motions of configuring each button to perform a certain command turns you off, then Gravis allows you to import (and export) the information of a GameSet file into the Gravis Xperience preference file so you can use that particular Set with your game. This is extremely handy in sharing GameSets with your friends and vice versa. Z, if this is way over your head, -which btw resembles a bullseye- then don't worry...I'll send you a readme.txt file!

In conclusion I'd like to add that there is so much more "configuring" that I did not touch on simply because I'd have to write a book about it! Take my word for it, if you want to use the Eliminator as a flight stick or anything else, the Gravis Xperience utility is able to completely configure your gamepad the way you want\need it to be. Having said that, I still have not found any way to recalibrate the d-pad. It still does not have equal range of motion when the precision button is activated.

Before you even get into the box, Gravis sports a tech support telephone number and E-mail address on the outside of the box. Are they suggesting that the customer be prepared for what lies ahead? Or are they simply being helpful? :) This reviewer supports the 'helpful' suggestion.

The manual covers everything from the installation to the warranty, and everything in between. 20 pages of instruction get you going and keep you moving until the last button is mapped for that favorite game. There's even a short section in there called Computer User Health Information. Here you can find out how to avoid common repetitive activities that can be hazardous to your health...ummm, allllrighty then!

Each button is easily attainable and the D-pad is silky smooth providing precise movements (not your typical on\off movements) for the user. The 4, index finger, buttons on the front of the gamepad are spaced tightly together with the bottom buttons being larger than the top. This is necessary due to the switching from one to the other. In extreme high intensity situations, I found it easy to confuse one button for the other or just plain ol' miss the one I was aiming for! You'll need to practice with it a bit to become comfortable with the position of the buttons. Not as much time was needed to become comfortable with this gamepad as I have needed in the past with other gamepads. I guess this was due to the number of buttons.

The buttons have a solid feel to them. They don't rattle or move around as you lightly slide your fingers across them. The D -pad's movement feels like that of a joystick. It doesn't click while moving it around. It's silky smooth range of motion screams quality as your thumb effortlessly traverses across it's boundaries.