Ross Kodner's Cool Legal Gadget of the Month
January 1999

May the Force be With You: Microsoft’s Sidewinder Force Feedback Steering Wheel and Pedals

Microsoft Corporation

http://www.microsoft.com/products/hardware/sidewinder/wheel/default.htm

800-WEOWNYOU

Law practice is stressful. Clients can really get on your nerves. Your staff wants more money. You’re not Y2K Compliant yet and your malpractice carrier wants to know "when?" So whaddaya do? Cry and whine and generally freak out and give yourself a second ulcer? Nope. You play some cool games. And cool driving games are not nearly as cool without a Force Feedback Steering Wheel from Microsoft. This 5 lb. gaming behemoth blows away mere mortal steering wheel controller sets. After all, it’s jam packed with whizzy little motors, gears and all manner of electromechanical chicanery. But wait until you try this with Force Feedback-compatible driving games. My two favorites are Sierra’s Grand Prix Legends (a wild simulation of the 1967 Formula 1 racing season) and Cart Precision Racing which is bundled with the unit (an Indy car simulator from the ‘97 CART/PPG Cup season). Smash into the armco barrier at Nurbürgring at 160 mph in your ‘67 Lotus 49 Formula 1 car and you feel the stick whip from your hand. Blast around the streets of Surfer’s Paradise in a 900 hp turbocharged Indy Car and feel every bump in the road as the wheel shivers and shimmies in your hands. Don’t think about this too much. Just take out your charge card and order one right now. Your psyche will thank me (

By Ross L. Kodner, Esq.

rkodner@microlaw.com

©1999 Ross L. Kodner, Esq. All Rights Reserved