I plugged mine into a quality powered USB hub and the right one kept going out and then stayed out, like Joe's. I plugged them directly into my mobo and they are now fine. It was a bit of doing, because I use 17 USB ports on my setup.

Icarus

Icarus,

Interesting that your MFD came back to life. I have plugged mine directly into the motherboard USB ports multiple times in an attempt to resurrect it. No dice.

Lancelot, I understand your disappointment in these devices. Your points are all valid. Still, we have this product available for $80; clearly if it included displays it would cost a lot more. So it does fill a product price point and hopefully will appear on some simmers' desk tops so that Thrustmaster might be interested in adding to the capabilities of this device.

It would have been interesting to see how the thrustmaster MFD compared to the CH MFP

http://www.chproducts.com/retail/mfp.html

That's easy, they don't compare to each other. The CH MFP is a programmable panel that allows an user to arrange the buttons how ever they like. The TM MFD is shaped like the MFD Bezel and has an expansion availability for a 7" LCD Panel display unit. However no TM program utility yet for creating and saving custom profiles. No way to install a LCD screen with the CH MFP. The MFP is $ 189.95 (SRP) the MFD is $80.

I figured out what the drop in insert is for. One can make labels with arrows to each button saying what they've been programmed to do!

Yep. The article says:
"Other paperboard inserts are blank so that they can be marked up with dry-erase marker."

Were we not clear about that?

+1 on Panthers statement. I have 3 CH MFP's and the Cougar Pack with working TFT's and IMHO they both serve their different functions very well. The MFP makes a fantastic ICP. Happy with both products. Just keep the MFP's 5" apart and the Cougar pack plugged into the USB on your mobo (not a hub) and no problems.

Very nice review guys!

Don't mean to be a bother, but any better idea when these will be released in the U.S.? I know it says Dell & Amazon, but I can't find a thing on Dell and Amazon has a page with "we don't know when or if this will be back in stock". Usually on upcoming items, they have a preorder available.

Thanks!

Hi Vegas,

I asked Thrustmaster again this AM and was told, "We expect it to be available any day now." Sounds like its Dell and Amazon getting everything setup on their side.

Wow Icarus1! Nice cockpit.

Thanks for the great review Panther and Joe. Will add a couple as soon as they are available.