Verdict: Substandard ergonomics means this cheap pad is one to avoid

For £13 you can't expect too much from a gamepad, which is lucky for the Trust 830T because it doesn't offer much. There's no force feedback, and the pad feels flimsy and rattles when you shake it. But the ten buttons and two analog joysticks should be enough for controlling most games.

Simplicity has its advantages, though. No drivers are needed so you can plug the 830T into a Windows XP system and it will install automatically. We used the standard Windows calibration applet to set the gamepad up and were ready to start gaming in moments.

Oddly, Need For Speed: Underground wouldn't let us assign the POV hat for steering, but the joysticks presented no problem. Although responsiveness wasn't an issue, comfort was. The 830T has huge handgrips and it's also quite wide. Only those with particularly long thumbs will find the joysticks comfortable to use. The sharp edges of the screw holes underneath the handgrips can also be annoying.

One bonus is the 2.4m-long cable, but, at only £3.53 more and with a more comfortable design, the Logitech Dual Action Gamepad is the obvious choice if you're not fussed about force feedback.

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