Worth replacing T-stiks with a 360?

[vputz]

I've got a venerable control panel which has been doing great work for me using a couple of Ultimarc's T-stik Plus sticks.  I love the T-stiks, but occasionally I'll hit a limitation (for whatever reason, combo moves are tough, and there's the occasional analog stick game).

But i'm not sure how easy or compelling a replacement with the new Ultimarc 360s would be, or how it would go together.  So a few questions:

1) How easy would the replacement be?  Are the mounting plates identical?

2) Are they remappable under Linux?

3) Can they still send out 'mame button' mappings as a keyboard?  (just curious--my arcade machine is also my DVR, and occasionally I'll navigate the menus using the joystick and buttons instead of the remote)

4) Are they really that much of an upgrade?  Reviews have been great, but if anyone who's used both could comment, I'd appreciate the perspective.

Thanks-->VPutz

[destructor]

1. Not identical.

2. No, but you should contact with Andy. I'm not sure but U360 are for Windows only. (?)

3. No. It works as gamepad.

4. I have T-Stik and U360. I will probably never back to T-Stik, but I have second joystick - P360 for shmups. U360 isn't good for shmups because default spring and additional Ultimarc springs aren't good.

[fatfingers]

3. No. It works as gamepad.

Actually, you can have them act as their own keyboard encoder to send out keyboard signals.  That is, if I'm reading this from the Ultimarc site correctly:

Output mode: Allows joystick to be connected to an interface such as the I-PAC, to replace a standard switch-type joystick.

[vputz]

Hmm; if the mounting's not identical and it doesn't work easily under Linux, probably not a great choice for me (I already have a handy cordless gamepad for the few games that really need analog controls).

But I may contact Andy anyway just to get it working under Linux; it should be quite possible.

[destructor]

3. No. It works as gamepad.

Actually, you can have them act as their own keyboard encoder to send out keyboard signals.  That is, if I'm reading this from the Ultimarc site correctly:

Output mode: Allows joystick to be connected to an interface such as the I-PAC, to replace a standard switch-type joystick.

Read carefully: If you connect to I-PAC. All things connected to I-PAC will send out keyboard signals.
We say about clear U360, without keyboard encoders.