I would like to every bodies opinion on what would be a good joystick to get for playing descent. I do NOT play flight sims at all (except for this game, but it's not really a sim) and I really don't want to spend a lot of money on it.
I'm just looking for a basic joystick that will not break on me quickly. I will consider paying $60 on a joystick, but that is my "limit". Thanks guys!
Also, I would like to point out that this website is freaking awesome. I have wanted to play descent for a while, but didn't want to bother with emulator, or having a very old computer with Windows 98 on it just to run this game. Keep up the good work, and I will be spending money like crazy here.

I recommend either Logitech or Saitek. I have a Saittek Cyborg EVO that works flawlessly in Descent, Descent 2, and Descent3.
For the Saitek:
http://www.saitekusa.com/usa/prod/joysticks.htm
For the Logitech:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/gaming/pc_gaming/joysticks/&cl=us,en
Both companies produce reliable accurate joysticks.

Here are the sticks I've used:
-CH Flightstick
-CH Combatstick
-Logitech Extreme 3D Pro
-Saitek X45
-Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Pro 2.0.
I've also tried a few gamepads:
-Logitech Wingman Rumblepad (sweet analog sticks)
-Thrustmaster Firestorm Dualpower
-XBox 360 Wired Controller
-Saitek P3000
I think the best are the CH and Microsoft sticks. You will not find a new CH stick for your $60 limit, but you could get an older gameport Flightstick on Ebay or something easily in that range. The Logitech barely lasted long enough to play through Tie Fighter and Descent, so I can't recommend Logitech sticks. The X45 is a great setup, but not for Descent, it is a bit too stiff for the fast action. None of the gamepads felt right to me for Descent.
Bottom line, I think you could get yourself a Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Pro for a good price on Ebay and be extremely happy with it (make sure you get the 2.0 version with the USB adaptor). The nice thing about that vintage of sticks from Microsoft was the optical encoders, so no spiking and they last very well since they don't wear like a traditional potentiometer. There are some newer sticks like the X52 from Saitek that use Hall effect sensors but that is again out of your price range and not suited to the fast action of Descent anyway.
In response to ZaphodB42's post, I have also heard good things about the Saitek Cyborg EVO.

When it comes to playing Descent, nothing tops the good old Spacetec SpaceOrb 360. That thing was bundled with a Descent II demo for good reason.
The problem with that controller is that it's been long since out of production, and you can forget about using it for the time being if you're running Vista. (There are 2000/XP drivers, though.) Also, you'll need an old-school DB-9 serial port; a USB version was apparently in the works, but it never materialized.
A more practical solution for you would probably be something like a used Saitek X-45 on eBay, which will easily fall within your price range (much unlike my typical suggestions of the Thrustmaster HOTAS Cougar + rudder pedals or CH Products Fighterstick/Pro Throttle/Pro Pedals) and should have Vista drivers if you're running that OS.

I am currently running XP SP3, but I am thinking about re-installing vista.
A friend of mine recommended a Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback, but that is a little more than I wanted to spend. So the question is, is a $60 price point to "cheap" for something that will work good and is not cheap?
I'm all about quality product (and I know you get what you pay for), but it seems silly to me to spend more than that much money on something I will only use on Descent 1,2,3.
Thanks for the recommendations so far, I will look into these.

$60 is more than you need to spend in my opinion:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Microsoft-SideWinder-Precision-Pro-Joystick-USB_W0QQitemZ180287362554QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item180287362554&_trkparms=72%3A1163%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
The Precision Pro is the same as the Force Feedback Pro without the force feedback of course :-) And this series of joystick uses optical encoders, so you don't need to worry about getting a stick that would need the pots replaced or anything like that.

The Sidewinder sticks are a good choice. I've gotten a couple from e-bay, and one from Amazon, around 10 to 15 bucks. They are loose in the sense that they have light centering springs and low friction gimbals. They are tight in the sense that they are responsive and accurate, no slop to screw with your aim, and a slight movement of the stick provides a proportional movement. Most of the Sidewinders are Gameport only, I've heard the adapters for usb don't work well. However, there is an adapter made by a Descent pilot specifically for the Sidewinder, find the thread at the DBB.net .
I've also used a Saitek stick and own a Logitech. They are ok.
I also tried playing with a Saitek gamepad and found it unsatisfactory for Descent.

So you're saying that games like Falcon 4.0 and IL-2 Sturmovik are better played keyboard-only just because not everyone will have a high-end HOTAS + rudder pedals + TrackIR? Admitted, those are very different games from Descent, but the point I'm trying to make is that just because an input device is ubiquitous does not mean that it's the best for everything. Something like Descent would really benefit from analog control in all directions unless you're very good at being a human digital-to-analog converter movement-wise, if you ask me, though I could see it being somewhat playable with just a keyboard. Good luck trying to perform in-flight refueling or precision shooting with only a keyboard, though-you'll need it!
Anyway, getting closer to the topic-about the Microsoft SideWinders, most of them from the Precision Pro onwards should come with a bundled USB adapter. Only that particular adapter will work, as these are digital gameport sticks; most gameport-to-USB adapters are meant for analog gameport sticks and won't work (except maybe for the SideWinder Pro 3D, but you wouldn't get full functionality).

The problem is that most of the sidewinder sticks you can get from e-bay or wherever have lost the original adapter... and the seller may include a generic adapter, but it won't work optimally, if at all.
Here is the thread for Grendals adapter, which is designed specifically for the Sidewinder: http://www.descentbb.net/viewtopic.php?t=12217
However, you will have to make your own, Grendal isn't making them but has posted all the info you need.

I have used a lot of different joysticks for Descent 1/2/3 and they all have good / bad points. My first favorite was the CH Combatstick due to smooth action and point of view hat which helped me learn how to "Triple Cord" in order to avoid missles in multiplayer. "Triple Cording" is when you apply three movement vectors at once to avoid a tracking missle. You need to go up (or down) on the hat while going forward and sideways, all at the same time. The only way to do this is to have a joystick with a good POV hat and a smooth action. I eventually switched over to a Microsoft Force Feedback 2 joystick. Besides having the force feedback effect it (like almost all newer joysticks) has a twist option that can be assigned to ruddering the ship left and right. Its a really nice feature once you get used to it.

I have used and destroyed many joysticks in many price ranges before getting a Saitek Cyborg 3D years ago. It has lasted me 8 years where the others would get only a couple. No force feedback, but it has a great touch. I have used it from win 98 to vista and it calibrates great, has trottle and rudder controls and can be configured for lefties.

The old Logitech Wingman Extreme was the best joystick for Descent.
Their latest "remake" of that is pretty good but not quite the same. However, it's about as good as you can get for an ergonmic joystick now.
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/gaming/pc_gaming/joysticks/devices/291&cl=us,en
This one looks nice if you want force feedback and stuff.
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/gaming/pc_gaming/joysticks/devices/297&cl=us,en

Agreed that there is no reason to learn to play Descent on a keyboard unless you will never have a joystick. Joystick play is vastly superior. I don't think it fairly even comes to a matter of opinion on this one. It's truly one of those kinds of very simple facts.
It's a flight game. So fly it. There's a reason people fly with joysticks and yokes, not wheels, mice, or keyboards.
I got a great HOTAS arrangement back in the day with Thrustmaster stick and throttle, but the only versions they make these days are inferior. CH Products is the leader for quality now, but they cost 100 bucks a pop. To me, there is a bit of an annoying feeling in their movement that's hard to describe if you don't see and use the units for yourself. But they are still top quality.
Very close behind for many people are the Saitek X-45 and X-52 though. I guess these improvements over the two earlier Saiteks I used to use, which had calibration problems and dead spots you couldn't do anything about. If you go to the Firing Squad site, you will see a pretty decent review. You can also find links at CH's site to many flight sim sites, at which you can look up reviews for whatever you want. Finally, don't forget to check Amazon.com. Their prices are usually excellent and most of all their customer reviews are priceless.
The X-52 that is now being sold comes with a throttle that is very good. It's 100 bucks for the combo instead of just 60 for a stick, but of course you're getting more than just a stick. Much more. A throttle is super nice to have. Put a weapon on each button and you can free up your joystick for many more uses. It works incredibly well. And remember, it's programmable. So even though with a throttle and stick both you still do not have the very valuable rudder controls every flight sim needs, you can program that into your throttle easily and have a very quick and soon to be intuitive way of using basic rudder commands.
I think if I were you, I'd go buy the X-52. You won't wind up feeling sorry you spent the extra 40 on the throttle, guaranteed. In fact the Firing Squad site's review liked the X-52 throttle even better than the rock solid CH Products throttle, which costs 100 bucks.

Do you use a throttle with Descent? I have tried to set that up in the past on my X-45, but it just coudn't replace the keyboard for translational motion in Descent. The throttle just isn't as fast a tapping a key so I prefer joystick and keyboard myself.