3D Mouse as a trackball alternative?

[tinmarks]

I wonder if there are any 3D mouse users here (such as 3Dconnexion's SpaceNavigator).
I'd like to know whether such a 3D mouse could be used as a pointing device and how it would stand to trackball in matter of ergonomics.
It kinda resembles a trackpoint (a huge one) but has more input forms - tilting, pushing, pulling, twisting, horizontal moving.

[indivisualist]

According to their forum, the SpaceNavigator can be used as a 2D mouse. For other products it should be more or less the same, somebody has whipped up a driver which translates some movement of the "mouse" to a 2D movement and off you go.

From an ergonimics standpoint I don't really see that much of an improvement in a 3D mouse as long as you use it for 2D movements. Sure, you might have a whopping six axes, but a mouse cursor uses just two of them ... so it's like a giant TrackPoint.

[agodinhost]

According to their forum, the SpaceNavigator can be used as a 2D mouse. For other products it should be more or less the same, somebody has whipped up a driver which translates some movement of the "mouse" to a 2D movement and off you go.

From an ergonimics standpoint I don't really see that much of an improvement in a 3D mouse as long as you use it for 2D movements. Sure, you might have a whopping six axes, but a mouse cursor uses just two of them ... so it's like a giant TrackPoint.

Only if you do write your own code for it - the sdk is pretty raw and you will have to wait almost 1 month to be able to get the zip after you do register yourself in their site.

I would not recommend it as a 2d mouse - it's way sensible, you would get crazy ...

[Oobly]

I agree with the previous posters. I would recommend to stick with a trackball. Using a SpaceNavigator as a mouse would probably feel like using an oversized IBM Trackpoint nub as indivisualist said.

I love my SpaceNavigator for moving 3D models around when designing stuff, but I always use it in conjunction with a "real" mouse. It's more of an extra accessory than a replacement.

In terms of ergonomics, I really like what suka has done on some of his ergo keyboards, put a Trackpoint nub between some of the keys by the index finger, so you can move the mouse pointer without taking your fingers off home position.