Bye Bye Trackball and Welcome to the SpacePilot PRO

[cactux]

I just found this new guy and it looks nice, but maybe too much electronics and not that many mechanical components.
[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 51219[/ATTACH]

You can learn more about this new bb here

[Netdewt]

Are you actually going to use it for the 3D functionality? I find these interesting (the basic one, not all the buttons), but I don't do 3D stuff.

[Jim66]

Hmmm, I've looked into this before. The general consensus is that they are great for navigating in 3D modelling environments but not so great for browsing around your operating system...

[NamelessPFG]

Using a Spacetec or 3Dconnexion device like that is a bit like using a TrackPoint that responds in all six degrees of freedom as opposed to only two, in terms of feel. There's a little movement, but not much.

Because of that, I wouldn't want to use it as a traditional mouse. However, it would make a great keyboard supplement/alternative for the intended 3D modeling purpose, or even for gaming. (Seriously, try out Descent or some other 6DoF game with it. Works quite well.)

[Zamorph]

That looks cool as hell.  How do you like it?

[rsantos97]

Looks cool as hell. I was going to get one of those before but after doing some research on them I came to the conclusion that they are not good as a pointing device replacement only good for 3d stuff.  I'll stick to my SlimBlade.

[Kerosene]

Using a Spacetec or 3Dconnexion device like that is a bit like using a TrackPoint that responds in all six degrees of freedom as opposed to only two, in terms of feel. There's a little movement, but not much.

Because of that, I wouldn't want to use it as a traditional mouse. However, it would make a great keyboard supplement/alternative for the intended 3D modeling purpose, or even for gaming. (Seriously, try out Descent or some other 6DoF game with it. Works quite well.)

I seriously would like to try out Descent, or that upcoming Retrovirus thing, with one of these things. Paying the price just for that, though...

[asura]

I have a SpacePilot which is the older more blockie - less feature rich - equivalent to the pro.  Though having said that, I think I prefer having my 6 customisable keys to the funny 5+5 arrangement on the pro.  I don't really game at all, so can't comment on it as a controller in this regard - I'm not even sure if the tracking would work with many games... though it will work with CryENGINE3...

However as a CAD tool, once you've passed the initial learning curve it quickly becomes invaluable, cuts down drawing time on a complex drawing by perhaps as much as 10-15%.

[The_Beast]

I have just the most basic one of those, it's pretty cool but I just don't use it all that much

[boxjon]

This isn't a mouse replacement. this is a tool designed to work with your mouse whilst working in a modeling environment. This would actually make a very poor mouse as aren't very ergonomic and gaming on this would be a nightmare.

[CreamyNutButter]

My main priority is (mostly FPS) gaming so that wouldn't be up my alley as much as a trackball.  It is cool though.

[Strelok]

It's like driving a new BMW.

[CPTBadAss]

I have one of these at work for navigating 3D CAD models. For that purpose? It's amazing. When I'm working on Solidworks at home without it, I feel lost.